Energy Resources Envoirmental Science.pptx

Nuclear energy has long been hailed as a promising solution to our energy needs, offering a relatively clean and efficient source of power. However, alongside its benefits come significant risks and hazards that cannot be ignored. From the potential for catastrophic accidents to the long-term environmental and health impacts of radioactive materials, nuclear hazards pose complex challenges that demand careful consideration. In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the various aspects of nuclear hazards, from their origins and mechanisms to their effects and the strategies employed to mitigate them.

Understanding Nuclear Hazards:1.1. Nuclear Energy and Its Hazards:
- Nuclear energy harnesses the power of atomic reactions to generate electricity, primarily through nuclear fission.
- The hazards associated with nuclear energy arise from the radioactive materials produced during fission, which emit harmful ionizing radiation.
- Types of nuclear hazards include accidents, radiation exposure, radioactive contamination, and the long-term storage of radioactive waste.1.2. Sources of Nuclear Hazards:
- Nuclear power plants: Accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have demonstrated the potential for catastrophic failures in nuclear reactors.
- Nuclear weapons testing: The detonation of nuclear weapons releases large amounts of radioactive fallout into the environment.
- Radioactive waste: The disposal and storage of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials present ongoing hazards.
Impacts of Nuclear Hazards:2.1. Health Effects:
- Acute effects of radiation exposure include radiation sickness, burns, and organ damage.
- Chronic exposure to low levels of radiation increases the risk of cancer, genetic mutations, and other long-term health problems.
- Vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women, are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of radiation.2.2. Environmental Consequences:
- Radioactive contamination can persist in the environment for thousands of years, affecting ecosystems and wildlife.
- Contaminated water sources, soil, and air can lead to bioaccumulation of radioactive isotopes in plants and animals, potentially entering the food chain.

1. Energy Resources By : Pratham Singh Chauhan, B.Tech First Year

2. Renewable Resources Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being replenished. Renewable energy sources are plentiful and all around us. Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels. Transitioning from fossil fuels, which currently account for the lion’s share of emissions, to renewable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis. Few common sources of renewable resources are given in the upcoming slides.

3. Solar Energy Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. The rate at which solar energy is intercepted by the Earth is about 10,000 times greater than the rate at which humankind consumes energy. Solar technologies can deliver heat, cooling, natural lighting, electricity, and fuels for a host of applications. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. Although not all countries are equally endowed with solar energy, a significant contribution to the energy mix from direct solar energy is possible for every country. The cost of manufacturing solar panels has plummeted dramatically in the last decade, making them not only affordable but often the cheapest form of electricity. Solar panels have a lifespan of roughly 30 years, and come in variety of shades depending on the type of material used in manufacturing.

4. Wind Energy Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air by using large wind turbines located on land (onshore) or in sea- or freshwater (offshore). Wind energy has been used for millennia, but onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have evolved over the last few years to maximize the electricity produced - with taller turbines and larger rotor diameters. Though average wind speeds vary considerably by location, the world’s technical potential for wind energy exceeds global electricity production, and ample potential exists in most regions of the world to enable significant wind energy deployment. Many parts of the world have strong wind speeds, but the best locations for generating wind power are sometimes remote ones. Offshore wind power offers tremendous potential.

5. Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy utilizes the accessible thermal energy from the Earth’s interior. Heat is extracted from geothermal reservoirs using wells or other means. Reservoirs that are naturally sufficiently hot and permeable are called hydrothermal reservoirs, whereas reservoirs that are sufficiently hot but that are improved with hydraulic stimulation are called enhanced geothermal systems. Once at the surface, fluids of various temperatures can be used to generate electricity. The technology for electricity generation from hydrothermal reservoirs is mature and reliable, and has been operating for more than 100 years.

6. Hydropower Hydropower harnesses the energy of water moving from higher to lower elevations. It can be generated from reservoirs and rivers. Reservoir hydropower plants rely on stored water in a reservoir, while run-of-river hydropower plants harness energy from the available flow of the river. Hydropower reservoirs often have multiple uses - providing drinking water, water for irrigation, flood and drought control, navigation services, as well as energy supply. Hydropower currently is the largest source of renewable energy in the electricity sector. It relies on generally stable rainfall patterns, and can be negatively impacted by climate-induced droughts or changes to ecosystems which impact rainfall patterns. The infrastructure needed to create hydropower can also impact on ecosystems in adverse ways. For this reason, many consider small-scale hydro a more environmentally-friendly option, and especially suitable for communities in remote locations.

7. Ocean Energy Ocean energy derives from technologies that use the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater - waves or currents for instance -  to produce electricity or heat. Ocean energy systems are still at an early stage of development, with a number of prototype wave and tidal current devices being explored. The theoretical potential for ocean energy easily exceeds present human energy requirements.

