7.9 World Energy Use
3 min read•june 18, 2024
Energy sources shape our world, powering economies and impacting the environment. We'll explore renewable and nonrenewable options, their global usage patterns, and how they affect development across nations.
aligns with physical laws, while consumption varies between developed and developing countries. We'll examine how energy access influences economic growth and the environmental consequences of different energy choices.
Energy Sources and Global Usage
Renewable vs nonrenewable energy sources
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- sources replenish naturally on a human timescale
- harnessed from the sun's radiation (solar panels)
- captured by wind turbines
- generated from flowing water (dams)
- derived from the Earth's internal heat
- produced from organic matter (wood, crops)
- Renewable sources currently make up a smaller portion of global energy consumption
- sources are finite resources that will eventually be depleted
- formed from the remains of ancient organisms (coal, oil, natural gas)
- generated from the fission of uranium or plutonium
- Nonrenewable sources currently dominate global energy consumption
- Global usage patterns show the dominance of nonrenewable sources
- account for the majority of global energy consumption
- Renewable energy sources are increasingly being adopted but still lag behind nonrenewable sources in total consumption
- Developed countries tend to have a higher share of renewable energy in their energy mix compared to developing countries
Energy Conservation and Consumption
Energy conservation and physical laws
- The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another
- In a closed system, the total energy remains constant
- Energy can be transformed between various forms (kinetic, potential, thermal)
- Energy conservation practices align with the law of conservation of energy by minimizing energy waste and increasing efficiency
- Using energy-efficient appliances (LED light bulbs, Energy Star products)
- Insulating buildings to reduce heat loss
- Encouraging the use of public transportation or carpooling
- Conserving energy helps optimize energy use and minimize losses
Energy consumption and global development
- Energy consumption per capita is generally higher in more economically developed countries
- Developed countries have higher total energy consumption but lower (energy per unit of GDP)
- Developing countries often have lower per capita energy consumption but faster growth rates
- Access to reliable and affordable energy is crucial for economic growth and development
- Energy is required for industrial processes, transportation, and powering homes and businesses
- Lack of access to energy can hinder economic opportunities and quality of life
- Energy production and consumption have environmental impacts that vary across countries
- Burning fossil fuels releases (carbon dioxide), contributing to and increasing
- Air and water pollution from energy production can have negative health and ecological consequences (respiratory issues, acid rain)
- Renewable energy sources generally have lower environmental impacts compared to nonrenewable sources
- Differences in energy consumption and environmental impacts across countries
- Developed countries tend to have higher total energy consumption but are investing in renewable energy and measures
- Developing countries often rely more heavily on fossil fuels and have higher energy intensities
- Countries with abundant renewable resources (Iceland - geothermal, Australia - solar) may have a higher share of renewable energy in their mix
Energy Infrastructure and Security
Energy distribution and storage
- Power grids are complex networks that distribute electricity from generation sources to consumers
- systems help balance supply and demand, especially for intermittent renewable sources
- of different fuel sources affects their transportation and storage requirements
Energy security and sustainability
- involves ensuring a stable and affordable energy supply for a nation
- Diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on imports can enhance energy security
- The concept of highlights concerns about the long-term availability of fossil fuel resources
- Transitioning to renewable energy sources can improve long-term energy security and sustainability
Key Terms to Review (28)
Biomass Energy: Biomass energy refers to the energy derived from organic matter, such as plants, animals, and their waste products. It is a renewable energy source that can be converted into various forms of usable energy, including heat, electricity, and transportation fuels.
Carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, that are emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product throughout its life cycle. It reflects the environmental impact of energy use and resource consumption and serves as a crucial measure for understanding our contributions to climate change and global warming.
Climate Change: Climate change refers to the long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns, primarily driven by human activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions and alter the Earth's energy balance. These changes can impact temperature, precipitation, sea levels, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Elastic potential energy: Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an object when it is deformed elastically, such as when a spring is stretched or compressed. It can be calculated using the formula $U = \frac{1}{2} k x^2$, where $k$ is the spring constant and $x$ is the displacement from equilibrium.
Energy conservation: Energy conservation is the principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This fundamental concept underscores the importance of understanding how energy changes forms in various processes, allowing for the analysis of mechanical systems, the impacts of energy use on the environment, and the oscillatory motion seen in physical systems.
Energy Density: Energy density is a measure of the amount of energy stored per unit volume or mass of a substance. It is an important concept in various fields, including energy production, transportation, and storage, as it determines the efficiency and capacity of energy systems.
