Month: December 2016

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Wind Energy vs. Nuclear Energy

Kyodo. (2016). Global wind power capacity tops nuclear energy for first time. Retrieved from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/20/national/global-wind-power-capacity-tops-nuclear-energy-for-first-time/#.V82kso-cHIU on September 4, 2016.

At the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016, the power capacity of wind energy has surpassed that of nuclear energy. While use of wind power is continuing to rise, nuclear has plateaued, and slowly spiraling downward. China creates the most energy from wind, followed by the U.S. and then Germany. While both wind and nuclear energy create less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels, wind energy is still cleaner, and also safer.

This relates to environmental science because it demonstrates the change from fossil fuels over to cleaner sources, and also renewable resources. I think that the world will continue to shift from nuclear over to wind and also solar, and that this will help protect the environment and atmosphere.

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Wind Turbine and Solar Panel Combination

American Chemical Society. (2016). Harnessing solar and wind energy in one device could power the ‘Internet of Things’. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/ 2016/05/160525121225.htm on September 4, 2016.

A new device that combines solar panels and wind turbines into one creates large amounts of energy. This device could be used in the future on the roofs of homes, powering the entire house if there are enough devices. This device used in large quantities could create “smart cities”, running only on renewable energy.

This article relates to environmental science because it focuses on moving over to only renewable resources, in this case solar and wind. I think it is a very good idea, and smart to combine them so if the sun or wind is not out one day, the other can still function and provide power. However, I also think it is a bit unpredictable, because there could be times when there is not enough sun or wind to provide sufficient power.

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New Turbine Installment

Stanley Reed. (2016). A Danish Wind Turbine Maker Harnesses Data in a Push to Stay Ahead. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/19/business/energy-environment/ denmark-vestas-wind-renewable-energy.html on September 3, 2016.

Denmark is planning on installing hundreds of new wind turbines in the Fosen Peninsula, employing the company Vestas Wind Systems. In the past, Vestas has gone through many ups and downs of their company, struggling when there was a large decrease in turbine orders, forcing them to sell almost two thirds of its factories. However, Vestas is still up and running today, with the goal of making wind energy not just a secondary source of energy, but rather a primary one.

This article relates to environmental science because the company, Vestas, wants to shift from nonrenewable energy over to wind energy, which is renewable. Although previously it was thought that it was impossible to install wind turbines on the Fosen Peninsula, Vestas persevered, making many data and math calculations to determine the exact type of turbine needed. I think that it is great that this company has pushed through their troubles and is continuing to promote wind energy.

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Microscopic Wind Energy Device

Emily Conover. (2016). Mini ‘wind farm’ could capture energy from microbes in motion. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/mini-%E2%80%98wind-farm %E2%80%99-could-capture-energy-microbes-motion on September 3, 2016.

A device that is much similar to wind energy, but smaller, has been created for power. Instead of harnessing the wind, miniscule rotors rotate in liquid when bacteria swarms around them. This process makes significantly less power than wind turbines, but is much smaller also, allowing for the possibility of the technology to be used in electronic devices.

This article relates to environmental science because the bacteria in the liquid would be easy to replicate, and the rotors could be continuously used (the process could be done with the same liquid and rotors over and over again). I think this is a very innovative idea, but might be tough to actually use on a large scale, especially since so far this process has only been simulated on a computer.

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Increases in Wind Energy

Anmar Frangoul. (2016). Scottish wind turbines produced enough energy to power country for an entire day. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/11/scottish-wind-turbines- produced-enough-energy-to-power-country-for-an-entire-day.html on September 3, 2016.

On an especially windy day this year, Scotland produced enough energy from its wind turbines alone to power the entire country for that day. Scotland has the goal of having half of its energy be renewable by 2030, and needs political support for that to happen. The country has invested 2.6 billion euros to build an offshore an offshore wind farm, which would largely increase their amount of renewable energy.

This article focused on switching from nonrenewable resources over to renewable ones, primarily wind energy. This has to do with environmental science because wind is renewable, whereas coal, oil, and others are not. Switching over to solely renewable resources can help lower Scotland’s carbon footprint, therefore having less of a negative impact on the Earth and atmosphere.

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River on fire due to fracking?

Wahlquist, C. (2016, April 24). River on fire in Greens MP’s video is natural, not fracking, says CSIRO. Retrieved November 21, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/24/river-on-fire-in-greens-mps-video-is-natural-not-fracking-says-csiro

An Australian Greens MP, Jeremy Buckingham, posted a video of himself lighting the surface of the Condamine River, starting a fire on the surface of the river.  Buckingham blamed the coal seam gas industry for the methane flow which was less than 1km away from an oil well and 5km away from a gas field.  However, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has stated that the methane seep was a result of coal beds being less than 100m from the surface, causing naturally occurring fissures in the rock.  The CSIRO has said that the coal beds don’t create natural connections and that the methane flow has no direct connection to the fracking in the area.

