Fossil energy, consumption

Again the atmospheric 14C/C ratio is an excellent example. Man-induced disturbances of the environmental system lead to changes in the 14C/C ratio which are of the order of magnitude of the natural fluctuations or even larger the emission of 14C-free C02 from fossil energy consumption leads to a decrease, and the emission of man-made 14C from nuclear weapons testing, to an increase of the atmospheric 14C/C ratio. 

This study analyzed hydrogen production via thermal decomposition of methane using a solar reactor for two different applications (1) a fueling station and (2) power production. The analysis shows that for either application, the production of carbon black plays a key role in the economics of the process. In addition, the net greenhouse gas emissions and overall fossil energy consumption are lower for the solar processes than for the conventional fossil system. 

The second method that is commonly used for ecological footprint calculation suggests calculating the land need for fossil energy consumption by assessing the forest area that is necessary to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions generated by burning fossil fuels. 

Primary fossil energy consumption (PFEC, including nuclear power) and hydroelectrieity (HE). 

X 10 Btu/short ton), the solar energy trapped in 17.9 x 10 t of biomass, or about 8 x 10 t of biomass carbon, would be equivalent to the world s fossil fuel consumption in 1990 of 286 x 10 J. It is estimated that 77 x 10 t of carbon, or 171 x 10 t of biomass equivalent, most of it wild and not controlled, is fixed on the earth each year. Biomass should therefore be considered as a raw material for conversion to large suppHes of renewable substitute fossil fuels. Under controlled conditions dedicated biomass crops could be grown specifically for energy appHcations. 

A projection of biomass energy consumption in the United States for the years 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2030 is shown in Table 6 by end use sector (12). This analysis is based on a National Premiums Scenario which assumes that specific market incentives are appHed to aU. new renewable energy technology deployment. The scenario depends on the enactment of federal legislation equivalent to a fossil fuel consumption tax. Any incentives over and above those in place (ca 1992) for use of renewable energy will have a significant impact on biomass energy consumption. 

The possibilities of new sources of energy, such as energy from hydrogen, may also some day become economical, and help to uncouple fossil fuel consumption from economic growth... 

Since the 1970s, technological advances have solved many environmental problems associated with energy production and consumption, and proven that more energy consumption does not necessarily mean more pollution. The fossil fuel industries are producing and distributing more energy less expensive-... 

From various U.S. DOE sources, projections have been made that the worldwide annual energy consumption in 2020 could be 75 percent higher than it was in 1995. The combined use of fossil fuels is projected to grow faster from 1995 to 2020 than it did from 1970 to 1995. Natural gas is expected to account for 30 percent of world electricity by 2020, compared to 16 percent in 1996. 

Sulfur dioxide Is formed primarily from the Industrial and domestic combustion of fossil fuels. On a global scale, man-made emissions of SOj are currently estimated to be 160-180 million tons per year. These emissions slightly exceed natural emissions, largely from volcanic sources. The northern hemisphere accounts for approximately 90% of the man-made emissions (13-14). Over the past few decades global SOj emissions have risen by approximately 4%/year corresponding to the Increase In world energy consumption. 

---