Energy Efficiency: Energy efficiency refers to the ability to accomplish a desired task or function with the minimum amount of energy input. It is a measure of how effectively energy is utilized to achieve a specific outcome, rather than wasted or lost in the process.
Energy intensity: Energy intensity refers to the amount of energy consumed per unit of economic output, often measured in units like joules per dollar or kilowatt-hours per unit of GDP. This concept helps assess how efficiently a country uses energy relative to its economic activity. Lower energy intensity indicates more efficient energy use, which is essential for sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
Energy security: Energy security refers to the availability of reliable and affordable energy sources to meet a country's needs while ensuring that supply disruptions are minimized. This concept emphasizes the importance of diversifying energy sources and reducing dependency on any single source or supplier to safeguard against geopolitical risks, economic fluctuations, and environmental concerns.
Energy Storage: Energy storage refers to the ability to store energy in various forms, such as chemical, electrical, or mechanical, for later use. It is a crucial concept in the context of both world energy use and electrical circuits, as it allows for the efficient management and utilization of energy resources.
Fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are energy resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years. They include coal, oil, and natural gas and are used to generate electricity and power various forms of transportation.
Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuels are a type of non-renewable energy source formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. They include coal, oil, and natural gas, and are the primary energy sources powering the world's economy and transportation systems.
Geothermal Energy: Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source derived from the heat generated within the Earth's interior. It is a clean and sustainable form of energy that can be harnessed for various applications, including electricity generation and direct heating and cooling.
Greenhouse Gases: Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation, trapping heat within the Earth's atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect. These gases play a crucial role in the context of world energy use, as their increased concentration in the atmosphere due to human activities is a major driver of climate change.
Hydropower: Hydropower is a form of renewable energy that harnesses the energy of flowing or falling water to generate electricity. It plays a vital role in the global energy landscape as one of the most widely used renewable energy sources, contributing significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy practices.
Internal kinetic energy: Internal kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energies of all particles within a system. It plays a crucial role in understanding how energy is distributed and conserved during elastic collisions.
Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy of motion possessed by an object. It is the energy an object has by virtue of being in motion and is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity. Kinetic energy is a crucial concept in physics, as it relates to the work done on an object, the conservation of energy, and various other physical phenomena.
Nonrenewable Energy: Nonrenewable energy refers to energy sources that are finite and cannot be replenished at a rate fast enough to keep up with consumption. These energy sources are limited in supply and will eventually be depleted if their use continues unabated.
Nuclear Energy: Nuclear energy is the energy released through the process of nuclear fission or fusion, where the nuclei of atoms are split or combined to produce a massive amount of energy. This energy source has become an important component in the world's energy mix, providing a reliable and carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels.
Peak Oil: Peak oil refers to the hypothetical point in time when global oil production reaches its maximum rate, after which production will gradually decline. This concept is significant because it emphasizes the finite nature of fossil fuel resources and the potential economic and environmental consequences of reaching this peak, especially in the context of world energy use.
Potential Energy: Potential energy is the stored energy an object possesses due to its position or state, which can be converted into kinetic energy or other forms of energy. This term is central to understanding various physical phenomena and energy transformations in the context of introductory college physics.
Power Grid: The power grid, also known as the electrical grid, is the interconnected network of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems that deliver electricity from suppliers to consumers. It is a critical infrastructure that ensures the reliable and efficient supply of electrical power to homes, businesses, and industries across a wide geographic area.
Renewable Energy: Renewable energy refers to energy sources that are naturally replenished and can be harnessed without depleting the Earth's resources. These sustainable energy sources are an alternative to fossil fuels, which are finite and contribute to environmental pollution and climate change.
Renewable forms of energy: Renewable forms of energy are sources of power that can be replenished naturally within a human lifespan. These include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy.
Solar Energy: Solar energy is the radiant energy emitted by the sun that can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. It is a renewable and sustainable source of energy that has become increasingly important in the context of global energy use and environmental concerns.
Thermal energy: Thermal energy is the internal energy of a system due to its temperature. It arises from the random motions of atoms and molecules within the system.
Thermal Energy: Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the random motion of the particles (atoms and molecules) that make up a substance. It is a measure of the internal energy of a system due to the vibration and movement of its atoms and molecules. Thermal energy is a fundamental concept that connects the topics of nonconservative forces, conservation of energy, power, world energy use, temperature, kinetic theory, heat transfer, and the second law of thermodynamics.
Wind Energy: Wind energy is the kinetic energy derived from the wind, which is converted into electricity through the use of wind turbines. It is a renewable and sustainable energy source that has gained increasing importance in the global effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.