Energy Impacts Ecological impacts of energy generation from

1. Energy Impacts Ecological impacts of energy generation from non-renewable energy sources in global & local scale and probable mitigation measures Global scale: greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and climate change Local scale: acid rain, particulate pollution, thermal pollution and related impact, fresh-water exploitation, and altering land use

2. Water for Energy (Water or Energy) • Hydroelectric power generation • Energy resource extraction, refining and processing • Thermoelectric power plant cooling • Biofuel production http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/2849.asp

3. Water for Energy (Water or Energy) • Hydroelectric power generation • Energy resource extraction, refining and processing • Thermoelectric power plant cooling • Biofuel production  

4. Coal extraction, refining and processing: • Acid mine drainage (AMD): • - Coal mining activities could expose rocks containing the sulphur-bearing mineral pyrite [FeS2]. • When exposed to air and water, pyrite form sulphuric acid [H2SO4] and iron hydroxide [Fe(OH)3] • As water washes through mines, this compound forms a dilute acid, which can wash into nearby rivers and streams.

5. Coal extraction, refining and processing: • Acid mine drainage (AMD): • - AMD discharges elevated concentrations of acidity, iron, manganese, aluminum, and sulfate into receiving streams and rivers, depleting the buffering ability of water by neutralizing carbonate and bicarbonate ions that form carbonic acid. • Streams and rivers with low buffer capacity are not able to neutralize the acid load and consequently become acidic. • River Basins degraded by AMD may not be able to support fish communities. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Water_pollution_from_coal

6. Coal extraction, refining and processing: Mountaintop removal mining (MTR): It involves the blasting off the tops of mountains to reach the coal seams below, with the millions of tons of former mountains pushed into stream valleys. An EPA environmental impact found that 724 miles (1,165 km) of Appalachian streams were buried by valley fills between 1985 to 2001, and that streams near valley fills from mountaintop removal contain high levels of minerals in the water and decreased aquatic biodiversity. The 2012 Environmental Science and Technology study "How Many Mountains Can We Mine? Assessing the Regional Degradation of Central Appalachian Rivers by Surface Coal Mining" concluded that decades of mountaintop-removal mining in Appalachia may have harmed aquatic life along more than 1,700 miles of streams in southern West Virginia. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Water_pollution_from_coal

7. Coal extraction, refining and processing: Coal sludge (or slurry): It is the liquid coal waste generated by washing coal. It is typically disposed of at impoundments located near coal mines, but in some cases it is directly injected into abandoned underground mines. Since coal sludge contains toxins, leaks or spills can endanger underground and surface waters. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Water_pollution_from_coal

8. Oil extraction, refining and processing:

9. Oil production at very deep ocean Pressure is over 500 atm Depth drilled by British Petroleum is 5.5 km (3.4 mile) below sea level Ocean is black since no sunlight penetrates to these depths

10. Oil production at very deep ocean 4.9 million barrels of oil was spilled on the Gulf of Mexico. BP was after 50 millions barrel of oil = 63% of global oil use per day = 20% of global energy use per day

11. Oil extraction, refining and processing: Oil plume: Evaporation of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere 500 m Water pressure 1000 m Dissolution of gases & hydrocarbons in the water Underwater currents 1500 m

12. Natural Gas extraction, refining and processing: Hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’: Wells are drilled deep into the shale, initially vertically, then horizontally, explosive charges then fracture the rocks, and then a highly toxic mixture of over 500 chemicals, many of them known carcinogens, is pumped under pressure into the rocks, followed by huge volumes of water into which the natural gas then dissolves.  http://transitionculture.org/2011/04/05/a-film-review-gasland/

13. Natural Gas extraction, refining and processing: About half of this water is then pumped out again, the gas removed, and the highly toxic water is then, in theory at least, safely disposed of. http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking

14. Natural Gas extraction, refining and processing: In 2005, the Bush/ Cheney Energy Bill exempted natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. It exempts companies from disclosing the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing. Essentially, the provision took the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) off the job. It is now commonly referred to as the Halliburton Loophole. http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking

15. Natural Gas extraction, refining and processing: Watch GASLAND http://vimeo.com/38843993

16. Water for Energy (Water or Energy) • Hydroelectric power generation • Energy resource extraction, refining and processing • Thermoelectric power plant cooling • Biofuel production    http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/2849.asp

