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Energy Portal

Energy development is the ongoing effort to provide sustainable, accessible energy resources through knowledge, skills, and constructions. When harnessing energy from primary energy sources and converting them into more convenient secondary energy forms, such as electrical energy and cleaner fuels, both emissions (reducing pollution) and quality (more efficient use) are important. Image File history File links Padlock. ... jecca is very beautiful!! Environmental science is the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment; with a focus on pollution and degradation of the environment related due to human activities; and the impact on biodiversity and sustainability from local and global development. ... Environmental technology or green technology is the application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and by curbing the negative impacts of human involvement. ... Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ... For articles on specific fuels used in vehicles, see Biogas, Bioethanol, Biobutanol and Biodiesel Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass — recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. ... An active compost heap, steaming on a cold winter morning. ... Conservation biology, or conservation ecology, is the science of protecting and managing Earths biological diversity. ... The conservation ethic is an ethic of resource use, allocation, exploitation, and protection. ... Ecoforestry is forestry that emphasizes holistic practices which strive to protect and restore ecosystems1 instead of traditional forestry that maximizes economic productivity. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ... Environmental design is the process of addressing environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products. ... Envirnonmental preservation is the strict setting aside of natural resources to prevent the use or contact by humans or by human intervention. ... Future energy development faces great challenges due to an increasing world population, demands for higher standards of living, demands for less pollution and a much-discussed end to fossil fuels. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sustainable architecture. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... The international recycling symbol. ... Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... Generally, remediation means giving a remedy. ... The following page contains a list of different forms of waste treatment Anaerobic digestion ArrowBio Composting Gasification Incineration In-vessel composting Landfill Mechanical biological treatment Mechanical heat treatment Plasma Pyrolysis Recycling Sewage treatment Tunnel composting UASB Windrow composting Categories: | ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sustainable development is an umbrella that attempts to bridge the divide between economic growth and environmental protection, while taking into account other issues traditionally associated with development. ... The following page consist of a list of waste water treatment technologies: Activated sludge Anaerobic digestion Anaerobic lagoon Cesspit Combined sewer overflow Composting toilet Constructed wetland Imhoff tank Floculation Reed bed Septic tank Sequencing batch reactor UASB Aerobic Granular Reactor This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Water purification is the removal of contaminants from raw water to produce drinking water that is pure enough for human consumption or for industrial use. ... For the company, see Waste Management, Inc. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Primary energy is energy contained in raw fuels and any other forms of energy received by a system as input to the system. ... Electrical energy can refer to several closely related things. ... For information on the band, see Fuel (band). ...

Dependence on external energy sources

All biological life needs a supply of external energy. Most plants are capable of photosynthesis, some bacteria employ natural sources of chemical energy. Many other organisms thrive on biomass energy passed along in food chains. u fuck in ua ... The leaf is the primary site of photosynthesis in plants. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... Figure 1. ...

Beyond biological needs of humanity, technologically advanced societies have become increasingly vulnerable in their dependence on external energy sources for the production of many manufactured goods and the delivery of myriad services. This energy allows people, in general, to live under diverse climatic conditions, in large populations, and often in controlled environments. Level of dependence of human societies on external energy sources differs, as does the climate, comfort, obesity, pollution, output, and greenhouse gas emissions of each society. It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ...

Increased levels of human comfort generally induce increased dependence on external energy sources. Conversely, comfort can also be realized with lowered energy consumption by the application of energy efficiency and conservation approaches. Wise energy use therefore embodies the idea of balancing human comfort with reasonable energy consumption levels by researching and implementing effective and sustainable energy harvesting and utilisation measures. In physics and engineering, including mechanical and electrical engineering, energy efficiency is a dimensionless number, with a value between 0 and 1 or with times 100 given in percent. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ... Energy consumption is a measure of the rate of energy use such as fuels or electricity. ... Research is often described as an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising facts. ...

As an example of external energy dependence, U.S. President George Bush has stated that "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world."^[1] Another example is the growing reliance on energy supplies to Europe from Russia.

Limitations to energy development

Use of any given energy source in human societies encounters limits to quantitative expansion. At the beginning of the 21st century some issues have achieved global dimension. Principal fossil energy sources, such as oil and natural gas are approaching production declines that may occur within the span of a generation (see Hubbert peak hypothesis). Closely linked to energy development are concerns about the environmental effects of energy use, such as climate changes. Energy development issues are part of the much debated sustainable development problem. Young people interacting within an ethnically diverse society. ... Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. ... Generation (From the Greek γιγνμαι), also known as procreation, is the act of producing offspring. ... The Hubbert peak theory, also known as peak oil, is an influential theory concerning the long-term rate of conventional oil (and other fossil fuel) extraction and depletion. ... In politics and other non-technical contexts, nature or (the) (natural) environment often refers to that part of the natural world that people deem important or valuable, for any reason — economic, aesthetic, philosophical, hedonistic, sentimental, etc. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400,000 years Climate change refers to the variation in the Earths global climate or in regional climates over time. ... Sustainable development is an umbrella that attempts to bridge the divide between economic growth and environmental protection, while taking into account other issues traditionally associated with development. ...

Energy sources

Energy sources are substances or processes with concentrations of energy at a high enough potential to be feasibly encouraged to convert to lower energy forms under human control for human benefit. Except for nuclear fuels, tidal energy and geothermal energy, all terrestrial energy sources are solar. And ultimately, both solar energy itself, and geothermal energy, are nuclear in origin. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical fuel that is burned to derive energy. ... Tidal power is a means of electricity generation achieved by capturing the energy contained in moving water mass due to tides. ... Geothermal power is electricity generated by utilizing naturally occurring geological heat sources. ... Solar power describes a number of methods of harnessing energy from the light of the sun. ...

