Wolkite University Energy Phy.

College of Natural and Computational Science

Department of Physics

Energy Physics
Phys 4624
By: Fikru Abiko (Ph.D)
E-mail: fikreabiko@gmail.com; fikru.abiko@aau.edu.et

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 Energy Phy.
Outline of the course
1. Introduction to energy resources
2. Global Energy Scenario
3. Ethiopian Energy Scenario
4. Energy, sustainability & the environment
5. Fossil Fuels: Nonrenewable energy
6. Introduction to Renewable Energy
7. Solar Energy and solar radiation:
8. Wind Energy
9. Nuclear energy:
10.Geothermal energy:
11.Bio-Energy
12.Energy Storages
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 Energy, sustainability & the environment

4.1.Environmental degradation due to energy production and

utilization,

➢Energy production and utilization have significant impacts on the

environment and contribute to environmental degradation in several
ways

➢The environmental problems directly related to energy production

and consumption include air pollution, climate change, water
pollution, thermal pollution, and solid waste disposal.

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 Cont…

❖ Promoting sustainability and mitigating the environmental

impacts of energy production and utilization is crucial.
✓ Here are a few strategies to address these challenges:
1. Transition to Renewable Energy
2. Energy Efficiency
3. Conservation and Sustainable Practices
4. Environmental Regulations and Policies
5. Research and Innovation

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 4.2 primary and secondary pollution, air,
thermal, and water pollution
A. Primary pollutants: are materials which emitted directly from
natural events or human activities, natural events are dust storms,
volcano etc. and human activities can be emission from vehicles,
industrial wastes.
B. Secondary pollutants: are primary pollutants when reacting with
each other or from basic components of air; forms new pollutants called
secondary pollutant.
For example: sulphuric acid(H2SO4), nitric acid(HNO3), carbonic
acid(H2CO3), etc.

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 Cont…

❖ There are six primary air pollutants:

• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Sulfur dioxide
• Volatile organic compounds
• Particulate matter and Ammonia

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 4.3 Depletion of ozone, global warming: biological
damage due to environmental degradation

➢The main causes of ozone depletion and the ozone hole are
manufactured chemicals, especially manufactured halocarbon
refrigerants, and foam-blowing agents(CFCs), HCFCs, etc), referred to
as ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

➢These compounds are transported into the Stratosphere by turbulent

mixing after being emitted from the surface, mixing much faster than
the molecules can settle.

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 Cont…

➢Once in the stratosphere, they release atoms from the halogen group
through photodissociation, which catalyze the breakdown of ozone
(O3) into oxygen (O2).
➢Ozone Depletion:- Ozone depletion primarily affects living
organisms through increased exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV)
radiation from the sun.
➢Global Warming:- Global warming leads to various biological
impacts due to changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea
levels.
➢It can alter habitats, forcing species to migrate or face extinction if
they cannot adapt quickly enough.

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 4.4.Pollution due to thermal power station and their
control

❖Thermal power stations, which typically burn fossil fuels like coal,
oil, or natural gas to generate electricity, can contribute to pollution
through various emissions.
The main pollutants associated with thermal power stations include.
❖Coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are responsible for a
excessively higher share of emissions than the industrial sector (60
percent of PM, 45 per cent of SO2, 30 per cent of NO2 and 80 per
cent of mercury(Hg)).
❖In 2019, 99% of the world’s population was living in places where
the WHO air quality guidelines levels were not met.

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 4.5. Pollution due to nuclear power generation,
radioactive waste and its disposal

➢ Radioactive Waste: Nuclear power plants produce radioactive waste,

which remains hazardous for thousands to millions of years.

➢ This waste includes spent nuclear fuel rods and various radioactive by
products generated during reactor operation.

➢ Improper handling or disposal of radioactive waste can lead to

contamination of soil, water, and air, posing risks to human health and
the environment.

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 Cont…

➢ Accidents and Releases: While nuclear accidents are rare, they can

have catastrophic consequences when they occur.

➢ Accidents can occur due to human error, equipment failure, or natural

disasters, highlighting the importance of robust safety measures in

nuclear power operations.