17. Thermoelectric power plant cooling • - A typical steam turbine power plant uses a fuel (coal, natural gas, oil or nuclear) to heat water into steam in a steam generator. • - Steam generated turns a turbine connected to a generator, which produces electricity. • The steam leaving the turbine is then condensed back into water and pumped to the steam generator again to maintain efficient operation. • Condensing steam into water requires cooling by an external source, which is mostly water (known as cooling water). • Cooling water is often drawn from river or sea, to which warm water is returned (in the once-through cooling systems). http://www.favstocks.com/why-power-plants-use-so-much-water-and-what-to-do-about-it/296455/

18. Steam power plant hot gases superheated steam compressed water Steam Generator Steam Turbine C Pump Condenser Gen saturated water saturated steam cooling water

19. Steam power plant with Once-Through-Cooling System hot gases superheated steam compressed water Steam Generator Steam Turbine C Pump Condenser Gen saturated water saturated steam cooling water Warm water Cold water River (sea or some other water source)

20. Mechanisms  used  for power  plant cooling: • Once-through  (open-loop) cooling systems • Recirculating (closed-loop) cooling systems • Dry cooling systems • Hybrid cooling systems http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/10-Things.pdf

21. Once-through  (open-loop) cooling system It takes cooling water  (CW) from   a water source (rivers,  lakes, underground  aquifers or  the  ocean), and  circulate  it  through  condenser to  absorb  heat  from  the  steam entering the condenser. The heat absorbed by CW increases the temperature of CW, and this warm water is discharged back to the local water  source. Condenser Condensed water sent back to power plant Steam from turbine Cold water Warm water Water source http://www.favstocks.com/why-power-plants-use-so-much-water-and-what-to-do-about-it/296455/

22. Cooling water withdrawal of once-through   (open-loop) cooling systems: 1kWh = 1 kilowatt-hour = 1000 watt-hour = 1000 Wh Average electricity consumption of a house per day in Sri Lanka = (5x60 W)(3 h) = 900 Wh = 0.9 kWh  1 kWh Cooling water withdrawal to electrify a house in Sri Lanka  76 – 190 litres per day with coal power plant Average electricity consumption in USA  35 kWh/person/day Cooling water withdrawal in USA  2500–8000 litres/person/day EPRI [Electric Power Research Institute]. 2002a. Comparison of Alternate Cooling Technologies for California Power Plants Economic, Environmental and Other Tradeoffs.

23. California moves to ban once-through cooling Californian regulators have adopted (on 04 May 2010) a policy requiring coastal power plants to phase out the use of once-through cooling systems. The policy applies to 19 existing power plants that currently withdraw over 60 billion litres of cold seawater per day from the state's coastal and estuarine waters to cool their turbines and then return the water at higher temperatures. The new regulations require such plants to stop this "once-through" practice and install equipment to reduce their impact on marine life. (Over 79 billion fish and other marine species are estimated to be killed each year.) http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-California_moves_to_ban_once_through_cooling-0605105.html

24. How does the marine life gets affected? • - From endangered sea turtles to delicate fish larvae and microscopic planktonic organisms vital to the ocean ecosystem, is sucked into the reactor cooling system (a process known as entrainment). • - Discharge water is at 15 degrees C hotter than the sea water. Indigenous marine life suited to colder temperatures is consequently eliminated or forced to move, disrupting delicately balanced ecosystems. • - Hot water disturbs the biotope as it causes algae growth and makes the water oxygen-deficient. This can lead to fish mortality and biodiversity disruption. http://www.nirs.org/press/02-22-2001/1

25. How does the marine life gets affected? • Warmer ambient water temperatures encourage warm-water species to colonize the artificially maintained warm-water zone. • When the warm water flow is diminished or halted because of maintenance, cleaning, or repair work, these species are often "cold-stunned;" many subsequently die of hypothermia. http://www.nirs.org/press/02-22-2001/1

26. Recirculating (closed-loop) cooling system It reuses  cooling  water  with makeup water drawn from water sources.  Such  systems  withdraw  comparatively  small  amounts  of  water  but  lose  most  of  it  through  evaporation. Water vapour Warm water Fresh (make-up) water supply Condenser Condensed water sent back to power plant Steam from turbine Cooling tower Cold water Blow down is to release the heavy metals and salts build up in the cooling water. Blow-down Water source http://www.favstocks.com/why-power-plants-use-so-much-water-and-what-to-do-about-it/296455/

27. Recirculating (closed-loop) cooling system Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States

28. Recirculating (closed-loop) cooling system - alters the local climate

29. Cooling water withdrawals (and consumption) for power plants: EPRI [Electric Power Research Institute]. 2002a. Comparison of Alternate Cooling Technologies for California Power Plants Economic, Environmental and Other Tradeoffs.