Fossil fuels

Main article: Fossil fuel

Fossil fuels, in terms of energy, involve the burning of coal or hydrocarbon fuels, which are the remains of the decomposition of plants and animals. Steam power plant combustion heats water to create steam, which turns a turbine, which, in turn, generates electricity, waste heat, and pollution. There are three main types of fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Hydrocarbons are refined at oil refineries and processed at chemical plants A hydrocarbon is a chemical compound that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ... Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... In physical chemistry, and in engineering, steam refers to vaporized water. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Waste heat is the by-product heat of machines and technical processes for which no useful application is found. ... It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. ...

Pros

A refuelling truck containing aviation fuel.

• Because it is based on the simple process of combustion, the burning of fossil fuels can generate large amounts of electricity with a small amount of fuel. Gas-fired power plants are more efficient than coal fired power plants, which have improved slightly over the past years.
• Fossil fuels such as coal are readily available and are currently plentiful. If more energy is required, more coal can be strip-mined. The transport of coal is by rail, especially if the plant is located close to the fuel source.
• Coal is cheap compared to other sources of energy. Because there are large deposits of coal in the world, the per-unit cost is relatively low.
• The technology already exists (except for Clean coal technology and Carbon capture and storage) for the use of fossil fuels, meaning consumers do not have to spend money switching to other technologies, except for oil and natural gas, as they approach peak production.
• Fossil fuels in liquid form are easy to distribute.

ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 724 KB) A Shell Jet A refueller truck on the ramp at Vancouver International Airport. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 724 KB) A Shell Jet A refueller truck on the ramp at Vancouver International Airport. ... An aviation fuel truck. ... A power station (also power plant) is a facility for the generation of electric power. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a level of technological mastery sufficient to leave the surface of the planet for the first time and explore space. ... Clean coal is the name attributed to coal chemically washed of minerals and impurities, sometimes gasified, burned and the resulting flue gases treated with steam, with the purpose of almost completely eradicating sulphur dioxide and reburned so as to make the carbon dioxide in the flue gas economically recoverable. ... Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an approach to mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and subsequently storing it away safely instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. ...

Cons

Liquid fossil fuels are highly flammable and their storage can be disastrous when accidents occur.

• The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the release of pollution into the atmosphere.
  • Some of these by-products, such as carbon dioxide, are heat-trapping gases, which contribute to the greenhouse effect through radiative forcing leading to global warming, stronger storms, and rapidly increasing costs of adverse weather.
  • Other pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, are present in acid precipitation.
• Dependence on fossil fuels from volatile regions or countries creates security risks for dependent countries. Oil dependence in particular has lead to monopolization, war, and socio-political instability.
• They are considered non-renewable resources, which will eventually decline in production and become exhausted, with dire consequences to societies that remain highly dependent on them. Fossil fuels are actually slowly forming continuously, but we are using them up at a rate 100,000 times faster than they are formed.
• Extracting fossil fuels is becoming more difficult as we consume the most accessible fuel deposits. Extraction of fossil fuels is becoming more expensive and more dangerous as mines get deeper and oil rigs go further out to sea.
• Extraction of fossil fuels can result in extensive environmental degradation, such as the strip mining and mountaintop removal of coal.
• The drilling and transportation of petroleum can result in accidents that result in the despoilation of hundreds of miles of beaches and the death or elimination of many forms of wildlife in the area.
• The storage of these fuels can result in accidents with explosions and poisoning of the atmosphere and groundwater.

Image File history File links Buncefield2. ... Image File history File links Buncefield2. ... Flammable or Flammability refers to the ease at which a substance will ignite, causing fire or combustion. ... A railing accidentally collapses at a college football game, spilling fans onto the sidelines An accident is something going wrong unexpectedly. ... It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ... Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Air redirects here. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... A schematic representation of the exchanges of energy between outer space, the Earths atmosphere, and the Earth surface. ... The generalised concept of radiative forcing in climate science is any change in the radiation (heat) entering the climate system or changes in radiatively active gases. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... Oil dependence is the reliance of a nation or other entity upon the discovery, mass production, and distribution of fossil fuels and related products, frequently by another nation. ... Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... The Hubbert peak theory, also known as peak oil, is an influential theory concerning the long-term rate of conventional oil production and depletion. ... This article is about mineral extraction. ... Natural gas drilling rig A drilling rig or oil rig is a structure housing equipment used to drill for and extract oil or natural gas from underground reservoirs. ... Strip mining is the practice of mining a seam of mineral ore by first removing all of the soil and rock that lies on top of it. ... // Mountaintop removal coal mining at Kayford Mountain, West Virginia. ... Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of geologic formations. ...

Hydroelectric energy

Main article: Hydroelectricity

In hydro energy, the gravitational descent of a river is compressed from a long run to a single location with a dam or a flume. This creates a location where concentrated pressure and flow can be used to turn turbines or water wheels, which drive a mechanical mill or an electric generator. An electric generator, when there is excess energy available, can be run backwards as a motor to pump water back up for later use. Hydraulic turbine and electrical generator. ... Gravitation is a phenomenon through which all objects attract each other. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... This flume diverts water from the White River in Washington to generate electricity A flume is a waterwork with open water table, that leads water from a diversion dam or weir completely aside a natural flow, often an elevated box structure (typically wood) that follows the natural contours of the... The use of water pressure - the Captain Cook Memorial Jet in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. ... . The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ... The term mill, depending on context, can refer to: Mill (factory) – a place of business for making articles of manufacture; e. ... Generator redirects here. ... An electrically driven pump (electropump) for waterworks near the Hengsteysee, Germany. ...