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 4.6.Effect of hydroelectric power station on
ecology and environment

➢Hydroelectric power stations connect the energy of flowing water to

generate electricity.

➢While they offer numerous benefits, they also have significant effects
on ecology and the environment
1. Alteration of Aquatic Ecosystems
2. Fish Migration and Depositing.
3. Sediment accumulation and water quality
4. Seismic activity

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 4.7 Greenhouse gas emissions, impacts,
mitigation
❖Greenhouse gas emissions affect all of us by contributing to climate
change, which threatens our water supplies, coastlines, forests, and
economy.
❖Most greenhouse gases come from human activities, like burning fossil
fuels for transportation or energy.
❖These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing a greenhouse
effect.
❖As greenhouse gases increase, the Earth's surface temperature also
rises, diminishing snowpack, raising sea levels, and increasing
droughts and forest fires.

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 Main Constituents of the Earth’s Atmosphere

✓ Nitrogen 78%
✓ Oxygen 21%
✓ Argon 1%
✓ Water Vapor 0-4%
✓ Carbon Dioxide 0.037% (increasing)

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 Cont….

❖ Earth receives energy from sun in the form of shortwave radiation with peak in the
visible (λ = 0.4 - 0.7 µm)

❖ Earth emits energy to space in the form of longwave radiation in the infrared (λ =
5-20 µm) ! function of Earth’s temperature

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 The greenhouse effect

❖The temperature of the earth is determined by the solar radiation

coming in and the infrared (IR) radiation leaving the earth,
Energy in = Energy out

λmax =b/T (𝑏 = 2.9𝑥10−3 𝑚𝐾)

❖Where σ=5.6704×10−8 W/m2K4, R = 6357 km and S=1369 W/m2 ,
albedo a one finds from experiments a = 0.30. Substitution gives T =
255 K, which is way below the true average earth surface temperature
of 15 ℃ = 288 [K].
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 Cont…

➢The difference of 33 ℃ is due to the greenhouse effect, for which the

earth’s atmosphere is responsible.
➢However ,the Earth going to be warm by the greenhouse gases.
➢The main long-lived greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) cause Global warming.
➢Methane is what we call a “short-lived” climate forcer because it stays
in the atmosphere for far less time than other greenhouse gasses such
as carbon dioxide which lives more than 100 -200 years
➢Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's surface observed
since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to
anthropogenic activity.

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 4.8 Sustainability

❖ Sustainable development is a concept that seeks to meet the needs of

the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.

❖ Sustainability in energy systems involves ensuring that energy

production, distribution, and consumption practices meet present
needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.

❖ Analysis, and metrics into energy planning, decision-making, and

management processes, stakeholders can enhance the sustainability of
energy systems and contribute to the transition towards a more
sustainable energy future.

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 4.9 Five Principles of Sustainable
Development

1.Conservation of ecosystem and environment.

2.Conservation of the biodiversity of the planet
3.Sustainable development of the society
4.Conservation of the human resources
5.Population control and management

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 4.10 Future energy systems, Clean energy
technologies
❑Future energy systems and clean energy technologies play a critical
role in addressing global challenges related to climate change, energy
security, and sustainable development.

❑As societies transition towards low-carbon and robust energy

systems, there is increasing focus on organizing clean energy
technologies and innovative solutions to meet growing energy demand
while minimizing environmental impacts.

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 5.Fossil Fuels: Nonrenewable energy

❖ Fossilfuels are hydrocarbon energy resources formed from the

decaying remains of ancient plants and animals.

❖ Fossilfuels formed from ancient organisms that died and were buried
under layers of accumulating sediment.

❖ Asadditional sediment layers built up over these organic deposits, the

material was subjected to increasing temperatures and pressures.

❖ Over millions of years, these physical conditions chemically

transformed the organic material into hydrocarbons

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 Cont….

In 2022, over 80% of primary energy consumption in the world and

over 60% of its electricity was from fossil fuels
The most commonly used fossil fuels are
❖Petroleum
❖Coal
❖Natural gas

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 Cont….