 

If fracking sites create gas flows in surrounding areas, it could mean major problems for climate change.  Introducing gas flows to ecosystems is dangerous and can damage the health of the environment.  However, according to the CSIRO, fracking was not the cause of the methane flow.  It would be wrong to ignore the possible link between the gas flow and the oil well, but at the moment, it seems like fracking is still a relatively safe procedure.

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What ever happened with Europe’s fracking boom?

Osterath, B. (2016, July 20). What ever happened with Europe’s fracking boom? | Environment | DW.COM | 20.07.2015. Retrieved November 21, 2016, from http://www.dw.com/en/What-ever-happened-with-europes-fracking-boom/a-18589660

About 5 years ago, shale gas looked like it could become the major fossil fuel source for Europe.  Eastern European countries in particular looked at fracking as a way to make themselves energy-independent from Russia.  However the shale gas boom in Europe has died after countries have found it simply was not economically viable.  Test wells have not performed as expected and environmental protests have caused testing to become expensive and drawn out.  Poland and Romania have had foreign investors pull out from fracking sites and Sweden and Norway found that they could not take advantage of their shale gas resources.

 

A switch to shale gas could reduce to environmental footprint of European countries.  If fracking isn’t viable in most of Europe, it rules out shale gas as a possible major fossil fuel source.  While fracking is still allowed in certain parts of Europe, like the UK, it seems like most of the continent is reluctant to make the switch.  Ideally these countries should try to lower their environmental impact by using shale gas, but it simply may not be reasonable for these countries to start fracking.

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The rise and fall of fracking in Europe.

Neslen, A. (2016, September 29). The rise and fall of fracking in Europe. Retrieved November 21, 2016, from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainablebusiness/2016/sep/29/fracking-shale-gas-europe-opposition-ban

Three years ago, Europe looked poised to enter a shift towards the use of shale gas.  Fracking was a cheap process that resulted in reduced environmental impact.  However, in those three years, France, Germany, and Scotland have banned the practice of fracking.  The idea of a shale gas revolution seems to have disappeared, even though it seems like shale gas is the best option as a bridging fuel to a lower carbon future.  Europeans seem to be unclear as to whether shale gas would actually lower emissions and with oil at such low prices, it doesn’t seem like Europe will switch to shale gas anytime soon.

 

Shale gas has lower carbon emissions than other commonly used alternatives and seems like the best way to lower environmental impact.  Europe switching to shale gas could lower human’s’ impact on the environment a significant amount.  The same factors that cause Americans to call for the ban of fracking seems to hold Europeans back from practicing fracking.

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Fracking Hysteria Spreads to Europe

Lynch, M. (2016, October 27). Fracking Hysteria Spreads To Europe: “Think Of The Whiskey!”Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellynch/2016/10/27/fracking-hysteria-spreads-to-europe-before-fracking-think-of-the-whiskey/#7964f6b71dec

Following Hillary Clinton’s calls for the regulation of hydraulic fracking, most Americans seem to have come to the conclusion that most “claims of catastrophe” are just meant to scare the public.  Unlike the US, Europe has far more opposition towards fracking and Lynch claims that the bans on fracking are a result of emotion driving the energy policy in Europe.  Lynch contests that fracking could easily operate with margins similar to those of the US, making it an inexpensive way for Europeans to get energy.  The author also points out that wells contaminated by fracking make up only a small portion of the total number of contaminated wells in the US.  Introduction of fracking in Europe would mean little for the whiskey distilleries that play a big part in Europe’s economy.

 

The introduction of fracking to Europe could prove to be an inexpensive way for countries to supply energy to its citizens.  Opponents of fracking claim that it can lead to contamination of waterways and health complications.  Though these claims have yet to be substantiated, widespread participation in fracking could mean problems with Europe’s water sources.  Of course, these claims about pollution and health issues could be the result of what Lynch calls “hysteria”.  The process is widespread in the US and is poised to become the major source of energy for the country.

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In Canada, a Direct Link Between Fracking and Earthquakes

Fountain, H. (2016, November 17). In Canada, a Direct Link Between Fracking and

Earthquakes. Retrieved November 21, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.co m/2016 /11/18/science/fracking -earthquakes-alberta-canada.html

Scientists at the University of Calgary have studied a number of earthquakes in Alberta that have occurred in the last 5 years.  They have come to the conclusion that these earthquakes were induced by fracking in two ways; fracking near a critically stressed fault creates enough pressure to start an earthquake, meanwhile left over fracking fluid creates constant pressure against fault lines that can cause more earthquakes over time.  The scientists noted that the situation of fracking in Alberta is geographically different than in the US, which explains why fracking induced earthquakes in the US are not common.

 

It seems hard to justify fracking when it can cause earthquakes in two different ways.  Continued fracking in areas that have fault lines with critical stress levels could cause major natural disasters.  However, it seems that fracking doesn’t necessarily mean earthquakes will follow; proper regulation and surveying prior to the opening of a fracking rig seems like the most viable option.