26.1 Conventional energy resources

Pages 683 - 689

Goal 1

Recognize the sun as the ultimate source of energy on

Earth

• Solar energy – Food– Producers

• Maintenance• Reproduction• Growth• Energy Storage

– Consumers • Eat producers • Use of solar energy stored in plants

• Solar energy– Fuel– Stored carbohydrates are burned– Exothermic– Releases energy as heat

Goal 2

Describe traditional sources of energy

• Wood– Oldest source– 4% of US households– 1.5 billion households worldwide– Deforestation

• Field Crops– Corn, hay, straw– Crop residues– Corn furnace

• Fecal material– Animal solid wastes– Dried and burned

Goal 3

Explain the formation of fossil fuels

• Fossil fuels– LONG time needed for formation– Decayed, compressed plant material

• Peat– Old, compressed sphagnum moss– Bog– 10,000 + years– Ireland, England– N. US

• Coal– Compressed organic material

• plants• peat

– Millions of years – High carbon concentrations

– Grades of coal• Low grade = lignite• Mid-grade = bitumous coal• High grade = anthracite

Image copyrighted by Kentucky Geological Survey and can be viewed at their website: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/coalkinds.htm

• Petroleum and Natural gas– Phase 1 of formation– Accumulation of dead organisms in seas– Sediments bury and mix with the organisms– Decay occurs – Heat and pressure

– Phase 2 of formation– Overlain with non-porous rock

• Slate or Shale– Oil and natural gas migrate upwards– Pocket created at non-porous rock

• Fault or folds in rock layer– Natural gas a waste product of anaerobic

bacteria

Image copyright unknown, by LBR at UGA

Found at: www.petroleumworld.com

Thanks to the individuals who have generously shared images with the use of a creative

commons’ license.

Tommy the rabbit …. By broterham on FlickrCoal plant … by Bruno D RodriguesCampfire … by lord bute on Flickr

Corn furnace … Wisconsin corn burner llc.Dung … by Claude Renault on Flickr

Shelp lake bog … chickeninthewoods on FlickrSphagnum moss … by John Wesley Barker on

FlickrSphagnum moss close up by danteclaus on Flickr