The Potential Energy of the Earth
The Earth has many sources of natural, renewable energy.
This analysis gives an ongoing method of analysing the potential level of that energy and its use by humans.
Types of Energy
1. Solar Energy
2. Wind Energy
3. Wave Energy
4. Geothermal
5. Biomass
6. Animals
7. Plants - Photosynthesis
8. Humans
Type, Potential and Collectable Energy per hour
1. Solar Energy = 122,082,699,137,591 kw
Source: Wikipedia and Smil (2006)
Surface Area of Earth = 150,000,000 km2
Allow for 50% for day and night = 75,000,000 km2
Collector area = 122,082,699,137,591 / 75,000,000 km2
Energy available to be collected = 1,627,769 kw
Allow 12% efficiency for photovoltaic panels
Energy that can be collected = 195,332 kw
2. Wind Energy = 380,000,000,000 kw
Source: Wikipedia and Jacobson, M. Z.; Archer, C. L. (2012).
"Saturation wind power potential and its implications for wind energy".
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 (39):
15679. doi:10.1073/pnas.1208993109. edit
Allow a 30% production maximum due to wind variability
0.30x 380,000,000,000
Energy available to be collected =114,000,000,000 kw
3. Wave Energy = 2,000,000,000 kw
Source: Wikipedia and Cruz J.; Gunnar M., Barstow S., Mollison D.
(2008). Joao Cruz, ed.
Green Energy and Technology, Ocean Wave Energy.
4. Geothermal = 44,200,000,000 kw
Source: Wikipedia and Pollack, H.N.; S. J. Hurter, and J. R. Johnson (1993),
"Heat Flow from the Earth's Interior: Analysis of the Global Data Set",
Rev. Geophys. 30 (3): 267–280, Bibcode:1993RvGeo..31..267P
Allow for variability of supply due to location and
drill depth economics 0.35 Tw to 4.42 Tw
Energy available to be collected av. = 22,275,000,000kw
5. Radioactive Decay = 30,000,000,000 kw
Source: Wikipedia and Rybach, Ladislaus (September 2007),
"Geothermal Sustainability", Geo-Heat Centre Quarterly Bulletin
(Klamath Falls, Oregon: Oregon Institute of Technology) 28 (3)
Due to radiation issues this energy is only currently
used as a method of naturally replenishing the Geothermal
energy available. Therefore it is omitted from the overall total
calculation of Collectable Energy
Energy available to be collected = 0 kw
6 Biomass = 9,512,937,595 kw
Source; Wikipedia and "Renewable Energy Sources".
Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. p. 12.2012
Allow 50% maximum to allow for day and night and
also retaining renewable biomass
0.5 x 9,512,937,595
Energy available to be collected = 4,756,468,798 kw
7. Ecosystem
Allowing for 104.9 Gt C yr−1.
56.4 Gt C yr−1 = 2,800,000,000,000 GJ/yr = 10,128,829 kw
(53.8%) was the product of terrestrial organisms
48.5 Gt C yr−1 = 2,407,801,418,440 GJ/yr = 8,710,074 kw
(46.2%) was oceanic production.
Source: Wikipedia and Field, C.B.; Behrenfeld, M.J., Randerson,
J.T. and Falkowski, P. (1998). "Primary production of the Biosphere:
Integrating Terrestrial and Oceanic Components".
Science 281 (5374): 237–240. Bibcode:1998Sci...281..237F.
doi:10.1126/science.281.5374.237. PMID 9657713.
Due to collection and growth issues this energy is only currently
used as a method of naturally replenishing the Biomass
energy available. Therefore it is omitted from the overall total
calculation of Collectable Energy
Energy available to be collected = 0 kw
8. Plants – Photosynthesis = 95,129,375,951 kw
Source: Wikipedia and "Energy conversion by photosynthetic organisms".
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Due to collection and growth issues this energy is only currently
used as a method of naturally replenishing the Biomass
energy available. Therefore it is omitted from the overall total
calculation of Collectable Energy
Energy available to be collected = 0 kw
9. Humans
Human population of Earth 2013 = 7,095,217,980
Source: CIA World Fact book 2013
Allowing for 100 w per human = 709,521,798,000 w = 709,521,798 kw
Source: Micklavzina, Stanley J.
Physics 162, Spring Term 2003.
Due to collection and growth issues this energy is only currently
used as a method of naturally replenishing the Biomass
energy available. Therefore it is omitted from the overall total
calculation of Collectable Energy
Energy available to be collected = 0 kw
Total Potential energy of Earth per hour in kw = 122,644,269,811,838 kw
= 122,644 Tw
Divided by the human population in 2013 = 7,095,217,980
= 173 kw /hr per person
=1,515,480 kw/yr per person
Total Collectable energy of Earth per hour in kw =141,031,664,130 kw
= 141 Tw
Divided by the human population in 2013 = 7,095,217,980
= 20 kw /hr per person
=175,200 kw/yr per person
Conclusion
Humans have a wealth of renewable energy to develop their technology and survive.
They lack only the interface ability to extract the energy more efficiently.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
29/10/2013
14/10/2020
754 words over 3 pages