We know that many scientists believe that human production of
greenhouse gases is the main reason for the accelerated rate of global
warming. The burning of fossil fuels is the main way greenhouse gases are
introduced back into the atmosphere.
Did you know?
 Canada has the longest oil pipeline
 Canada also has the longest natural gas pipeline
 3 metres of dead plant material are needed to make 30cm
of coal
There are ways that we can improve. Through alternative sources of
energy or by using fossil fuel energy effectively.
Fossil Fuel Energy
 Turbines using methane
 Hybrid Cars
 Fuel Cell
o A battery that never runs out because it is powered by methane
gas, hydrogen or an alcohol based fuel
 Fossil fuels are cheap and easy to
find – very few new reserves are
being discovered
 Our society and infrastructure are
designed to use them
 Burning fossil fuels is not an
efficient way to produce energy
 Greenhouse gases are released
Nuclear Power
 Nuclear power is the most powerful
source of energy there is. One
kilogram of uranium can release
enough energy to light a million light
bulbs for over 100 days!
 It harnesses the energy stored inside
the nucleus of an atom
 HISTORICALLY People believed that
radioactive material was like a vitamin and
would cure coughs and swollen limbs.
o Paint pottery
o Used on clocks to make them glow
o Painters would lick their brushes to
get a fine tip
 The radioactive fuel can be used for several years until it decays. It is
then replaced and reprocessed
o Reprocessed nuclear fuel can provide same energy as 2x105
tonnes of oil.
 50 000 tonnes of uranium ore are needed to make 25 tonnes of nuclear
fuel, 235U.
o 1 small pellet of nuclear fuel produces the same energy as 807
kg of coal or 476 m3 of natural gas or 677 Litres of oil
 Waste is stored underground either encased in cement or steel drums
 On April 26, 1986 there was a massive nuclear
accident at Chernobyl in Ukraine. This killed
all the fish, crops and animals in the areas.
Many people developed cancer and babies were
born with birth defects. Now children in the
area are taught about ecology with artificial
trees.
 No pollution put into the air
 More efficient to get the energy
 Lots of energy available with a
small amount of fuel
 Problems with handling and
storage and disposal
 Accidents are catastrophic
 Used in smoke detectors and
medical equipment which saves
lives
Water Power
 Most of the planet is covered by water. Of that
water
o 97% is salt water
o 2% is underground or in glaciers
o 1% is available fresh water
 11% of energy used by people comes from water power
 5.5 million litres flows over Niagara Falls each second
 At the Bay of Fundy the difference between high tide and
low tide is 21 metres
 HISTORICALLY: Water machines were one of the first invented
o Irrigation
o Water wheels: used to grind grain
o Steam powered engines
o Tidal Mill
 NOW: Water is still used for many things
o Hydo-electric power stations
o Wave machines
o Water columns
o Tidal power stations
o Steam turbines
o Jet ski’s
o Water tools
 No pollution
 Useful in remote and central
places
 Expensive to build dams and
power stations
 Damage to environment and
wild life
 We will never run out of water
 Water is always moving
 Hydro-electric power stations and
cheap and easy to use
Geothermal and Bio-energy
 Geothermal energy comes from the natural
heat beneath Earth’s surface
o Hot springs
 Bio-energy comes from the decay or burning of plant and animal
material
o Compost: gives off energy when it decays (it can combust)
o Wood
 HISTORICALLY
o Geothermal energy was used for bathing and steam power
o Bio-energy was used through burning of wood and peat to
produce heat and cook food.
 NOW
o Geothermal energy: Natural and human made wells are used to
harness the steam with turbines and the heat for homes
o Bio-energy:
 Methane from landfills
 Incinerator
 In the UK 1 incinerator burns 500 000 tonnes of
garbage each year supplying electricity to 60 000
homes
 Biofuels and gas: made from plants
 Clean, safe and renewable
 Geothermal energy recycles water
and generation plants are easy to
maintain
 Bio-energy can use waste that we
are already producing
 Provides energy to remote
locations
 Bio-energy releases CO2 into the
atmosphere (not as much as
fossil fuels and new crops
absorb some of this)
 Smelly gases and generating
plants may be in urban locations