Pros

• Hydroelectric power stations can promptly increase to full capacity, unlike other types of power stations. This is because water can be accumulated above the dam and released to coincide with peaks in demand.
• Electricity can be generated constantly, because there are no outside forces, which affect the availability of water. This is in contrast to wind, solar or tidal power, all of which are far less reliable.
• Hydroelectric power produces no waste or pollution.
• Hydropower is a renewable resource; oil, natural gas, and coal reserves may be depleted over time.
• Hydroelectricity secures a country's access to energy supplies.

The supply and demand model describes how prices vary as a result of a balance between product availability at each price (supply) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand). ... In physics, force is an influence that may cause a body to accelerate. ... Waste inside a wheelie bin Waste, rubbish, trash, garbage, or junk is unwanted or undesired material. ... It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ...

Cons

• The construction of a dam can have a serious environmental impact on the surrounding areas. The amount and the quality of water downstream can be affected, which affects plant life both aquatic, and land-based. Because a river valley is being flooded, the delicate local habitat of many species are destroyed, while people living nearby may have to relocate their homes.
• Dams are expensive to build, making the start-up costs of a hydroelectric power station very high.
• Hydroelectricity can only be used in areas where there is a large supply of water.
• Flooding submerges large forests (if they have not been harvested). As the vegetation decays, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas.

Aquatic plants — also called hydrophytic plants or hydrophytes — are plants that have adapted to living in or on aquatic environments. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley Mt. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... CO2 levels are increasing due to human activity Greenhouse gases (GHG) are gaseous components of the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. ...

Nuclear energy

Main article: Nuclear power

Nuclear power stations work similarly to fossil fuel power plants, except for the fact that the heat is produced by the reaction of uranium inside a nuclear reactor. The reactor uses uranium rods, the atoms of which are split in the process of fission, releasing a large amount of energy. The process continues as a chain reaction with other nuclei takes place. The heat released heats water to create steam, which spins a turbine, producing electricity. A nuclear power station. ... A nuclear power station. ... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Atomic mass 238. ... Core of a small nuclear reactor used for research. ... In geometry, a Rod is a 3-dimensional, solid (filled) cylinder. ... For the generation of electrical power by fission, see Nuclear power plant An induced nuclear fission event. ... A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions. ... A semi-accurate depiction of the helium atom. ... In physical chemistry, and in engineering, steam refers to vaporized water. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...

Pros

• The process of nuclear fission allows for the production of tremendous amounts of energy from a small amount of fuel. The energy content of a pound of uranium or thorium is equivalent to 3.5 million lbs of coal (1,6 million kilos).
• The cost of making nuclear power is about the same as coal, which is considered very inexpensive.
• Nuclear power plants are heavily guarded with the nuclear reactor inside a reinforced containment building, and thus are relatively impervious to terrorist attack or adverse weather conditions.
• Nuclear power does not produce any air pollution or release carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, it does not contribute to global warming or acid rain.

For the generation of electrical power by fission, see Nuclear power plant An induced nuclear fission event. ... General Name, Symbol, Number thorium, Th, 90 Chemical series Actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 232. ... A nuclear power station. ... A containment building, in its most common usage, is a steel or concrete structure enclosing a nuclear reactor. ... Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Air redirects here. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ... The effects of acid rain in the Jizera Mountains of the Czech Republic Acid rain (or more accurately acid precipitation)[1] occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. ...

Cons

• Waste produced from nuclear fission of uranium is poisonous, and highly radioactive, requiring maintenance and monitoring at the storage sites. Moreover, the long-term disposal of the long-lived nuclear waste causes serious problems, since (unless the spent fuel is reprocessed) it takes from one to three thousand years for the spent fuel to come back to the natural radioactivity of the uranium ore body that was mined to produce it.
• The operation of an uncontained nuclear reactor near human settlements can be catastrophic, as shown by the Chernobyl accident in the Ukraine (former USSR), where large areas of land were affected by nuclear fallout. Members of the public are hesitant about the safety of nuclear power.
• Building a nuclear power plant requires a huge investment, and the costs of safe disassembling (called decommissioning) after it reaches end of usable life have to be included into the budget.
• There can be connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapon proliferation, since both require large-scale uranium enrichment facilities. An international organization (the IAEA) supervises all reactors.
• Nuclear fuels are non-renewable energy sources, with unknown high concentration ore reserves. There is a large amount of trace concentration nuclear material in seawater and most rocks, however extraction from these is not economical.
• Uranium mining activities produce greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming (although not nearly as much as coal mining).

Used nuclear fuel (often called spent nuclear fuel) is nuclear fuel that has been irradiated in a nuclear reactor (usually at a nuclear power plant) to the point that it is no longer useful in sustaining a nuclear reaction. ... The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles. ... Maintenance see repair and maintenance Maintenance is a legal term of art that is used to describe child support and alimony (also called spousal support). ... To monitor or monitoring may mean: to observe a situation for any changes which may occur over time, using a monitor or measuring device of some sort: Baby monitor, medical monitor, Heart rate monitor Biomonitoring Condition monitoring Network monitoring Election monitoring to observe the behaviour or communications of individuals or... Look up storage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An illustration showing the various sources of nuclear waste Radioactive waste is waste type containing radioactive chemical elements that does not have a practical purpose. ... Political Punk band from Victorville, Ca WWW.MYSPACE.COM/NUCLEARWASTEX ... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Atomic mass 238. ... A containment building, in its most common usage, is a steel or concrete structure enclosing a nuclear reactor. ... Core of a small nuclear reactor used for research. ... The nuclear power plant at Chernobyl prior to the completion of the sarcophagus. ... Map of hypothetical fallout dispersal after a large-scale nuclear attack against the United States. ... Public is of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; opposed to private; as, the public treasury, a road or lake. ... Nuclear safety is a term which underscores and understates the danger implicit in the use of nuclear materials, and may be used to describe measures taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 kilometers (11 mi) above the hypocenter. ... Enriched uranium is uranium whose uranium-235 content has been increased through the process of isotope separation. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. ...

