oil

y y

Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Based on data from BP at the end of 2009 the highest proved oil reserves including non conventional oil deposits are in Saudi Arabia (18 per cent of global reserves), Canada (12 %, mostly oil sands), Venezuela (12 %, mostly tar sands), Iran (9 %), Iraq (8 %), Kuwait (7 %), UAE (7 %) and Russia (5 %) Uses: production of heat and electricity, fuel for vehicles, fertiliser, road-surfacing materials, clothes, plastics, medicines...) June 2008: at current rates of production, 80 million barrels (bbl) per day, deposits will last 42 years. Extractable deposits of this fossil fuel will therefore disappear for good in 2050.(Source: BP Statistical Review of world Energy, 2007) The reconstitution of oil reserves will take millions of years, which is of course inconceivably long on a human time-scale Liquid fuels can be made from organic matter. But if we want to replace all current oil consumption with biofuels, we would need such vast areas of cultivable land, that the 9 billion human beings forecast for the year 2050 would not be able to satisfy their hunger. 34 million bbl/day come from the OPEC member countries.
There are doubts about the reliability of official OPEC reserves estimates, which are not provided with any form of audit or verification that meet external reporting standards

y y y

Oil is highly polluting for the atmosphere and our planet. Its use generates 10.3 billion tonnes of CO2 each year, with the result that world temperatures are climbing at an alarming rate (never seen before in the course of the earth's history) and climate patterns are increasingly unsettled.

Examples of products we use (or encounter) every day that contain petroleum are: y y y y y y y y y y GASOLINE DIESEL JET FUEL BUNKER FUEL PLASTICS SYNTHETIC RUBBER SYNTHETIC FIBERS FERTILIZERS/PESTICIDES PAINT . DETERGENT

Additional products include:

y y y y y y y y y y y y PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PLASTICS FOOD ADDITIVES SYNTHETIC RUBBER MEDICINE SYNTHETIC FIBERS MAKE-UP DYES PAINT DETERGENT FERTILIZERS/PESTICIDES CANDLES

Oil Production Thousand barrels daily by country

Oil Consumption Thousand barrels daily by country

Disadvantage of oil
 

 

 

 

Oil is a non-renewable energy source that takes millions of years to form and therefore once existing and any new reserves are depleted there is no way to obtain more. While oil is relatively easy to transport, one of the more common transportation methods is shipping oil from port to port by supertanker massive purpose-built tanker ships capable of transporting enormous quantities of oil by sea. While spills are rare they are by no means unheard of and the resulting inevitably catastrophic effect on marine life, birds and coastlines is evident for many years. Burning oil generates carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas although to a slightly lesser extent than coal in terms of the energy extracted. Oil contains sulphur which when burnt forms sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide these compounds combine with atmospheric moisture to form sulphuric acid, leading to acid rain . This can lead to destruction of forests and the progressive erosion of rock and masonry structures, both natural and man-made. The use of low-sulphur fuels can help to reduce the impact of this. Oil is neither as clean nor efficient in use as natural gas. Many of the countries where oil can be found are politically unstable around 70% of the world s oil reserves are believed to be located in the Middle East. Developed nations with an oil-dependency have a vested interest in such countries and may seek to influence the politics of such countries to their own advantage. Locating additional oil reserves is an extremely costly ongoing process with no guarantee of success. While many of the products obtained from oil are hugely beneficial to mankind, many are also highly to

Coal
y y y y y y

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock normally occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. Coal is one of the cheapest and most important sources of energy, responsible for 41% of electricity production worldwide In many important countries like India,China,Germany,USA,Coal is the primary source of electricity and energy. Other smaller countries also heavily rely on coal for example Poland 94% , South Africa 92%, China for 77% and Australia for 76% of Electricity. Coal has played this a pivotal role in the development of mankind and his progress into the Industrial Age. Coal is an essential raw material and fuel for important global industries like Cement and Steel.

