WHS BIO Energy Virtual Lab

Energy Virtual Lab

The Challenge

In today's world, with populations and economies booming, the demand for energy is rising. A portfolio of energy sources is used to meet this demand. Because there is no perfectly clean, safe, and inexpensive source of energy, the makeup of this portfolio involves tradeoffs of safety, cost, and—of increasing concern—emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO₂. In this lab, your challenge is to try to meet the world's projected energy demand by choosing from the available energy sources, while keeping atmospheric CO₂ under control and avoiding the particular limits and pitfalls associated with each energy source.

Scenario 1

Before the industrial revolution, the world's atmospheric CO₂ levels were below 280 parts per million (ppm). Levels have now risen over 400 ppm. In order to limit the worst effects of climate change, many scientists believe we must keep peak atmospheric CO₂ to no more than double the pre–industrial concentration, or about 550 ppm. Different political, economic, and ecological factions have varying ideas about which energy sources would be most efficient, cost effective, and least harmful to the environment. Using this simulator, you'll try to find the best mix of energy sources in order to keep the total atmospheric CO₂ under 550 ppm.

Energy Lesson 1 Step 1

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 1 STEP 1 DATA TABLE 2020 FIRST

What were the three highest percentage energy sources in 2020?

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 1 STEP 1 DATA TABLE 2030 FIRST

What were the three highest percentage energy sources in 2030?

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 1 STEP 1 DATA TABLE 2040 FIRST

What were the three highest percentage energy sources in 2040?

Energy Lesson 1 Step 2

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 1 STEP 2 DATA TABLE RUN 1

What were the three highest percentage energy sources in 2110 in run 1?

What was the CO2 amount?

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 1 STEP 2 DATA TABLE RUN 2

What were the three highest percentage energy sources in 2110 in run 2?

What was the CO2 amount?

Energy Lesson 2 Step 1

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 2 STEP 1 DATA TABLE

What % efficiency and carbon recapture values allowed you to meet the energy needs in 2060?

Energy Lesson 2 Step 2

Open Ended

COMPLETE LESSON 2 STEP 2 DATA TABLE

What % efficiency and carbon recapture values allowed you to meet the energy needs in 2110 and keep CO2 below 550 ppm?