Wind power

Main article: Wind power

This type of energy harnesses the power of the wind to propel the blades of wind turbines. These turbines cause the rotation of magnets, which creates electricity. Wind towers are usually built together on wind farms. Wind farm in Neuenkirchen, Dithmarschen, Germany. ... Wind turbine in Luxembourg Horizontal axis wind turbine, the Enercon model E-66 wind energy converter, in Germany. ... Iron filings in a magnetic field generated by a bar magnet A magnet is an object that has a magnetic field. ... Wind turbines in Neuenkirchen, Dithmarschen (Germany). ...

Pros

• Wind power produces no water or air pollution that can contaminate the environment, because there are no chemical processes involved in wind power generation, there are no by-products, such as carbon dioxide, left over.

• Wind generation is a renewable source of energy, which means that we will never run out of it.

• Wind towers can be beneficial for people living permanently, or temporarily, in remote areas. It may be difficult to transport electricity through wires from a power plant to a far-away location and thus, wind towers can be set up at the remote setting.

• Farming and grazing can still take place on land occupied by wind turbines.

• Those utilizing wind power in a grid-tie configuration will have backup power in the event of a grid outage.

• Cheap in terms of real estate costs with increasing population and land cultivation. Takes only a few meters at the base and even cheaper if built off shore.

A chemical reaction occurs when vapours of hydrogen chloride and ammonia meet to form a cloud of a new substance, ammonium chloride Chemical reaction is a process that results in the interconversion of chemical substances [1]. The substance or substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called reactants. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ...

Cons

• Wind power is intermittent in many locations, because consistent wind is needed to ensure continuous power generation. When the wind speed decreases, the turbine lingers and less electricity is generated, thus the production at any time in these places is not fully predictable. In some areas, however, winds are highly reliable, or seasonably predictable.

• Commercial generation requires a wind farm over large areas having an effect on scenery.

• Wind farms, depending on the location and type of turbine, can negatively affect bird migration patterns and pose a danger to the birds themselves. Newer, larger wind turbines have slower moving blades which are visible to birds.

• The effect of large scale wind farms on the climate is unknown, just as the effect of buildings, other manmade structures, and agricultural windbreaks have unknown effects on the climate through the extraction of energy from the prevailing wind.

Wind turbines in Neuenkirchen, Dithmarschen (Germany). ...

Wave power

A Pelamis wave energy converter produces electricity and is designed to withstand storm conditions.

Main article: Wave power Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 410 KB) Summary Pelamis wave power machine. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 410 KB) Summary Pelamis wave power machine. ... The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is an emerging technology that will use the motion of ocean waves to create electricity. ... Wave power refers to the energy of ocean surface waves and the capture of that energy to do useful work - including electricity generation, desalination, and the pumping of water (into reservoirs). ...

Wave power is the extraction of energy from waves in large bodies of water such as oceans and large lakes. Wave power is a form of renewable energy that is on the rise.

Pros

• Potentially highly abundant for countries with large coastlines.
• Potentially minimal effect on the environment

Cons

• No viable large scale method of energy production exists.
• Limited to coastlines.
• Requires initial reasearch, development and investment in infrastructure.

Biomass

Main article: Biomass

Biomass production involves using garbage or renewable resources, especially vegetation, like maize, to generate electricity. When garbage decomposes the methane produced is captured in pipes and later burned to produce electricity. Vegetation and wood can be burned directly, like fossil fuels, to generate energy, or processed to form alcohols. |0. ... Waste inside a wheelie bin Waste, rubbish, trash, garbage, or junk is unwanted or undesired material. ... Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Rotting fruit Decomposition (or spoilage) is a phenomenon common in the sciences of biology and chemistry. ... Methane is a significant and plentiful fuel which is the principal component of natural gas. ... Functional group of an alcohol molecule. ...

Pros

• Biomass production can be used to burn organic waste products resulting from agriculture. This type of recycling encourages the philosophy that nothing on this Earth should be wasted. The result is less demand on the Earth's resources, and a higher carrying capacity for Earth because non-renewable fossil fuels are not consumed.
• Biomass is abundant on Earth and is generally renewable. In theory, we will never run out of organic waste products as fuel, because we are continuously producing them. In addition, biomass is found throughout the world, a fact that should alleviate energy pressures in third world nations.
• When methods of biomass production other than direct combustion of plant mass, such as fermentation and pyrolysis, are used, there is little effect on the environment. Alcohols and other fuels produced by these alternative methods biomass are clean burning and are feasible replacements to fossil fuels.

Organic material or organic matter is any material which originated as a living organism. ... The international recycling symbol. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Anaerobic respiration. ... Simple sketch of pyrolysis chemistry Pyrolysis usually means the chemical decomposition of organic materials by heating in the absence of oxygen or any other reagents, except possibly steam. ...