Disadvantage of coal


   

 

Burning coal emits harmful waste such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphuric acids, arsenic and ash. It also emits twice as much carbon dioxide when compared with natural gas to produce the same level of heat, which increased the levels of harmful greenhouse gases emitted into the earth s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels now account for about 65 per cent of the extra carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. The burning of coal by large-scale factories to power industry has led to acid rain in some regions Coal can be cleaned and/or turned into a liquid of gas but this technology has yet to be fully developed and adds to the expense of creating fuel via coal Coal mining can scar the landscape and the equipment used for mining is large and noisy which may affect local wildlife Transporting coal can be problematic because it requires an extensive transportation system and can also cause additional pollution in the form of emissions from transportation vehicles such as lorries, etc There are limited stocks of coal remaining they will be entirely depleted this millennium if we continue to burn coal in the future at the same rate we are today coal can be considered as a non-renewable energy source The mining industry can cause health difficulties for miners and fatalities due to the potentially dangerous nature of the work Burning dirty coal can create significant pollution problems

Major Uses of Coal

1. Electricity Production 2. Steel Production 3. Cement Industry

4. Paper Industry and Aluminium Industry 5. Chemicals and Pharma Industry 6. Coal Gas and Coal Liquid as Transportation Fuel Coal is also used in thousands of other applications and products like soap,fibre making,rayon,cooking fuel etc.

Types


Peat, considered to be a precursor of coal, has industrial importance as a fuel in some regions, for example, Ireland and Finland. In its dehydrated form, peat is a highly effective absorbent for fuel and oil spills on land and water Lignite, also referred to as brown coal, is the lowest rank of coal and used almost exclusively as fuel for electric power generation. Jet is a compact form of lignite that is sometimes polished and has been used as an ornamental stone since the Upper Palaeolithic

Sub-bituminous coal, whose properties range from those of lignite to those of bituminous coal are used primarily as fuel for steam -electric power generation. Additionally, it is an important source of light aromatic hydrocarbons for the chemical synthesis industry.

Bituminous coal, dense sedimentary rock, black but sometimes dark brown, often with well-defined bands of bright and dull material, used primarily as fuel in steam -electric power generation, with sub stantial quantities also used for heat and power applications in manufacturing and to make coke Steam coal is a grade between bituminous coal and anthracite, once widely used as a fuel for steam locomotives. In this specialized use it is sometimes known as sea-coal in the U.S.[5] Small steam coal (dry small steam nuts or DSSN) was used as a fuel for domestic water heating Anthracite, the highest rank; a harder, glossy, black coal used primarily for residential and commercial space heating. It may be divided further into metamorphically altered bituminous coal and petrified oil, as from the deposits in Pennsylvania Graphite, technically the highest rank, but difficult to ignite and is not so commonly used as fuel: it is mostly used in pencils and, when powdered, as a lubricant.

Coal Production by country

Coal consumption

Environmental effects
There are a number of adverse health and environmental effects of coal burning especially in power stations, and of coal mining. These effects include: y Coal-fired power plants shortened nearly 24,000 lives a year in the United States, including 2,800 from lung cancer

Generation of hundreds of millions of tons of waste products, including fly ash, bottom ash, flue gas desulfurization sludge, that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals

y y y y y y y y y

Acid rain from high sulphur coal Interference with groundwater and water table levels Contamination of land and waterways and destruction of homes from fly ash spills such as Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill Impact of water use on flows of rivers and consequential impact on other land uses Dust nuisance Subsidence above tunnels, sometimes damaging infrastructure Uncontrollable underground fires which may burn for decades or centuries. Coal-fired power plants without effective fly ash capture are one of the largest sources of human-caused background radiation exposure Coal-fired power plants emit mercury, selenium, and arsenic which are harmful to human health and the environment Release of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which causes climate cha nge and global warming according to the IPCC and the EPA. Coal is the largest contributor to the human-made increase of CO2 in the air

Natural gas
y Natural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0 20% higher hydrocarbons (primarilyethane). It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers. Most natural gas is created by two mechanisms: y Biogenic gas is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, landfills, and shallow sediments. Deeper in the earth, at greater temperature and pressure, y thermogenic gas is created from buried organic material

