Much Western U.S. coal has low-sulfur content, cheaper to mine
But mining in semi-arid West more damaging to land.
10
Heat value of coal types
Anthracite Bituminous Subbituminous Lignite
2200, and 2600 Billion Barrels
Billions of Barrels per Year 35
30
2600
25
20
2200 15
1800 10
5
0 1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
36
Distribution of Estimates of Ultimately Recoverable World Crude Oil (1975-1993)
14
Effects on air
• Greenhouse gases
– 3/4 sulfur dioxide – 1/3 nitrogen oxides – 1/2 carbon dioxide
• Toxics
– Mercury – Uranium
15
Acid rain
16
Acidity of rain
• Cleaner to burn
– Half as much CO2 as coal
• More efficient
– 10% energy lost
• 60-year supply at current rates
24
Disadvantages of natural gas
• Difficult to transport
Percentage of Estimates 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 Billion Barrels
37
– Pipelines – Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) tankers
• Can be polluting, dangerous when extracted • Methane bed drilling pollutes
25
OIL (PETROLEUM)
Buried organic matter rich in hydrocarbons
26
27
Oil Consumption by Sector (1998)
Electric Utilities
1.16
Residential Commercial
2.13
9.2 Industry
Transportation
24.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
QUADS of Oil
28
29
30
31
• Tall stacks deposit farther
18
Coal scrubbers
19
20
The future? Hydrogen fuel cells
21
NATURAL GAS
Methane, other Gases in bedrock
22
23
Advantages of natural gas
COAL
FOSSIL FUELS 85% of the world’s commercial energy
NATURAL GAS
OIL
1
2
3
20 richest countries consume:
• 50% of coal • 80% of natural gas • 65% of oil
4
5
U.S. energy consumption
9%
Mining/metals Other industry Transportation Other
6
COAL
Fossilized, condensed carbon-rich fuel
10 X reserves of oil/gas, last 200 years at present rate
• Respiratory illnesses (public)
13
Effects on land
• Coal sludge releases • Hardpan at strip mines • Mountaintop removal • Huge water use
– Slurry pipelines
7
8
Coal mines
Surface (strip) mine, Western U.S.
Underground (shaft) mine, Eastern U.S.
9
Coal cheaper, but polluting
Much Eastern U.S. coal has high-sulfur content, more expensive to mine
51% of U.S. u lost from coal
65% lost in power plants
10% lost on transmission lines (stray voltage)
12
Effects on health
• Black Lung Disease (miners)
• pH of 6.0
– Kills insects, crabs
• pH < 5.0
– Kills fish, trees
17
Sources of Nitrogen Oxides
Transport ation
Electrical plants
Other
• Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide create acid rain
32
33
34
Proven oil reserves
• 465 billion barrels consumed • 1 trillion barrels left • 22 billion consumed a year • 45 years to go! Party now!
35
Global Oil Production for Resources of 1800,