Cons

• Direct combustion without emissions filtering generally leads to air pollution similar to that from fossil fuels.
• Producing liquid fuels from biomass is generally less cost effective than from petroleum, since the production of biomass and its subsequent conversion to alcohols is particularly expensive.^{[citation needed]}
• Some researchers claim that, when biomass crops are the product of intensive farming, ethanol fuel production results in a net loss of energy after one accounts for the fuel costs of fertilizer production, farm equipment, and the distillation process. [1]

Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ... The combustion product gas resulting from the burning of fossil fuels (or any other combustible fuel) is called flue gas. ... Biomass to liquid (BTL) is a (multi step) process to produce liquid fuels out of biomass: It mainly aims at using the whole plant to improve the CO2 balance and the costs. ... |0. ... Cost-effectiveness In economics, comparison of the relative expenditure (costs) and outcomes (effects) associated with two or more courses of action. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Intensive Farming Intensive agriculture is an agricultural production system characterized by the high inputs as relative to land area (as opposed to extensive farming). ... This article or section may contain external links that promote sites existing primarily to sell goods or services, having objectionable amounts of advertising, or requiring payment to view the relevant content — otherwise known as spam. ...

Hydrogen fuel

Main article: Hydrogen economy

Unlike the other energy sources in this article, hydrogen fuel must be manufactured with a net loss of energy. When manufactured from natural gas it is, like gasoline, a derivative fuel; when produced using electricity, it is a form chemical energy storage as in storage batteries. In using hydrogen as a fuel, there are two basic alternatives: (1) a fuel cell can convert the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process, produce electricity, or (2) hydrogen can be burned (less efficiently than in a fuel cell) in an internal combustion engine (e.g. Mazda RX-8 rotary engine). A hydrogen economy is a hypothetical future economy in which energy, for mobile applications (vehicles, aircraft) and electrical grid load balancing (daily peak demand reserve), is stored as hydrogen (H2). ... Four double-A batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Atomic mass 15. ...

Pros

• Hydrogen is colourless, odourless and entirely non-polluting, yielding pure water vapor (with minimal NOx) as exhaust when combusted in air. This eliminates the direct production of exhaust gases that lead to smog, and carbon dioxide emissions that enhance the effect of global warming.
• Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element and has the best energy-to-weight ratio of any fuel. Because of this, hydrogen can be economically competitive with gasoline or diesel as a transportation fuel.
• Hydrogen can be produced anywhere; it can be produced domestically from the decomposition of the most abundant chemical on earth: water. Consequently, countries do not have to rely on OPEC countries for fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be produced from domestic sources and the price can be established within the country.
• Electrolysis combined with fuel-cell regeneration [2] is more than 50% efficient; more efficient than pumped hydro and many other forms of mechanical storage.
• Stationary storage with double-walled tanks is stable over long periods of time; hydrogen which outgases from the interior can be pumped back in.

The 3 letter word/formula nox can mean: Nyx, a goddess of Night (nox is Latin for night). ... Victorian London was notorious for its thick smogs, or pea-soupers, a fact that is often recreated to add an air of mystery to a period costume drama. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ... Gasoline, also called petrol, is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting mostly of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913), inventor of the Diesel engine. ... A domestic goat Domestic can refer to: An animal or plant that has been domesticated A domestic worker Something pertaining to home Domestic policy is that policy relevant within a country A lobby term for women or girls This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that... Logo The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an international organization made up of Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. ...

Cons

• Other than some volcanic emanations, hydrogen does not exists in its pure form in the environment, as a gas, because Earth's gravity is not strong enough to hold it at bay at the existing temperature (temperature provides the escape velocity. Helium also isn't retained.) There is concern that a hydrogen economy based on nonhydrocarbon or unreacted hydrogen sources would negatively affect Earth's overall hydrogen budget due to leaks into the atmosphere, and then from the atmosphere into outer space.
• It is impossible to obtain hydrogen gas without expending energy in the process. There are two ways to manufacture hydrogen;
  • By electrolysis from water - The process of splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen using electrolysis consumes large amounts of energy. It has been calculated that it takes 1.4 joules of electricity to produce 1 joule of hydrogen (Pimentel, 2002).
  • By breaking down hydrocarbons - mainly methane. If oil or gases are used to provide this energy, fossil fuels are consumed, forming pollution and nullifying the value of using a fuel cell. It would be more efficient to use fossil fuel directly.
  • By reacting water with a metal such as Sodium, Potassium, or Boron. Chemical by-products would be sodium oxide, potassium oxide, and boron oxide. Processes exist which could recycle these elements back into their metal form for re-use with additional energy input, further eroding the energy return on energy invested.
• There is currently a lack of infrastructure and distribution network required to support the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel. It would cost a lot of money and energy to build hydrogen plants and to replace every car and bus with a hydrogen engine and fuel tank.
• Hydrogen is complicated to handle, store, and transport. It requires heavy, cumbersome tanks when stored as a gas, and complex insulating bottles if stored as a cryogenic liquid. If it is needed at a moderate temperature and pressure, a metal hydride absorber may be needed. Transport is also a problem, because hydrogen leaks effortlessly from containers, reducing the efficiency of the fuel. These hassles make hydrogen power very expensive.
• Current efficient fuel cell designs are expensive since they need Platinum as a catalyst. If we were to replace every Internal combustion engine with a Fuel cell then we could potentially use all the Earth's Platinum reserves in two years.

It has been suggested that Electrolytic process be merged into this article or section. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... In physics and energy economics, EROEI (energy returned on energy invested) is the ratio between the amount of energy expended to obtain a resource, compared with the amount of energy obtained from that resource. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Distribution is one of the four aspects of marketing. ... An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, and switches. ... Cryogenics is the study of very low temperatures or the production of the same, and is often confused with cryobiology, the study of the effect of low temperatures on organisms, or the study of cryopreservation. ... Fig. ... The use of water pressure - the Captain Cook Memorial Jet in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. ... A Hydride is a chemical compound or form of a bond between hydrogen with a metal usually found in group 1 of the Periodic table, usually with a more electropositive element or group. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... General Name, Symbol, Number platinum, Pt, 78 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 6, d Appearance grayish white Atomic mass 195. ...