8. Bioenergy Bioenergy is produced from a variety of organic materials, called biomass, such as wood, charcoal, dung and other manures for heat and power production, and agricultural crops for liquid biofuels. Most biomass is used in rural areas for cooking, lighting and space heating, generally by poorer populations in developing countries. Modern biomass systems include dedicated crops or trees, residues from agriculture and forestry, and various organic waste streams. Energy created by burning biomass creates greenhouse gas emissions, but at lower levels than burning fossil fuels like coal, oil or gas. However, bioenergy should only be used in limited applications, given potential negative environmental impacts related to large-scale increases in forest and bioenergy plantations, and resulting deforestation and land-use change.

9. Non Renewable Resources Nonrenewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our lifetimes—or even in many, many lifetimes. Most nonrenewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels. For this reason, the time period that fossil fuels formed (about 360-300 million years ago) is called the Carboniferous Period. All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Over time, the dead plants were crushed under the seabed. Rocks and other sediment piled on top of them, creating high heat and pressure underground. In this environment, the plant and animal remains eventually turned into fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum).  Today, there are huge underground pockets (called reservoirs) of these nonrenewable sources of energy all over the world.

10. Coal Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked depending on how much “carbonization” it has gone through. Carbonization is the process that ancient organisms undergo to become coal. About three meters (10 feet) of solid vegetation crushed together form 0.3 meter (one foot) of coal. Peat is the lowest rank of coal which goes through the least amount of carbonization. While, anthracite is the highest rank of coal, which forms in regions of the world where there have been giant movements of the earth, such as the formation of mountain ranges. Coal is a reliable source of energy. When coal is burned, it leaves “byproducts” that are also valuable, which can be used to make cement, plastics, roads, and many other things. When coal is burned, it releases many toxic gases and pollutants into the atmosphere.  Mining coal is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Coal miners are exposed to toxic dust and face the dangers of cave-ins and explosions at work. It can also cause the ground to cave in and create underground fires that burn for decades at a time.

11. Petroleum Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. It is also called oil or crude oil. Most of the world’s oil is still deep under the ground. We drill through the earth to access the oil. Some deposits are on land, and others are under the ocean floor.  Once the oil has been drilled, it must be refined. Oil contains many chemicals besides carbon, and refining the oil takes some of these chemicals out. About half the world’s petroleum is converted into gasoline. In the form of gasoline, it is a portable source of energy that gives us the power to drive places. The rest can be processed and used in liquid products such as nail polish and rubbing alcohol, or solid products such as water pipes, shoes, crayons, roofing etc. However, burning gasoline is harmful to the environment. It releases hazardous gases and fumes into the air we breathe. There is also the possibility of an oil spill. If there is a problem with the drilling machinery, the oil can explode out of the well and spill into the ocean or surrounding land. Oil spills are environmental disasters, especially offshore spills.

12. Natural Gas Natural gas is another fossil fuel that is trapped underground in reservoirs. It is mostly made up of methane. There is so much natural gas underground that it is measured in millions, billions, or trillions of cubic meters.  Natural gas is found in deposits a few hundred meters underground. In order to get natural gas out of the ground, companies drill straight down. However, natural gas does not form in big open pockets. Natural gas is trapped in rock formations that can stretch for kilometers.  We use natural gas for heating and cooking. Natural gas can also be burned to generate electricity. We rely on natural gas to give power to lights, televisions, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances in our homes. Natural gas can also be turned into a liquid form, called liquid natural gas (LNG). LNG is much cleaner than any other fossil fuels. LNG can even be a replacement for gasoline.  Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract, and is a “cleaner” fossil fuel than oil or coal. When natural gas is burned, it only releases carbon dioxide and water vapor.  However, extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems. Fracturing rocks can cause mini-earthquakes. The high-pressure water and chemicals that are forced underground can also leak to other sources of water.

13. Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is usually considered another nonrenewable energy source. Although nuclear energy itself is a renewable energy source, the material used in nuclear power plants is not. Nuclear energy harvests the powerful energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Nuclear energy is released through nuclear fission, the process where the nucleus of an atom splits. The material most often used in nuclear power plants is the element uranium, which is a nonrenewable source. Although uranium is found in rocks all over the world, nuclear power plants usually use a very rare type of uranium, U-235. Nuclear energy is a popular way of generating electricity around the world. Nuclear power plants do not pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases. They can be built in rural or urban areas, and do not destroy the environment around them. However, nuclear energy is difficult to harvest. Nuclear power plants are very complicated to build and run.  Nuclear energy also produces radioactive waste which can be extremely toxic, causing burns and increasing the risk for cancers, blood diseases, and bone decay among people who are exposed to it.