21st Century Energy Production & Resulting Impacts on Society Lukas Aschbacher Tim Degreenia Kaj Peterson Ben Sancetta 3/1/2012 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 1 - Solar Energy .................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Availability ............................................................................................................................... 11 1.2 Solar Modules .......................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 Local Applications of Solar Modules ......................................................................................... 13 1.4 Solar Power Plants ................................................................................................................... 15 1.5 Global Advancement ................................................................................................................ 17 1.6 Efficiency and Costs ................................................................................................................. 18 1.7 Implementation and Limitations .............................................................................................. 22 1.8 Social Implications ................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2 - Wind Energy .................................................................................................................... 25 2.1 Cost & Startup.......................................................................................................................... 25 2.2 Efficiency & Limitations ............................................................................................................ 28 2.3 Social Implications ................................................................................................................... 33 2.4 A Look toward the Future ........................................................................................................ 35 Chapter 3 - Nuclear Energy ................................................................................................................ 38 3.1 Types of Current Nuclear Reactors ........................................................................................... 39 3.2 Types of Fusion Reactors .......................................................................................................... 47 3.3 By the Numbers Power Production .......................................................................................... 53 3.4 Limitations of Nuclear Reactors ................................................................................................ 53 3.5 Social Implications of Nuclear Reactors .................................................................................... 55 Chapter 4 - Other Energies................................................................................................................. 58 2 | 4.1 Biofuels .................................................................................................................................... 58 4.2 Oil Sands .................................................................................................................................. 60 4.3 Shale Gas ................................................................................................................................. 65 4.4 Hydroelectric Energy ................................................................................................................ 71 4.5 Geothermal Energy .................................................................................................................. 73 4.6 Hydrogen ................................................................................................................................. 75 Chapter 5 – Applications in Transportation ........................................................................................ 79 5.1 Transportation ......................................................................................................................... 79 5.2 Solar Powered Rail Transport Pods ........................................................................................... 80 5.3 Transportation Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 82 5.4 Fuels ........................................................................................................................................ 85 5.5 Social Implications ................................................................................................................... 87 Chapter 6 - Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 89 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................... 96 3 | Abstract Our project examines current alternatives to fossil fuels and evaluates their drawbacks and benefits in relation to specific applications in 21st Century society. It provides information concerning future research and development for each respective technology. Due to the limitations of fossil fuels, the authors believe further research should be conducted in solar, wind, nuclear, and emerging energy sources as these have the most potential for improvement and utilization in a world with ever increasing demand for sustainable energy resources. 4 | Executive Summary In our modern world one of the most important concerns for the future is energy; specifically renewable energy, as the reserves of oil and gas are depleting and demand for affordable energy increases. With an increase in demand and a decrease in supply it is imperative that alternative sources of energy be explored. Without addressing the concerns associated with the continued production, distribution and use of fossil fuels – concerns such as global warming, acid rain, and disasters like oil spills – we will see this result in a negative impact on our society and environment. Raising public awareness as to the urgency of these issues is the only way that any changes will be made. The objective of this project is not to explain the repercussions of using fossil fuels, but to explore and analyze sources of alternative energy, and the developments in recent technology; allowing them to be harnessed more efficiently and effectively. The energies discussed in our project range from the most common: (solar, wind, and nuclear) to those less prominent: (hydroelectric, hydrogen, biofuel, geothermal, and others). Along with a detailed analysis of each energy source, we provide social implications and a long term outlook with respect to their future utilization. There are several current sources of alternative energy that we believe do not have much room for improvement or further utilization. These energy sources are namely hydroelectric, biofuels, and hydrogen. Their shortcomings do not lend themselves to large scale energy production for the next 100 years. The most promising sources we see for future use are wind and solar power. They have vast room for improvement and are widely applicable on a global scale. Nuclear energy has vast potential as well, providing the public can be properly educated about the risks and benefits. Not only will nuclear fission become much safer and more efficient within the next few decades, but the real possibility of nuclear fusion as an intrinsically safe and powerful source of energy must be taken into account. The combination of new research and development across all aspects of energy production will produce sufficient energy for global consumption without the environmental drawbacks of traditional fossil fuels. Due to the radically different nature of newer alternative fuels, the future applications of such technologies can only be guessed at. Imagine a world with an infinite source of cheap, reliable, and renewable energy; the possibilities reach into space and across the galaxy. 5 | Introduction In this day and age alternative energy has become a major topic among scientists, politicians, scholars, and others. With global warming looming over our heads and the Earth’s natural resources starting to diminish we, as humans, need to change our ways. We can find solutions to these difficulties by looking for alternatives to meet our energy demands. Currently, our consumption of non-renewable energies is too high, and there are many contributors, as well as side effects, to these issues. The first sign that the amount of non-renewable energies we use needs to decline is the fact that non-renewable energies are just that: non-renewable. Eventually, we will run out of these types of energy, and unless we focus our attention on alternative forms, we will have no means of future survival. A recent study has shown that at the current rate of production there is enough coal on Earth to