Natural Gas Use By Sector

Source: EIA - Annual Energy Outlook 2002

Natural Gas Production-Billion cubic feet per day -by country

Natural Gas Consumption - Billion cubic feet per day -by country

Advantages

Is more environment friendly than oil or coal? It is largely because of the fact that it has only one carbon and hence, produces fewer emissions. It is a known fact that for same amount of heat, natural gas emits 30% less carbon dioxide than burning oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than burning coal. Thereby, improving the quality of air. Is cheap (less expensive than gasoline) therefore, very cost effective. Can be safely stored and burned. Most of the natural reserves of natural gas fields are still underutilized Emits 60 to 90% less smog-producing pollutants. Due to clean burning process, doesnt produce ashes after energy release. Has high heating value of 24,000 Btu per pound.

y y y y y y

Disadvantages

One disadvantage of natural gas that is often credited as an advantage by experts, is that its a non-renewable energy resource. Its availability is finite. Critics also point that their extraction leaves out large craters within the earth. Is highly volatile (highly flammable) and can be dangerous, if handled carelessly. Is colourless, odourless and tasteless that makes detection of its leak very difficult. In gas pipelines, a substance (contains carbon monoxide) that has a strong odor is added to help detect a leak. But, these substances may be harmful and cause deaths, in fact, natural gas use is the most common cause of carbon monoxide deaths. Constructing and managing such pipelines cost a lot.

y y y

General limitations

World energy consumption doubled between 1970 and 2000. It is expected to double again between now and 2050. The use of energy is still uneven, with electricity consumption of 83 kilowatt-hours in the least developed countries compared with an average of 8,053 kWh in OECD countries (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). The world s energy supply is 81% reliant on fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal)

Reserves of oil and natural gas will be largely exhausted by the end of the 21st century and coal within two or three centuries: o Oil: 50 to 100 years, o Gas: 60 to 70 years, o Coal: 200 years

Discoveries of oil peaked around 1960 and have since slowed significantly. In fact, the time will come when the costs of extraction will increase whilst production will start to decline. This phase, known as peak oil or Hubbert s peak after the American geologist who formulated the theory, should occur around 2030 according to scientists. The decline in oil production will mean that prices increase alongside a growing need for oil.

Nuclear energy
PROS

y y y y

y
CONS

Lower carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into thea tmosphere in power generation. Low operating costs (relatively). Known, developed technology ready for market. Large power-generating capacity able to meet industrial and city needs (as opposed to lowpower technologies like solar that might meet only local, residential, or office needs but cannot generate power for heavy manufacturing). Existing and future nuclear waste can be reduced through waste recycling and reprocessing, similar to Japan and the EU (at added cost).

y y y y y y y

High construction costs due to complex radiation containment systems and procedures. High subsidies needed for construction and operation, as well as loan guarantees. Subsidies and investment could be spent on other solutions (such as renewable energy systems). High-known risks in an accident. Unknown risks. Long construction time. Target for terrorism (as are all centralized power generation sources).

y y y y

Waivers are required to limit liability of companies in the event of an accident. (This means that either no one will be responsible for physical, environmental, or health damages in the case of an accident or leakage over time from waste storage, or that the government will ultimately have to cover the cost of any damages.) Nuclear is a centralized power source requiring large infrastructure, investment, and coordination where decentralized sources (including solar and wind) can be more efficient, less costly, and more resilient. Uranium sources are just as finite as other fuel sources, such as coal, natural gas, etc., and are expensive to mine, refine, and transport, and produce considerable environmental waste (including greenhouse gasses) during all of these processes. The majority of known uranium around the world lies under land controlled by tribes or indigenous peoples who don t support it being mined from the earth. The legacy of environmental contamination and health costs for miners and mines has been catastrophic. Waste lasts 200 500 thousand years. There are no operating long-term waste storage sites in the U.S. One is in development, but its capacity is already oversubscribed. Yucca Mountain is in danger of contaminating ground water to a large water basin, affecting millions of people. It s difficult, if not impossible, for the U.S. to impose its will on the state of Nevada (or other places) if they don t want to host long-term storage of waste. There are no operating next generation reactors, such as high-temperature breeder reactors and particle-beam activated reactors, that are reported to produce less waste and have reduced safety concerns. Even if these technologies were ready, they wouldn t be deployable commercially for another two decades. Shipping nuclear waste internationally poses an increased potential threat to interception to terrorism (though this has not happened yet with any of the waste shipped by other countries). Increasing the amount of waste shipped, particularly in less secure countries, is seen as a significant increase in risk to nuclear terrorism.