30. Is there any other ecological damage by cooling water usage in the power plants? - Corrosion inhibitors are used in cooling water. - Cooling water is dosed with biocides and algaecides to prevent growths that could interfere with the continuous flow of water. - Biocides are used in cooling towers to prevent the growth of bacteria which (upon entering human body through inhalation of mist droplets containing the bacteria) may cause Ligionnaires’ disease. - Cooling towers produce quite a lot of noise, caused particularly by the fans and dropping water. If a cooling tower is established too close to a residential area, this may cause noise nuisance. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/10-Things.pdf

31. Mechanisms  used  for power  plant cooling (continued): Dry-cooling systems  use  air  instead  of  water  to  cool  the  steam  exiting  a  turbine.  Dry-cooled  systems  can  decrease  total  power  plant  water  requirements  by  as  much  as  90%, though  adding  cost  and  decreasing  efficiency. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/10-Things.pdf

32. Mechanisms  used  for power  plant cooling (continued): Hybrid cooling systems  use  air  for  cooling  most  of  the  time,  but  can draw  on  water during  particularly hot  periods. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/10-Things.pdf

33. Thermal Pollution • - It refers to the degradation of the quality of a natural water resource caused by increase in its temperature. • Power plants and industries are major contributors to thermal pollution. • Removal of trees along the shore line increases solar incidence and hence warms up the water.

34. Thermal pollution by power plants • - A typical steam turbine power plant uses a fuel (coal, natural gas, oil or nuclear) to heat water into steam in a steam generator. • - Steam generated turns a turbine connected to a generator, which produces electricity. • The steam leaving the turbine is then condensed back into water and pumped to the steam generator again to maintain efficient operation. • Condensing steam into water requires cooling by an external source, which is mostly water (known as cooling water). • Cooling water is often drawn from river or sea, to which warm water is returned (in the once-through cooling systems). http://www.favstocks.com/why-power-plants-use-so-much-water-and-what-to-do-about-it/296455/

35. Steam power plant hot gases superheated steam compressed water Steam Generator Steam Turbine C Pump Condenser Gen saturated water saturated steam cooling water

36. Steam power plant with Once-Through-Cooling System hot gases superheated steam compressed water Steam Generator Steam Turbine C Pump Condenser Gen saturated water saturated steam cooling water Warm water Cold water River (sea or some other water source)

37. Thermal shock • Thermal shock is a sudden change in the temperature of the water bodies. • Many aquatic organisms have enzyme systems that are adapted to a very narrow range of temperature. • - A sudden temperature change can kill these (stenothermic) organisms. • Power plants design their cooling water discharges to minimize these effects, but periodic heat treatments that flush out the piping can kill fish. • Some power plants have designed a way to increase the heat gradually to drive away fish before the water gets too hot. http://www.ehow.com/info_8044447_effects-thermal-pollution-marine-life.html

38. Thermal shock Even small, chronic changes in the temperature can harm an organism's reproductive system and make them more vulnerable to disease. http://www.ehow.com/info_8044447_effects-thermal-pollution-marine-life.html

39. Dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion - Cold water has more DO than warmer water. - Higher water temperature increases the rate of decomposition of organic matter which depletes the DO in the water. - The heated water increases the metabolic rates of the organisms, increasing their need for sufficient oxygen. http://www.ehow.com/info_8044447_effects-thermal-pollution-marine-life.html

40. Forced migration - Less DO and temperature environments will prompt organisms to move away from the area and populate new areas, radically changing the ecosystems in both areas. - Some power plants have introduced heat-shock proteins to the discharge to protect some organisms from the changes in temperature. http://www.ehow.com/info_8044447_effects-thermal-pollution-marine-life.html

41. Shorter plant life - An increase in water temperature increases the growth rates of aquatic plants, which results in overpopulation of the species. - A rush of warm water can cause an algae bloom that will reduce the oxygen in the water, cause increased plant respiration, and cloud the water. http://www.ehow.com/info_8044447_effects-thermal-pollution-marine-life.html

42. Water for Energy (Water or Energy) • Hydroelectric power generation • Energy resource extraction, refining and processing • Thermoelectric power plant cooling • Biofuel production     http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/2849.asp