The majority of fossil fuels are used in the

❖Transportation
❖Manufacturing
❖Residential heating
❖Electric-power generation industries.
Crude petroleum is refined into gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel,
which power the world’s transportation system.
Coal is the fuel most commonly burned to generate electric power.

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 Cont….

Natural gas is used primarily in commercial and residential buildings

for heating water and air, for air conditioning, and as fuel for stoves and
other heating appliances
The fluids and gases caught in the geologic traps typically separate
into three layers:
❑Water (highest density, bottom layer),
❑Petroleum (middle layer), and
❑Natural gas (low density, top layer).

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 5.Introduction to Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources can be reproduced easily, at a rate

comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans.
Hydro, wind, tidal, biomass, solar thermal, solar PV and geothermal
resources are examples of renewable energy resources.
Renewable energy will bring radical changes in many aspects of
social life and is going to solve many environmental problems
associated with fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

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 Geothermal energy

Definition of Geothermal energy

The word geothermal was developed from two Greek words,

“geo”, meaning earth, and

“thermos”, meaning heat
➢ geothermal is power extracted from heat stored in the earth.
Geothermal energy can be defined as heat that originates within the
earth.
Geothermal heat is estimated to be about 5,500oC at the Earth’s core
about as hot as the surface of the sun.

It is a clean, renewable resource that provides energy in a variety of

applications

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 Cont….

➢The heat of the earth is available everywhere.

➢It is considered a renewable resource because the heat emanating
from the interior of the Earth is essentially limitless.

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 Hydro power

Water at the high gravitational potential energy level is directed into a

pipe
The guided water strikes the blade of a turbine located at the lowest
potential energy level
All the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy before striking
the blade
In this process the kinetic energy is converted to mechanical energy
The striking force rotates the turbine (connected to the coil of
conducting wires which is a magnetic field)

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Cont….

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 Wind Energy

Wind is the movement of air caused by pressure differences

within the atmosphere.
This pressure differences exert a force that causes air masses to move
from a region of high pressure to one of low pressure.
That movement of air is referred as wind.
Such pressure differences are caused primarily by uneven heating
effects of the sun on the Earth’s surface.
Wind power is the transformation of wind energy into more utilizable
forms, typically electricity using wind turbines.

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Cont….

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 Solar energy

Solar cells operate according to what is called the photovoltaic effect

(photo-light, voltaic-electricity).
In the photovoltaic effect, bullets of sunlight-photons striking the
surface of semiconductor material such as silicon, liberates electron
from materials atom.
Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed
within the semiconductor material.
The light energy knocks semiconductor electrons loose, allowing them
to flow freely.

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Cont….

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 Wave energy

❖ Wave energy refers to a renewable source of energy that is produced

by the upper surface of the ocean due to force of winds.
❖ Waves get their energy from the wind, which comes from solar
energy.
❖ Waves gather, store, and transmit this energy thousands of kilometers
with very little loss.
❖ Though it varies in intensity, it is available twenty four hours a day
all round the year.

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Cont….

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 Tidal Energy

❖ Tidal energy is a form of power produced by the natural rise and

fall of tides
❖ One of the most powerful forms of natural energy in the world is
generated by the gravitation of the moon and the sun.
❖ This movement with respect to the earth causes low and high tides
that happen twice within a 25 h period.
❖ The movement of the rising and falling sea level alters the potential
energy of water that can be converted into electricity by the operation
of a power plant.
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Cont….

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 Biomass Energy

Biomass energy or "Bioenergy" is the energy obtained from plants and plant-
derived materials.
Wood is still the largest biomass energy resource today, but other sources of
biomass can also be used.
Biomass energy source are
food crops,
grassy and woody plants,
residues from agriculture or forestry, and
the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes.
,

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Exercises RE for all

1. If the temperature of the sun increased from 5800K to 8500K,how

would the wavelength of its emission change
2. At present the emission of temperature of the Earth is 255,and its
albedo is 30%.How would the emission of temperature change if the
albedo where reduced to 10% (and all else were held fixed)
3. Write the types of energy recourses and the difference in between
them
4. __________is the greenhouse gas which has least duration in
atmosphere.
5. What is sustainability in general
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.

for your attention

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