Sustainability: Is nuclear energy sustainable?

For several reasons, nuclear power is neither green nor sustainable:

Both the nuclear waste as well as retired nuclear plants are a life-threatening legacy for hundreds of future generations. It flagrantly contradicts with the thoughts of sustainability if future generations have to deal with dangerous waste generated from preceding generations. Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is available on earth only in limited quantities. Uranium is being consumed (i.e. converted) during the opera tion of the nuclear power plant so it won't be available any more for future generations. This again contradicts the principle of sustainability.

Is nuclear power renewable energy?

Nuclear energy uses Uranium as fuel, which is a scarce resource. The supply of Uranium is expected to last only for the next 30 to 60 years (depending on the actual demand). Therefore nuclear energy is not a renewable energy.

Conclusion

From the above mentioned pros and cons of nuclear power plants, it should be evident that nuclear energy cannot be a solution to any problem. Even worse: it is the source of many further problems. We must not any longer shut our eyes to the consequences of our being on earth. Besides moral, ethical and spiritual reasons, at least for the pure will to survive we should consequently strive for a sustainable living and realize it in our personal life. It's time for change!

The actual interests of the energy industry in nuclear power

Generally speaking, the electrical energy industry is aware of the substantial drawbacks of nuclear power generation. Nevertheless this industry is now spending an incredible amount of money and time, lobbying for the revival of nuclear energy. The main interest of the owners of existing nuclear power plants is however toprolong the life-span for existing nuclear plants. Because the existing plants will be amortised at the end of their originally planned life time, huge financial profits can be realised for any day longer which these plants can be kept in operatio This is much n. more lucrative than building new nuclear plants! However, to operate nuclear power plants longer than originally planned can be quite dangerous since any plant or technical appliance usually gets more troublesome towards the end of its planned life expectancy.

ENERGY PROS AND CONS

Energy is the number one environmental problem today. But we dont want to minimize our use of energy abundant energy makes possible civilization, especially our kind of high-technology civilization. So the question is: how can we maintain abundant sources of energy without ruining our environment? Here is some information that can help.

Pros and Cons of Some Energy Sources

Source Provides Nearly 60% of electricity and 25% of total energy in the United States today; probably will not increase in % because of environmental effects Upside World s most abundant fossil fuel; Many coal-fired plants are inplace; 250 years worth of fuel. Doesn't produce greenhouse gases. Downside World s most abundant fossil fuel; most polluting; along with nuclear the most dangerous; coal mining is a major environmental and human health problem. Most dangerous to people and environment; waste disposal an unsolved problem; power plants

Coal

Today: 1/6 of the world's Nuclear: Conventional electricity. In the future: Known conventional

Source

Provides nuclear reactor fuel will run out in about a century.

Upside

Downside expensive and slow to build; expensive to run, and have very limited lifetimes.

Solar

More than the world uses or will ever use.

Nonpolluting and renewable; works now.

Needs improved grid and storage.

Wind

Texas and the Dakotas alone can provide all the electricity needed in the United States.

Nonpolluting and renewable; works now.

Needs improved electrical grid for distribution and new storage methods; some birds are killed flying into windmill blades; NIMBY (not in my backyard) problem: view and sound of windmills bothers some people.

Pros and Cons of Energy Sources: More Information

Source Dangers Who Gains Who Loses Everyone and every ecosystem exposed to coal burning pollutants; global climate change; miners' health; land strip-mined. People who live near and own property near the power plants; people subjected to radioactive wastes. Investors in conventional power. Those who dislike living near windmill installations.

Coal

Global warming; acid rain; release of toxic metals and compounds Big Power and harmful to human health, other life Coal forms, and ecosystems, such as Corporations. mercury, sulfur oxides.

Previous Nuclear: Wastes and spills remain very toxic investors in Conventional for 10,000 years. nuclear power.

Solar

None.

Everybody.

Wind

Difficult to brake the blades; in very All users of high winds, the machine can selfelectricity. destruct.

Copyright 2007 Daniel B. Botkin From his forthcoming book, Energy Forever: A Voters Guide to Energy