To produce petrol energy, we have to extract it from a petrol deposit, called petrol field too, which draws petrol from the oil well. This field can extend on many kilometres and in that case it increase profitability. When the petrol is extracted, we have to refine it in an oil refinery.
Petrol has a lot of advantages. First, it is a kind of energy available on all the continents. Furthermore, the petrol transport is easy and not expensive.
Another advantage of the petrol is that because of it, we can extract lot of gazes, like methane, propane and butane. Finally, it is the sort of liquid energy the most concentrated available.
However, petrol energy has many drawbacks too:
the search of a new petrol field is a very difficult and very expensive activity.
Petrol transport pollutes and creates oil spilling.
Like the coal, petrol combustion products carbon dioxide which increases the greenhouse effect.
Sources :
http://energiespropres.e-monsite.com/pages/partie-a/ii-avantages-et-inconvenients.html
http://iberianature.com/spaintravel/the-ayoluengo-petrol-field/
http://bantrel.com/markets/downstream.aspx
http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/petroleum-refinery-3328-pictures.htm
Energy in P.A.C.A. Traditional energy in our region, Water : Hydropower
Hydropower or water power comes from the energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes.
http://shem-sarl.pagesperso-orange.fr/shem_production/le_moulin_du_Chambon.html
Since
ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the
operation of varius mechanical devices, sush as watermills, sawmills,
textile mills, dock cranes, and domestic.
Early uses of
waterpower date back to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, where irrigation
has been used since the 6th millennium BC and water clocks had been
used since the early 2nd millennium BC. Other earlyexamples of water
power include the Qanat system in ancient Persia and The Turpan water
system in ancient China.
http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/Hydro%20Power.htm
Advantages:
- Once a dam is built, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
-
If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping
electricity generation. The water can be saved for another time when
electricity demand is high.
- Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to the generation of electricity for many years / decades.
-
The lake that forms behind the dam can be used for water sports and
leisure / pleasure activities. Often large dams become tourist
attractions in their own right.
- The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.
-
The presence of water in the lake means that energy can be stored until
needed, when the water is released to produce electricity.
- When in use, electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases. They do not pollute the atmosphere.
- The high cost of dam construction means that they must operate for many decades to become profitable.
Drawbacks:
- High initial environmental and financial cost
- Turbines can be harmful to fish and dams prevent free movement
- Peaking designs can seriously impact water flow
- Upriver, habitats are made dependent on how much water is released
- Dams can be dangerous to boaters
- Dependent on climate
- Limited potential
- Dams are extremely expensive to build and must be built to a very high standard.
-
Because of the dams construction, the flooding (of large areas of land )
destroyed natural environment and villages = people living in villages
and towns that are in the valley to be flooded must move out. ( they
lose their farms and businesses ) (Serre-Ponçon lake in PACA )
- The building of large dams can cause serious geological damage. For example, the building of the Hoover Dam in the USA.
- If you build dams, there is a risk for other countries not to have water.
http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/hydr2.htm
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Accueil_principal
http://www.paca.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/l-hydroelectricite-en-paca-r432.html
Energy in P.A.C.A. Water energy
What is energy ?
Energy means the capacity to
make something work, heat, light and effectuate movements. In physics
science, energy is a measure of the capacity of a system to modify a
state, to lead to a movement, an electromagnetic radiation or heat. On
the other hand, in ecology and economy, we call energy a natural
energetic source.
http://www.chine-informations.com/guide/barrage-des-trois-gorges_1203.html
How can we use water as energy?
Water
is a source of mechanical energy. Indeed, we can produce energy by
harnessing the power of moving water in large rivers. For example, we
can build a dam and create a large reservoir of water with a great deal
of pressure. Holes in the side of the dam lead to turbines, which spin a
controlled amount of water that leaves the dam.
What is hydroelectric power?
Hydroelectric
power is an electrical energy obtained by the conversion of waterpower
of different water flows. It is electricity that is supplied by
generating energy from falling or streaming water. The hydroelectric
power is a renewable energy source. Indeed, unlike non-renewable energy
sources such as crude oil, we will not run out of water fully. It can be
renewed after we have used it for energy generation.Hydroelectricity is
the second source of renewable energy in the world.
http://www.micro-hydro-power.com/Hydro-Power.htm
The water energy connection:
The
water-energy connection is complex, but it provides an excellent
opportunity to get students thinking about the interrelatedness of
ecological and environmental concerns.
http://eeweek.org/water_and_energy_wise/connection
The drawbacks
Despite
all the advantages that it provides to us, there are some drawbacks to
the use of hydroelectric power. The cost of the constructions is very
high; dams are very expensive to build.
Moreover there
is the changing of the natural look of the area, finding a suitable site
can be difficult; the impact on residents and the environment may be
unacceptable.
A hydroelectric power plant takes a lot
of space and this may cause problems for animals that used to live
there: it may cause animal habitats to get lost.
Large-scale projects can threaten recreational activities and disrupt the flows of rivers.
Water quality and quantity downstream can be affected, which can have an impact on plant life.
And
due to the presence of dams and reservoirs, fish may not be able to
swim to sea and aquatic life may decrease in the area of the
hydroelectric power plant.