Tidal power

Main article: Tidal power

Tidal energy involves building a dam across the opening to a tidal basin, called an estuary. The dam, called a barrage, is composed of turbines, located within tunnels in the dam that rotate when a tide comes in, generating electricity. Tidal-power is the power achieved by capturing the energy contained in moving water mass due to tides. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits. ... Look up Barrage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ...

Pros

• Tidal power is free once the dam is built. This is because tidal power harnesses the natural power of tides and does not consume fuel. In addition, the maintenance costs associated with running a tidal station are relatively inexpensive.
• Tides are very reliable because it is easy to predict when high and low tides will occur. The tide goes in and out twice a day usually at the predicted times. This makes tidal energy easy to maintain, and positive and negative spikes in energy can be managed.
• Tidal energy is renewable, because nothing is consumed in the rising of tides. Tidal power relies on the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, which pull the sea backwards and forwards, generating tides.

Preventive maintenance (PM) has the following meanings: The care and servicing by personnel for the purpose of maintaining equipment and facilities in satisfactory operating condition by providing for systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects. ... Tides are the cyclic rising and falling of Earths ocean surface caused by the tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on the Earth. ... Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... Gravitation is a phenomenon through which all objects attract each other. ... Adjective lunar Bulk silicate composition (estimated wt%) SiO2 44. ... For other uses, see Sun (disambiguation). ...

Cons

• Tidal power is not currently economically feasible^{[citation needed]}, because the initial costs of building a dam are tremendous. Furthermore, it only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is moving in or out of the basin.
• The barrage construction can affect the transportation system in water. Boats may not be able to cross the barrage, and commercial ships, used for transport or fishery, need to find alternative routes or costly systems to go through the barrage.
• The erection of a barrage may affect the aquatic ecosystems surrounding it. The environment affected by the dam is very wide, altering areas numerous miles upstream and downstream. For example, many birds rely on low tides to unearth mud flats, which are used as feeding areas.
• Maximum energy production is limited to 2.5 terawatts. This is the total amount of tidal dissipation or the friction measured by the slowing of the lunar orbit.

A boat is a craft or vessel designed to float on, and provide transport over, water. ... A lobster boat unloading its catch in Ilfracombe harbour, North Devon, England. ... An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem that is based in water, whether it is a pond, lake, river, underground water body, estuary or ocean. ... Mudflats are relatively flat, muddy regions found in intertidal areas. ...

Solar power

Main article: Solar power

Solar power involves using solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity, using sunlight hitting solar thermal panels to convert sunlight to heat water or air, using sunlight hitting a parabolic mirror to heat water (producing steam), or using sunlight entering windows for passive solar heating of a building. Solar power describes a number of methods of harnessing energy from the light of the sun. ... A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell (or a photovoltaic cell) is a device that converts photons from the sun (solar light) into electricity. ... It has been suggested that solar radiation be merged into this article or section. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... A parabolic reflector (also known as a parabolic dish or a parabolic mirror) is a reflective device formed in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution. ... In physical chemistry, and in engineering, steam refers to vaporized water. ...

Pros

• Solar power is a renewable resource. As long as the Sun exists, its energy will reach Earth.
• Solar power generation releases no water or air pollution, because there is no combustion of fuels.
• In sunny countries, solar power can be used in remote locations, like a wind turbine. This way, isolated places can receive electricity, when there is no way to connect to the power lines from a plant.
• Solar energy can be used very efficiently for heating (solar ovens, solar water and home heaters) and lighting.

Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... For other uses, see Sun (disambiguation). ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ... Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ... Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames. ... Power Line is a neoconservative blog run by three lawyers: John H. Hinderaker (Hindrocket), Scott W. Johnson (The Big Trunk) and Paul Mirengoff (Deacon). Power Line covers political and social issues from a conservative viewpoint. ...

Cons

• Solar power is not always completely predictable because it depends on the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth at any given time. This makes a solar cell ineffectual during the night when sunlight does not reach the part of the Earth in which the cell is located and less effective when cloud cover scatters sunlight.
• Some forms of solar power are not currently cost competitive. A photovoltaic power station is expensive to build, about 10% efficient, and the energy payback time - the time necessary for producing the same amount of energy than needed for building the power device - for photovoltaic cells is large, of the order of five years ^{[citation needed]}. (HomePower Magazine has calculated the payback time to be between 1.8 and 3.3 years, depending primarily on location).[3]
• In order to use solar generated electricity most effectively throughout the day if it is not used as it is generated, power transport (commonly configured as a grid-tie interconnection) or energy storage would need to be employed.

A photovoltaic cell is a device that turns light into electric energy. ... Energy storage is the storing of some form of energy that can be drawn upon at a later time to perform some useful operation. ...

Geothermal energy

Main article: Geothermal power

Geothermal energy harnesses the heat energy present underneath the Earth. The hot rocks heat water to produce steam. When holes are drilled in the region, the steam that shoots up is purified and is used to drive turbines, which power electric generators. Geothermal power plant in the Philippines Look up geothermal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ... The rocky side of a mountain creek near Orosí, Costa Rica. ... In physical chemistry, and in engineering, steam refers to vaporized water. ... A drill in use. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... Generator redirects here. ...

Pros

• Geothermal energy does not produces air or water pollution if performed correctly
• Once a geothermal power station is implemented, the energy produced from the station is practically free. A small amount of energy is required in order to run a pump, although this pump can be powered by excess energy generated at the plant.
• Geothermal powers stations are relatively small, and have a lesser impact on the environment than tidal or hydroelectric plants. Because geothermal technology does not rely on large bodies of water, but rather, small, but powerful jets of water, like geysers, large generating stations can be avoided without losing functionality.

