ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF …（的优点和缺点u2026）.pdf

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ENERGY SOURCES Prepared by Sandra Vasa-Sideris, PhD, Southern Polytechnic State University, for use by students © Questions to consider • Where are the nonrenewable sources of energy located? • How easy is it to gain access to these sources? • What are the consequences of using these sources (fuels)? • What are the costs (direct and indirect) of using these sources? Are there viable alternative sources of fuel? • What is the current cost of crude oil and other forms of energy? • What else have you learned about these resources? • What is the political environment for these energy sources? NATURAL GAS Advantages • Burns clean compared to cola, oil (less polluting) • 70% less carbon dioxide compared to other fossil fuels • helps improve quality of air and water (not a pollutant) • does not produce ashes after energy release • has high heating value of 24,000 Btu per pound • inexpensive compared to coal • no odor until added Drawbacks • not a renewable source • finite resource trapped in the earth (some experts disagree) • inability to recover all in-place gas from a producible deposit because of unfavorable economics and lack of technology (It costs more to recover the remaining natural gas because of flow, access, etc.) Other information • 5,149.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserve left (more than oil but less than coal) • 23.2% of total consumption of natural gas is in the United States WATER POWER Pros • Provides water for 30-30% of the world’s irrigated land • Provides 19% of electricity • Expands irrigation • Provides drinking water • Supplies hydroelectric energy (falling water used to run turbines) • Easier for third world countries to generate power (if water source is available) • It is cheaper Cons • Destabili