IB Syllabus: 3.3.1-3.3.3 Video – A Crude Awakening

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http://1bog.org/blog/what-if-solar-power-had-fossil-fuel-like-subsidies-infographic/

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3.3.1: Outline the range of energy resources available to a society

3.3.2: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two contrasting energy sources

3.3.3: Discuss the factors that effect the choice of energy sources adopted by different societies

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Greenhouse gases

Renewable natural capital

Non renewable natural capital

Pollution

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Fossil fuels coal, oil, natural gas Nuclear fission, fusion Solar passive, active Hydroelectric Geothermal Wind

The relative use of different forms depends on

the particular area, its needs and its own available resources

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World

Nuclear power

6% Hydropower, geothermal,

solar, wind

7%

Natural

Gas

12%

Biomass

11%

Oil

32%

Coal

21%

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United States

Nuclear power

8% Hydropower

geothermal

solar, wind

4%

Biomass

4%

Natural

Gas

23%

Oil

39%

Coal

22%

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60

50

30

20

10

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Year

40

2020

History Projections Oil

Natural gas

Coal

Nuclear

Nonhydro

renewable

Renewable hydro

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Year

2100 2025 1950 1875 1800

0

20

40

60

80

100 C

ontr

ibution t

o t

ota

l energ

y

consum

ption (

perc

ent)

Wood

Coal

Oil

Nuclear

Hydrogen

Solar

Natural gas

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Future of nonrenewable resources depends on 1. Actual or Potential supply

2. Rate of consumption

Economic depletion – costs too much to use

Depletion time – time to use 80% of resource

Traditional measure of availability is reserve to production ratio – change is based on new sources and new processes

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Present Depletion

time A

Depletion

time B

Depletion

time C

Time

Pro

du

cti

on

C

B

A

Recycle, reuse, reduce

consumption; increase

reserves by improved

mining technology,

higher prices, and

new discoveries

Recycle; increase reserves

by improved mining

technology, higher prices,

and new discoveries

Mine, use, throw away;

no new discoveries;

rising prices

Depletion

Curves

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Resources are unequally distributed on the earth by geologic processes

In free market economy high supply should = lower price, while scarcity = increased price

Theory may no longer apply because of governmental control of resources & prices

Government Subsidies, Lower taxes, & increased purchasing power all benefit mining companies

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Most power generation regardless of the type is based on heating water to create

Steam to turn a turbine and run a dynamo to create the electricity 9/28/2013 Guru IB ESS 13

Low land use

Easily transported

within and

between countries

High net

energy yield

Low cost (with

huge subsidies)

Ample supply for

42–93 years

Advantages

Moderate water

pollution

Releases CO2

when burned

Air pollution

when burned

Artificially low

price encourages

waste and

discourages

search for

alternatives

Need to find

substitute within

50 years

Disadvantages

Efficient distribu-

tion system

Oil

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Advantages Disadvantages

Moderate existing

supplies

Large potential

supplies

High costs

Low net energy

yield

Large amount of

water needed to

process

Severe land

disruption from

surface mining

Water pollution

from mining

residues

Air pollution

when burned

CO2 emissions

when burned

Easily transported

within and

between

countries

Efficient

distribution

system in place

Coal

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Low risk of

accidents because

of multiple safety

systems (except

in 35 poorly

designed and run

reactors in former

Soviet Union and

Eastern Europe)

Moderate land use

Moderate land

disruption and

water pollution

(without

accidents)

Emits 1/6 as

much CO2 as coal

Low

environmental

impact (without

accidents)

Large fuel

supply

Spreads

knowledge and

technology for

building nuclear

weapons

No acceptable

solution for

long-term storage

of radioactive

wastes and

decommissioning

worn-out plants

Catastrophic

accidents can

happen

(Chernobyl)

High

environmental

impact (with major

accidents)

Low net

energy yield

High cost (even

with large

subsidies)

Advantages Disadvantages

Nuclear Power

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Advantages Disadvantages

Fairly high net energy Work on cloudy days Quick installation Easily expanded or moved No CO2 emissions Low environmental impact Last 20-40 years Low land use (if on roof or built into walls or windows) Reduce dependence on fossil fuels

Need access

to sun

Low efficiency

Need electricity

storage system

or backup

High land use

(solar cell power

plants) could

disrupt desert

areas

High costs

(but should be

competitive in

5-15 years)

DC current must

be converted

to AC

Solar Power

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Improve Energy Efficiency

Increase fuel-efficiency

standards for vehicles,

buildings, and appliances

Mandate government

purchases of efficient

vehicles and other devices

Provide large tax credits for

buying efficient cars,

houses, and appliances

Offer large tax credits for

investments in efficiency

Reward utilities for

reducing demand

Encourage independent

power producers

Greatly increase efficiency

research and development

More Renewable Energy

Increase renewable energy to

20% by 2020 and 50% by 2050

Provide large subsidies and tax

credits for renewable energy

Use full-cost accounting and

least-cost analysis for com-

paring all energy alternatives

Encourage government

purchase of renewable energy

devices

Greatly increase renewable

energy research and

development

Reduce Pollution and

Health Risk

Cut coal use 50% by 2020

Phase out coal subsidies

Levy taxes on coal and oil use

Phase out nuclear power or put

it on hold until 2020

Phase out nuclear power

subsidies

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Iceland uses geothermal energy because of their location and its low environmental impacts

China, US, Russia use coal because they have a lot of it available and it’s cheap economically

US dependence on oil is cultural because of our insistence on cars, suburbs, bigger, more, better

EU more nuclear power use because of environmental benefits and they have the technology to do it

LDCs use wood, dung other biofuels that are easily collected

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With impending effects of climate change the use of carbon dioxide producing energy sources is being questioned around the world

Our dependence is deep how will we change something that is so deeply ingrained in our way of life?

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