Options as We Run Out of FF

• Non Renewable Options


  - Nuclear Fission (U, Pu)

  - Nuclear Fission (H)

  - Oil Sand and Shale
• Non-Renewable - Nuclear Fission (U, Pu)

  - Uranium has 2 isotopes

  - most common is 238 U

  - 99.3% of Uranium is in natural ores and it's stable

  - 0.7% isn't enough for a reaction

  - 3-5% 235U for a reactor

  - 90% for a bomb
• Non-Renewable - Nuclear Fission (U, Pu) - PROS


  - No Co2

  - no air pollution

  - fits the grid

  - lower reactivity than coal

  - less mining and transport per unit of energy
• Non-Renewable - Nuclear Fission (U, Pu) - CONS


  - cost

  - waste

  - public perception
• Non-Renewable - Nuclear Fission (H)


  not yet a resource because we don't know how to create it
• Non-Renewable - Oil Sand and Shale


  thick material like molasses in sand or shale
• Non-Renewable - Oil Sand and Shale - PROS


  - lots of it

  - no change in how we use FF is needed
• Non-Renewable - Oil Sand and Shale - CONS


  - dirty on the landscape and a lot of Co2

  - lots of physical waste as volume increases

  - high energy demand and water use

  - cost of production
• Renewable Options


  - solar

  - geothermal energy
• Renewable - Solar - PROS


  - free

  - pollution free operation

  - the devices will produce more energy over their lifetimes than is needed to make them

  - great flexibility over the whole Earth

  - no major technical breakthroughs are required
• Renewable - Solar - CONS


  - cost

  - night and winter

  - back up needed
• 2 Categories of Solar Power


  1. Direct - energy comes directly from the sun

  2. Indirect - energy from the sun is being converted which we then use
• 3 Forms of Direct Solar Power


  1. Passive (natural)

  2. Active (machinery involved)

  - can be scaled up

  - Co2 free/low Co2 operation

  - need a lot of heat

  3. Photovoltaic

  - direct conversion of sunlight to electricity

  - high watts are more difficult

  - lots of space
• 3 Forms of Indirect Solar Power


  1. Wind Power

  2. Hydro

  3. Biomass
• Indirect Solar Power - Wind Power


  - 2% of sunlight is converted to air mass movement

  - 50% of Denmark's energy comes from.....
• Indirect Solar Power - Wind Power - PROS


  - clean: no acid gases, no Co2

  - free and infinitely renewable

  - doesn't use much land

  - safe to operate

  - no water needed for cooling

  - fits into power grids easily
• Indirect Solar Power - Wind Power - CONS


  - need wind

  - need storage and backup systems

  - windmills may be eyesores
• Indirect Solar Power - Hydro


  - Rain is caused by sunlight, evaporating water which rains on land and we can trap the energy in the flowing water

  - Norway generates the most electricity from ..... (lowest in US)
• Indirect Solar Power - Hydro - PROS


  - low Co2

  - fits the grid

  - new tech not required
• Indirect Solar Power - Hydro - CONS


  - flooding and land use

  - good spots are taken

  - sediment
• Indirect Solar Power - Biomass (3 types)


  3 Types:

  1. Alcohol

  - Cellulose vs Starch

  - Just the grain (stores starch vs whole plant (cellulose) (has fiber)

  - more science is needed

  2. Wood

  3. Waste
• Renewable - Geothermal Energy


  - electrical power

  - heat
• Energy in Manitoba


  - electricity

  - natural gas (mostly use in Southern Manitoba agriculture)

  - propane

  - fuel oil (in remote places, northern area)

  - gasoline
• Manitoba Hydro Dams


  - 16 operating dams

  - 4 areas

  1. Winnipeg River

  2. Nelson River

  3. Grand Rapids

  4. Laurie River

  - cheapest electricity in North America except Montreal
• Natural Gas


  - only distributed within about 30 km of the pipeline

  - (provides energy) for about 70% of the population