Background:
I have degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and I have worked in the petroleum processing industry.
Some History:
I have told many friends my view on why human population levels have increased over past 1000 years. I believe the increase is due to having energy sources available to drive agriculture, industry and sustain environments which make it easier for human beings to live. The estimate for human population on earth 1000 years ago is 275 million. The estimate of human population on earth 500 years ago is 450 million. The estimated percentage increase during that period is 64%. Today the population of humans on earth is estimated to be 7.8 billion. The estimated increase of human population during the past 500 years is over 1600%. Why did the rate of human population growth accelerate from 64% (1000 years ago to 500 years ago) to 1600% (500 years ago to today)? The simple answer is the dramatic increased rate of population growth during the past 500 years is due to having abundant sources of energy, specifically hydrocarbon (e.g. fossil fuels) energy sources.
Coal was discovered by the Chinese and used as an energy source over 5000 years ago. Access to coal was limited to what could be easily accessed on or close to the surface. The historical references for the mining of coal dates back to over 2000 years ago to Chinese, Greek and Roman societies for use as an energy source to heat homes and to make useful tools and products. Coal mining in England, Europe, and the US increased the amount of coal available which was used as a primary energy source to drive the Industrial revolution in the 19th and 20th century.
Petroleum (liquid fossil fuel) was first used over 4000 years ago in the form of asphalt to build the walls and towers of Babylon. Access to petroleum based fuels was again limited to sources on or near the surface. China started using petroleum as an energy source over 2000 years ago. Distillation of petroleum to produce flammable products for military purposes was done by Arab and Persian chemists around 1100 years ago. Petroleum distillation was refined to produce oil for lamps, heaters and furnaces. The science of distilling petroleum into different liquid products was developed over time to the point of producing liquid products (e.g. Gasoline, Kerosene, Jet Fuel, Fuel Oil, Diesel Fuel), gas products (e.g. Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane), and by-products used as feed-stocks for the petrochemical industry to produce fertilizers, plastics, and many other products.
Techniques were developed to drill into the earth in locations with petroleum near the surface. Large pools of liquid petroleum (crude oil) were discovered and extracted as a result. Scientific techniques to discover under ground reservoirs of liquid petroleum were developed which lead to the discovery of more crude oil deposits on land and under bodies of water. Products/devices were invented and developed to use petroleum distillates as energy sources to facilitate their function (e.g. automobiles, planes, generators, furnaces). They are part of how we live our lives today.
Using fossil fuels to support the world’s human population has consequences. The release of pollutants, e.g. carbon dioxide, into the earth’s atmosphere has caused global warming and impacted human health due to exposure to toxic byproducts in the environment. Additionally, the reserves of fossil fuels stored in the earth over millions of years are being used at rates in which the reserves will be used up in the next 30 to 50 years even with substantial conservation efforts.
Alternative Energy Sources:
It is time that we start working on new sources of energy to support the human race. Using energy derived from nuclear fission is not a good idea because the radioactive by-products generated are very difficult to manage/handle and they will have to be stored for thousands of years. The answer could be using nuclear fusion as an energy source. Nuclear fusion doesn’t produce radioactive byproducts.. The energy to initiate nuclear fusion is substantial and containment of the reaction is problematic because the energy produced is massive. Developing the processes and technology for fusion based energy will take a long time and it doesn’t look they will be in place within the next 30 years.
Using alternative energy sources (solar/wind) seems like a good idea since we have the technology and processes for generating energy, specifically electricity, using these sources. However, the sun doesn’t shine and wind doesn’t blow all of the time. Both represent intermittent sources of energy. If they are to be used to replace fossil fuels as a source of energy then, a way to store the energy generated is needed.
Why not use batteries to store solar/wind generated energy? Battery products are available and can be scaled to provide the services required. Using batteries to store energy on this scale is problematic due to battery life and the materials used in batteries are toxic. The spent batteries will have to be stored in a toxic waist dump with similar long term outcomes to nuclear fission by-products.
Using Fuel Cells:
I think that developing new fuel cell technologies based on water electrolysis isthe answer to storing energy from solar/wind sources and generating it when solar/wind energy isn’t available. Water electrolysis is the process of breaking down water molecules (H2O) into Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2) gas by passing current though an anode (negative element) and a cathode (positive element). The Hydrogen gas produced is stored as an energy source for future use. The process of generating energy consists of burning Hydrogen which produces water. The energy produced by burning Hydrogen can be used to heat a house or generate electricity using a generator.
The issues with using fuel cells to store energy at this scale, i.e. having fuel cells in every home/business to store generated solar/wind energy,are having a source of distilled water, compressing/storing the Hydrogen gas generated (done today) and the cost of the materials used for the anode and cathode elements. Recycling the water generated by burning hydrogen to produce energy or burning stored Hydrogen to boil water and remove the condensate to produce distilled water are ways to provide distilled water. Addressing the cost/efficiency issues of anode and cathode elements will require development of new materials for these elements but we do have working fuel cells today.
Fuel Cells have been used by NASA to provide energy for space flights since the Apollo flights in the late 1960’s. The list of issues identified with using fuel cells to store Solar/Wind energy can be mitigated in a short period of time and using this technology will prevent having to store substantial amounts of toxic materials which result from using other products / technologies.