Eco314
Topics:
Peak oil, Energy development, World energy resources and consumption Pages: 18 (1771 words)
Published: February 4, 2013
Adonis Yatchew yatchew@chass.utoronto.ca www.economics.utoronto.ca/yatchew 150 St. George Street, Room 278
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Energy and Environment are Fundamentally Interdisciplinary
The study of energy is intrinsically interdisciplinary in
nature – many disciplines inform our understanding of energy. The theoretical and applied sciences underpin the fundamental
potentialities of energy and their impacts, both beneficial and detrimental. Humanities document and elaborate the human consequences of
its use.
The social sciences analyse societal aspects.
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Energy and Environment are Fundamentally Interdisciplinary
Sciences: the science of energy production and its environmental
impacts, most importantly climate change; the vast potential for noncarbon energy sources; the need for breakthrough technologies.
Humanities: the historical evolution of energy use, and how it has
affected technological, institutional and civilizational change; the role that energy and the related technologies have played in a succession of human epochs.
Social Sciences: the economics and politics of energy, our current
dependence on hydrocarbons (which provide over 80% of the energy we use) and the role that economic principles can play in resolving the often conflicting objectives of economic growth and environmental protection; the interplay of economics, politics and energy security.
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Course Objectives
1.
Broad overview of major areas of energy economics and related environmental issues. Understanding of important economic tools used to analyse energy markets. Develop capacity to understand public discourse and critically assess energy and environmental debates, (e.g., decarbonization, fracking, renewable energy, markets v. regulation …). Facility with vast data resources on energy and related environmental issues.
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Sources of Energy
Hydrocarbons
Coal Oil Natural gas
Renewables
Hydro Wind Solar Geothermal Wood/Biomass
Nuclear
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Sources of Energy - Canada
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Sources of Energy - Canada
Hydrocarbons Renewables Nuclear
~75% ~15% ~10%
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Sources of Energy - World
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Sources of Energy - World
Hydrocarbons Renewables Nuclear
~81% ~13% ~ 6%
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What Are Hydrocarbons?
Molecules consisting of hydrogen
and carbon.
CxHy
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For example: Natural Gas Methane
CH4
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Hydrocarbons: Gases, Liquids and Solids
Gas Methane
Dry gas Wet gas
Liquid Conventional oil -- pumped from large underground pools/reservoirs Tar sands – thick liquids (bitumen) lodged in sand and clay Formed over millions of years from microscopic marine plants and animals Solid Coal – hard coal is mostly pure carbon Dead plants → Peat → Lignite →Bituminous Coal → Anthracite
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The Carbon Economy
Combustion of hydrocarbons produces energy. For example, burning natural gas (methane)
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O + energy
produces
water energy and carbon dioxide → global warming.
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The Hydrogen Economy?
Burning hydrogen
2H2 + O2 → 2 H2O + energy
produces
water and energy.
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Energy and Life
• Any living organism relies on an external source of
energy—radiation from the Sun in the case of green plants, chemical energy in some form in the case of animals—to be able to grow and reproduce.
• The daily 1500–2000 Calories (6–8 MJ) recommended for
a human adult are taken as a combination of oxygen and food molecules, the latter mostly carbohydrates and fats, of which glucose (C6H12O6) and stearin (C57H110O6) are convenient examples. The food molecules are oxidised to carbon dioxide and...
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