Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Claudia S - convener/presenter
Audrey L - recorder
Sean S - recorder
Anna M - convener/recorder
Jackson H - recorder
Wind, Solar, Hydroelectric - Anna
Energy Source Percent of energy Percent of energy Percent of energy
in NC* in US in world**
* https://www.eia.gov/state/seds/data.php?incfile=/state/seds/sep_sum/html/sum_btu_totcb.html&sid=US&sid=NC
** https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/resource/wind/
Wind
Pros Cons How It Works:
+No carbon -Limited ability to store power Wind power turns the shaft on the inside of a
emissions turbine. Then, this shaft rotates a rotor that
-Wind turbines kill birds and bats
+Renewable
has oppositely charged ends and is
-Wind turbines mess up “the view” surrounded by copper wire loops. Through
electromagnetic induction, electricity is
-Intermittent source generated. *
Efficiency:
+No carbon emissions -Limited ability to store Solar cells are designed with both a negatively
power and a positively charged side. Photons hit
+Renewable
-Expensive
these cells and knock electrons free from
atoms. These electrons are then sent along
-Dependent on sun’s wires as electricity. *
presence
Efficiency:
Sun powers wind power, as the sun creates uneven temperature zones, which prompts convection
in the form of wind. Like regular solar power, it is likely that wind will continue to occur. In the next
50 years, American wind power use is expected to increase by at least a third of what it is now.
Solar
It is expected that by 2040 at least 10% of global electricity will come from solar power. It is
expected that there will be a somewhat endless supply of sunlight in the next 50 years.
Hydroelectric
As much of it has already been tapped, it is unlikely that the amount of hydroelectric power will
increase in the future; current hydroelectric power levels will stay where they are today. Some small
and medium waters could still be tapped, but there are few large scale possibilities remaining.
Oil and Gas - Claudia
Consumption
U.S. receives roughly 36% of its energy from petroleum and 29% from
natural gas (est. 2015)
The global supply of crude oil is expected to be adequate to meet the world's demand for liquid fuels through 2050
(U.S. Energy Information Administration).
“Natural gas is poised to become an even more predominant fuel in the 21st century because the global economy is
expanding and energy is a key driver in this economic success story. More and more of that energy is slated to come
from natural gas, because it is a low-emissions and versatile fuel capable of not only powering homes, but also
utilities and transportation in the form of liquefied natural gas or compressed natural gas” (Exxonmobil).
Modern methods such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling increase access to the edges of oil reservoirs
and achieve higher recovery with fewer wells.
“By increasing recovery, gas production can be maintained with fewer land-use impacts” (Mark Zoback).
Pros/Cons for Oil and Natural Gas
Pros, Oil: Cons, Oil:
- Lower energy production when adequate wind and solar resources are
high
- Increase energy production when resources are low
Coal - Audrey
Usage
U.S -30% of total energy source
North Carolina- Coal: 21,500 MSTN (2% total U.S.)
Worldwide- In 2014, the share of world energy consumption of coal was at 40.8%,
Future supply estimates
By 2025, worldwide coal use increases by approximately 60 percent over 2002 levels in the reference case
and by nearly 80 percent in the high economic growth scenario.
Con.
Pro.
Non-renewable resource Relatively cheap
Produces lots of CO2 Widely available
Can cause damage to the lungs Infrastructure already in place
Easily converted
And worker accidents
Generation and Efficiency
Generation
Thermal coal is burned and the resulting heat is used to turn water into steam. The steam then turns
a turbine connected to an electrical generator.
Efficiency
● Supercritical steam cycle technology allows operation at higher temperatures. This could
increase efficiency by 50%.
● Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) allows coal to be converted to a gas called
syngas and “purified” before being used to generate electricity. It’s goal is to reduce C02
emissions (-2%)
Biofuels and other novel sources - Jackson
Energy Source North Carolina United States Worldwide
Biofuels/Biomass 2% 4.78 % 9%
http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/interactive/our-energy-system/
https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=NC
https://energync.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NCs_Geothermal_Industry.pdf
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=geothermal_use
https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy/renewable-energy/geothermal-power.html
Biofuels
How it works
Cons
minimal.