It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ... An electrically driven pump (electropump) for waterworks near the Hengsteysee, Germany. ... Clepsydra Geyser in Yellowstone A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ...

Cons

• Geothermal energy is only sufficient as source of power in certain areas of the world. These regions require the presence of hot rocks near the surface to warm the water. The depth of these rocks must be shallow enough that one can drill down to them, and the type of rock also plays a role as it must be easy to drill through.
• Some geothermal sites are prone to running out of steam, when their water is not heated at a high enough temperature to generate steam pressure. This can render the site useless in terms of energy production for decades.
• Drilling holes underground may release hazardous gases and minerals from deep inside the Earth. It can be problematic to dispose of these subsidiary products in a safe manner.

Fig. ... A gas is one of the four major phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma, that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ...

Energy transportation

While new sources of energy are only rarely discovered or made possible by new technology, distribution technology continually evolves. The use of fuel cells in cars, for example, is an anticipated delivery technology. This section presents some of the more common delivery technologies that have been important to historic energy development. They all rely in some way on the energy sources listed in the previous section. Technology (Gr. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Distribution is one of the four aspects of marketing. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ...

• Fuels

Shipping is a flexible delivery technology that is used in the whole range of energy development regimes from primitive to highly advanced. Currently, coal,petroleum and their derivatives are delivered by shipping via boat, rail, or road. Petroleum and natural gas may also be delivered via pipeline. Refined hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and LPG may also be delivered via aircraft. Natural gas pipelines must maintain a certain minimum pressure to function correctly

• Electric grids

Electric Grid: towers and cables distribute power

Electricity grids are the networks used to transmit and distribute power from production source to end user, when the two may be hundreds of kilometres away. Sources include electrical generation plants such as a nuclear reactor, coal burning power plant, etc. A combination of sub-stations, transformers, towers, cables, and piping are used to maintain a constant flow of electricity.

Grids may suffer from transient blackouts and brownouts, often due to weather damage. During certain extreme space weather events solar wind can interfere with transmissions.

Grids also have a predefined carrying capacity or load that cannot safely be exceeded. When power requirements exceed what's available, failures are inevitable. To prevent problems, power is then rationed.

Industrialised countries such as Canada, the US, and Australia are among the highest per capita consumers of electricity in the world, which is possible thanks to a widespread electrical distribution network. The US grid is one of the most advanced, although infrastructure maintenance is becoming a problem. The electrical power industry is one of the most heavily subsidized.^{[citation needed]}

CurrentEnergy provides a realtime overview of the electricity supply and demand for California, Texas, and the Northeast of the US. African countries with small scale electrical grids have a correspondingly low annual per capita usage of electricity. One of the most powerful power grids in the world supplies power to the state of Queensland, Australia.

Damaged package The Panama canal. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... A railway yard in Portland, Oregon. ... Gasoline, also called petrol, is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting mostly of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzene or iso-octane to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... 45 kg LPG cylinders Spherical Gas Container typically found in Refineries. ... An Airbus A380, currently the worlds largest airliner An aircraft is any vehicle or craft capable of atmospheric flight. ... Download high resolution version (582x800, 73 KB)Electrical Grid tower and cables PD File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (582x800, 73 KB)Electrical Grid tower and cables PD File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, and switches. ... Power line redirects here. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... For delivered electrical power see: Electrical power industry. ... Core of a small nuclear reactor used for research. ... The Eiffel Tower Fire-observation watchtower in Kostroma, Russia. ... 6 or 15cm outside diameter, oil-cooled cables, traversing the Grand Coulee Dam throughout. ... Piping is used to convey fluids (usually liquids and gases but sometimes loose solids) from one location to another. ... The term blackout in peacetime refers to a cessation of electrical energy through electric power transmission systems. ... A power outage is the loss of the electricity supply to an area. ... Aurora australis observed by Discovery, May 1991 Space weather is the concept of changing environmental conditions in outer space. ... The plasma in the solar wind meeting the heliopause For the British comic, see Solar Wind (comic). ... Carrying capacity is the population level that can be supported for an organism, given the quantity of food, habitat, water and other life infrastructure present. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power, often known as power or electricity, involves the production and delivery of electrical energy in sufficient quantities to operate domestic appliances, office equipment, industrial machinery and provide sufficient energy for both domestic and commercial lighting, heating, cooking and industrial processes. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ...

Energy storage

Main article: Energy storage

While most fuels can be stored, electricity in itself cannot. For that reason, many methods of energy storage have been developed, which transform electrical energy into other forms of energy. A method of energy storage may be chosen based on stability, ease of transport, ease of energy release, or ease of converting free energy from the natural form to the stable form. Energy storage is the storing of some form of energy that can be drawn upon at a later time to perform some useful operation. ...

• Chemical

Some natural forms of energy are found in stable chemical compounds such as fossil fuels. Most systems of chemical energy storage result from biological activity, which store energy in chemical bonds. Man-made forms of chemical energy storage include hydrogen fuel, batteries and explosives such as cordite and dynamite.

• Gravitational

Dams can be used to store energy, by using excess energy to pump water into the reservoir. When electrical energy is required, the process is reversed. The water then turns a turbine, generating electricity. Hydroelectric power is currently an important part of the world's energy supply, generating one-fifth of the world's electricity. :[4].

Another example of gravitational energy storage is the counter-weight on elevators.

