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Toggle Navigation Menu
 * Home
 * Nuclear Fusion
   * Overview
   * How it works
     * Magnetic Confinement
     * Inertial Confinement
   * Safety
   * Current Power Production
   * Future of Fusion
 * Nuclear Fission
   * Overview
   * How it Works
     * What is Nuclear Fission?
     * Nuclear Fission for Power Generation
     * Types of Reactor
   * Current Power Production
   * Safety and Waste Management
   * Future of Fission
 * Solar
   * Overview
   * How it Works
     * The Photovoltaic Effect
     * Atomic Structure and the Exclusion Principle
     * Band Theory of Solids, Semiconductors and Doping
     * The Illuminated PN Junction: A Solar Cell
   * Solar Cell Efficiencies and Current Power Production
   * Future of Photovoltaics
 * Wind Power
   * Overview
   * How it Works
     * Inside a Wind Turbine
     * Electromagnetic Induction
   * Current Power Production
   * Future of Wind Power
 * Debate


 


FED - THE FUTURE ENERGY DEBATE  

 

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ABOUT THE WEBSITE 

This website has been created by a group of four Durham University physics
students, as part of a digital media project on the subject of Physics and
Energy. Our aim is to provide a platform for discussion on the ways in which we
might meet the future global demand for energy, as well as providing some
relevant theory on four key energy sectors which will likely contribute to the
future energy mix: nuclear fusion; nuclear fission; solar power and wind power.
The theory sections have been written with A-level and undergraduate science
students in mind, pre-supposing some scientific background knowledge. Alongside
an outline of the physics theory for each means of power production, information
has been included on the current power production and research areas of each
sector. Using this information, we invite you to contribute to the debate,
giving your opinion on the best strategy for meeting future energy demands.

 

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THE ENERGY ISSUE

There are finite resources of coal, gas and oil on Earth; sustained use of these
resources for power generation will eventually lead to their exhaustion. The
depletion of fossil fuels has been an area of concern for decades, leading
scientists such as M. King Hubbert to theorise about their production rates and
use. Hubbert put forward his Peak Theory hypothesis in 1956 suggesting that the
production rates of fossil fuels should follow a Gaussian curve, with production
rates increasing rapidly from the time that a new supply of fuel is discovered,
and later peaking and declining when the supply reaches
near-depletion.[1][2] Hubbert curves have correctly predicted various fuel
production rates thus far; after the coal-powered Industrial Revolution in 19th
century Britain, coal production peaked in 1918 and has been declining since.
Following this peak, the U.K. was primarily using oil and gas produced via
offshore mining in the North Sea; however, the production rate has been
declining in recent years following a peak in 2000.[1][2]][3]

The BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2017 gives estimates of the
reserves-to-product ratios for coal, gas and oil. These ratios predict the
average number of remaining years of global production of the fuels, based on
current known reserves and annual production levels for 2016. For coal, gas and
oil respectively, predictions of 153, 50 and 50.6 years of remaining production
are given.[4] However, regardless of the potential of a remaining 150 year
supply of coal worldwide, there is another urgent factor that needs to be
accounted for: climate change.

 

Above is an infographic showing a live breakdown of UK power production. This
real-time

infographic is updated every 15 minutes and originates
from http://www.mygridgb.co.uk/plugins/

 

 

 

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CLIMATE CHANGE

In 2015, 66.3% of worldwide electricity consumption was fossil fuel powered,
with nuclear energy supplying 10.1% and renewables 7.1%. However, the burning of
fossil fuels for power generation results in the emission of large amounts of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (C02) and small
quantities of other gases, such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20). Our
planet is surrounded by a layer of these gases, largely composed of water
vapour, which absorbs any escaping thermal radiation and heats the Earth’s
surface. [5][6][7]

Climate change has already had a noticeable effect on the environment. Increased
global temperatures mean sea levels are rising due to melting glaciers, while
the oceans are warming and weather patterns are becoming more extreme. These
changes correspond to the habitat loss of plants and animals, along with changes
to plant and animal behaviour, and extinctions of species. Coal, oil and gas
each emit different amounts of carbon into the atmosphere per kWh of power
consumption, but all are in the range of 0.19 – 0.34 kg/kWh. Therefore, with the
impacts of climate change in mind, the switch to fossil fuel alternatives having
lower or zero emissions is currently of great significance.[6][7]

 

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References

[1] Deffeyes, K. (2009). Hubbert's Peak. Princeton: Princeton University Press,
pp.133-158. 

[2] Our World in Data. (2018). How long before we run out of fossil fuels? - Our
World in Data. [online] Available at:
https://ourworldindata.org/how-long-before-we-run-out-of-fossil-fuels [Accessed
28 Feb. 2018].

[3] David MacKay. TED (2013). A reality check on renewables. [video] Available
at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0W1ZZYIV8o [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

[4] BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2017. (2017). [online] 66. Available
at:
https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/en/corporate/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2017/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2017-full-report.pdf
[Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

[5] Iea.org. (2017). Key World Energy Statistics 2017. [online] Available at:
https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld2017.pdf
[Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

[6] Climate.nasa.gov. (2018). Global Climate Change. [online] Available at:
https://climate.nasa.gov [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

[7] Carbontrust.com. (2011). Conversion factors. [online] Available
at: https://www.carbontrust.com/media/18223/ctl153_conversion_factors.pdf [Accessed
28 Feb. 2018].

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