Apes in a Box: Week 2

Energy from biomass

Energy derived by burning plant material and animal waste or burning gases, and fuels produced from
plant material and animal waste
Charcoal- Produced by burning wood
Advantages-
higher energy content
easy portability
available in developing countries
Disadvantages-
Deforestation
negative effect on respiratory system of producers and consumers
Energy can be produced by burning garbage to produce steam for electricity
Methane- produced by bacteria decomposing waste can be harvested to generate electricity
Ethanol- alcohol produced by fermentation of plant materials
Produced from corn in the USA and sugarcane in Brazil, mixed with gasoline to make gasohol
Advantages
domestic availability
cleaner burning that gas alone
infrastructure in place already
Disadvantages
using food resources to produce fuel
lower energy content than gas alone
Biodiesel- produced by removing oil from plants or algae. Mixed with diesel or burned directly in
modified diesel engines
Advantages
high net energy
lower CO and CO2 emissions
Disadvantages
Land used for fuel instead of food
high land use
net energy dependent on type of crop
Oil from algae- a promising source of oil it can be grown in tanks with little land disturbance, food prices
not affected, CO2 from power plants and factories can be used to feed algae.
Burning Solid Biomass- directly burning wood, plant materials, etc to produce heat, cook and use
electricity
Advantage-
local availability
no net carbon increase
low cost
Disadvantages-
indoor air pollution
disrupted land prone to erosion
Habitats disrupted from high land use.
It's all about the turbine
Every electrical power plant has a turbine.
Purpose of turbine: convert force into rotational motion to make electricity.
Ways to spin a turbine: Steam, wind, moving water
Ways to make steam: coal, oil, solar, geothermal, nuclear, burning biomass, natural gas
Spin the turbine! Turn the generator! Make electricity!

Geothermal

Geothermal energy- using heat stored underground to produce electricity, heat water, heat air and cool
buildings
Small percentage of worldwide energy production
Advantages
Considered renewable as it only taps a small percentage of Earth's Geothermal energy
Lower greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuel use
Widespread application for heating and cooling

Disadvantages
Potential for subsidence
fracking
High start-up costs
Very deep wells must be drilled for electricity production

Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric power- 'Moving water' electricity production using hydroelectric dams or tidal energy
Advantages
Efficient and predictable energy source
Reservoirs can be used for recreation
Reservoirs provide water for irrigation and municipal use
Disadvantages
Habitat destruction from creation of reservoir
High construction cost
Disruption of Fish Migration Routes by dams
High CO2 production from decomposition of organic material flooded by reservoir

Nuclear

Nuclear power- method of producing electricity by utilizing controlled nuclear fission
Uranium ore is mined, enriched and used in nuclear power plants
Nuclear fission reaction initiated in a nuclear reactor and heat from reaction used to generate electricity
Advantages
Nuclear power plants emit very little CO2 with water vapor being it's main emission
Low risk of nuclear accident
Low overall environmental impact
Disadvantages
Low or negative net energy yield
High cost of building power plants
Potential for major environmental disasters in case of accidents
Extremely toxic radioactive waste generated without an effective method of disposal in place
Public resistance to nuclear power due to fear of incidents

Solar

Photovoltaic cells- thin layers of silicon imbedded with metals. Electrons are produced to make
electricity
Advantages-
No direct emissions
systems are expandable and portable
little maintenance
production is inexpensive
Disadvantages-
high start up costs
solar systems must have battery storage
requires the sun
Advantages-
Little disruption of habitat
inexpensive,
high net energy
Disadvantages-
High initial cost
passive solar must be planned during building design process,
only works when the sun is shining

Wind
Wind power- wind turbines turned by power of wind, turbine connected to electrical generator that
produces electricity as long as the turbine is spinning
Advantages
Many sites suitable for wind farms
low cost electricity
easy to expand
little land disruption
Disadvantages
turbines require maintenance
minor noise pollution
turbines kill birds and bats