• Electrical capacitance

Electrical energy may be stored in capacitors. These are often used to produce high intensity releases of energy (such as a camera's flash)

• Mechanical

• Pressure:

Energy may also be stored pressurized gases or alternatively in a vacuum. Compressed air, for example, may be used to operate vehicles and power tools. Large scale compressed air energy storage facilities are used to smooth out demands on electricity generation by providing energy during peak hours and storing energy during off-peak hours. Such systems save on expensive generating capacity since it only needs to meet average consumption rather than peak consumption.

• Flywheels and springs

Energy can also be stored in mechanical systems such as springs or flywheels. Flywheel energy storage is currently being used for uninterruptible power supplies.

Energy consumption from 1989 to 1999

Energy production from 1989 to 1999

Energy consumption per capita (2001). Red hues indicate increase, green hues decrease of consumption during the 1990s.

Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. ... Biology (from Greek βίος λόγος, see below) is the study of life. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... Four double-A batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Cordite is a particular family of smokeless propellants made by combining two high explosives: nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin, i. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin using diatomaceous earth (Kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... In the physical sciences, weight is a measurement of the gravitational force acting on an object. ... A set of elevators or lifts, in the lower level of a London Underground station. ... Capacitors: SMD ceramic at top left; SMD tantalum at bottom left; through-hole tantalum at top right; through-hole electrolytic at bottom right. ... The use of water pressure - the Captain Cook Memorial Jet in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. ... Look up Vacuum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) refers to the compression of air during periods of low energy demand, for use in meeting periods of higher demand. ... Helical or coil springs designed for tension A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. ... NASA G2 flywheel Flywheel Energy Storage (FES) works by accelerating a rotor to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as inertial energy. ... An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), uninterruptible power source or sometimes called a battery backup is a device which maintains a continuous supply of electric power to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1427x628, 52 KB) Summary This is a GFDL and less-mind warping version of Image:Energyconsumption. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1427x628, 52 KB) Summary This is a GFDL and less-mind warping version of Image:Energyconsumption. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1427x628, 53 KB)[edit] Summary This is a GFDL and less-mind warping version of Image:Energyproduction. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1427x628, 53 KB)[edit] Summary This is a GFDL and less-mind warping version of Image:Energyproduction. ... Image File history File links Energy_per_capita. ... Image File history File links Energy_per_capita. ...

Future energy development

Main article: Future energy development

Extrapolations from current knowledge to future energy development offer a choice of energy futures. Some predictions parallel the Malthusian catastrophe hypothesis. Numerous are complex models based scenarios as pioneered by Limits to Growth. Modelling approaches offer ways to analyse diverse strategies, and hopefully find a road to rapid and sustainable development of humanity. Short term energy crises are also a concern of energy development. Future energy development faces great challenges due to an increasing world population, demands for higher standards of living, demands for less pollution and a much-discussed end to fossil fuels. ... Future energy development faces great challenges due to an increasing world population, demands for higher standards of living, demands for less pollution and a much-discussed end to fossil fuels. ... A Malthusian catastrophe, sometimes known as a Malthusian check, Malthusian crisis, Malthusian dilemma, Malthusian disaster, Malthusian trap, or Malthusian limit is a return to subsistence-level conditions as a result of agricultural (or, in later formulations, economic) production being eventually outstripped by growth in population. ... Scientific modeling is the process of generating abstract or conceptual models. ... A scenario (from the Italian, that which is pinned to the scenery) is a brief description of an event or a series of events. ... Limits to Growth was a 1972 book modeling the consequences of a rapidly growing world population and finite resource supplies, commissioned by the Club of Rome. ... A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal, as differentiated from tactics or immediate actions with resources at hand. ... Sustainable development is an umbrella that attempts to bridge the divide between economic growth and environmental protection, while taking into account other issues traditionally associated with development. ... An energy crisis is any great bottleneck (or price rise) in the supply of energy resources to an economy. ...

Existing technologies for new energy sources, such as new renewable energy technologies, nuclear fission and fusion are promising, but need sustained research and development, including consideration of possible harmful side effects. Artificial Photosynthesis is another energy technology being researched and developed. Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. ... For the generation of electrical power by fission, see Nuclear power plant An induced nuclear fission event. ... The deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion reaction is considered the most promising for producing fusion power. ... Research is often described as an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising facts. ... In business and engineering, new product development is the complete process of bringing a new product to market. ... Unintended consequences can be either positive, in which case we get serendipity or windfalls source of problems, according to the Murphys law definitively negative: perverse effect, which is the opposite result to the one intended The Law of Unintended Consequences holds that almost all human actions have at least... Artificial photosynthesis is a research field that attempts to replicate the natural process of photosynthesis, converting sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. ...

See also

• Nuclear power phase-out
• Nuclear energy policy
• Comparison of power plants
• Future energy development
• List of environment topics

A nuclear power plant at Grafenrheinfeld, Germany. ... Nuclear energy policy is national and international policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclear energy, such as mining for nuclear fuel, generating electricity by nuclear power, enriching and storing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel reprocessing. ... Charactaristics: percentage of the worlds supply of electricity cost per Kw pollution maintenance cost construction time infrastructure cost depreciation % per year Energy production range Production capacity Energy stability externalities - include negative and positive externalities. ... Future energy development faces great challenges due to an increasing world population, demands for higher standards of living, demands for less pollution and a much-discussed end to fossil fuels. ... This page aims to list articles related to the natural environment. ...

References

• Bilgen, S. and K. Kaygusuz, Renewable Energy for a Clean and Sustainable Future, Energy Sources 26, 1119 (2004).
• Energy analysis of Power Systems, UIC Nuclear Issues Briefing Paper 57 (2004).

Relevant Journals

• Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects[5]
• Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy[6]
• International Journal of Green Energy [7]

External links

Sustainability and Development of Energy   Edit Conversion | Development and Use | Sustainable Energy | Conservation | Transportation