ENERGY

ENERGY

Energy is the force which generates the capacity to work

In order to perform mental and physical activities, man uses energy. This energy is derived from food.

Man utilizes different skills and technologies to harness other sources of energy for sustainable development Crude oil, natural gas, pitch, coal, wind, water,

sun (solar energy), uranium, plutonium (nuclear energy)

PETROLEUM

PETROLEUM

CRUDE OIL NATURAL GAS PITCH

CRUDE OIL AND ITS PRODUCTS AND USES

BY-PRODUCTS USES

1. Gasoline

2. Aviation fuel

3. Kerosene

4. LPG

5. Fuel oil

6. Lubricating oil

7. Diesel oil

8. Grease and wax

9. Bitumen

1. Fuel for internal combustion

engines

2. Fuel for aeroplanes

3. Fuel for light, heat; solvent

4. Fuel for cooking

5. Electricity generation; heating

fuel

6. Motor vehicles

7. Fuel for trucks, buses, cars;

pesticides, plastics

8. Candles, soap, polish, wax paper

9. Road surfacing, roofing,

pesticides and paints

FACTS ABOUT PETROLEUM

Most widely used source of energy in the world

Efficient

Its use produces greenhouse gases

Lead is used in gasoline contributing to lead

pollution of the atmosphere

Most Caribbean countries have no oil

Petroleum prices are volatile

Alternative sources of energy are being sought

because of the prohibitive cost and pollutant

nature of petroleum

NATURAL GAS

NATURAL GAS

Environmentally friendly and effective

alternative source of fuel

USES OF NATURAL GAS

Generation of electricity

Fuel in internal combustion engines and for welding

Industrial uses and manufacturing operations

Several light and heavy manufacturing industries use natural gas as a feedstock (methanol, urea, ammonia, iron and steel)

Fuel to generate heat for homes in temperate countries

SOLAR ENERGY

SOLAR ENERGY

Energy generated from the sun

Available throughout the world

Non-exhaustible

Free resources

Does not produce pollutants

Noise free

USES OF SOLAR ENERGY

Drying crops (solar crop drier)

Cooking food (solar cookers)

Distillation of water (solar still)

Desalination

Solar powered calculators and watches

Transmission of satellite images

Generation of electricity on a small scale

Heating water (solar water heaters)

SOLAR COOKERS

WIND

WIND ENERGY

This energy first powered ships with sails

providing commerce and communication

between countries (before the invention of

engines)

Many countries today use windmills to

generate electricity for pumping water,

operating electrical equipment, and

supplying light to households

ADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY

A renewable resource

A free resource

It is a clean resource i.e. it does not produce

any sort of environmental pollution

DISADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY

Depends on the force of the wind which may

sometimes be non-existent

Windmills must be placed on highlands to

attract a constant supply of wind … leading

to destruction of forests

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

Electricity generated by utilizing the energy of falling water

This energy is increased by using water wheels or hydraulic turbines

Hydroelectric plants convert the energy from waterfalls, reservoirs, dams, lakes etc

Hydroelectric plants are expensive to build but once built are economical to maintain because water power is renewable

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

Widely used in the US, Canada, Sweden,

France, Japan, Russia

Efforts being made to build a hydroelectric

plant in Guyana

Kaieteur Falls has immense potential but its

remote location in the interior, away from

populated areas, has been a deterrent to tapping

this source of energy

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Energy harnessed from active volcanoes and

hot springs which discharge steam or

underground water which is under extreme

pressure

St Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Grenada,

Montserrat all have potential to harness

geothermal energy

HARNESSING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy is produced by drilling a

well into the ground where thermal activity is

occurring. Once a well has been identified

and a well head attached, the steam is

separated from the water, the water is

diverted through a turbine engine which turns

a generator. Usually the water is injected

back into the ground to resupply the

geothermal source.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy is a renewable and

sustainable power source that comes from

the heat generated by the earth. "Geo"

means earth and "thermal" means heat.

ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

creates less environmental pollution

is renewable and sustainable

avoids importing energy resources

benefits remote areas

adds to energy source diversity

creates less waste disposal

has a long life span

DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

insufficient force to turn large turbines so

amount of electricity generated is limited

NUCLEAR ENERGY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Generated by the use of uranium and

plutonium

First used to manufacture nuclear bombs

From 1950s used to generate electricity

Used in medicine (x-rays)

DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Generates radioactive waste which is difficult

to dispose of as it releases radiation for

several decades

Excessive exposure to radiation causes

cancer, mutation of genes, anaemia,

leukemia