16. The changing importance of other energy sources

Question 1

Coal gasification

Answer 1

a process that converts solid coal into a gas that can be used for power generation.

Question 2

Clean coal technology

Answer 2

power plant processes that both increase the efficiency of coal-burning and significantly reduce emissions.

Question 3

Unconventional natural gas

Answer 3

natural gas that is more difficult to access and therefore more expensive to extract than ‘conventional’ reserves.

Question 4

Fast-breeder reactor

Answer 4

a nuclear reactor in which the chain reaction is maintained mainly by fast neutrons. It is capable of producing more fissionable material than it consumes.

Question 5

Repowering

Answer 5

replacing first-generation wind turbines with modern multi-megawatt turbines which give a much better performance.

Question 6

Biofuels

Answer 6

fossil fuel substitutes that can be made from a range of agri-crop materials including oilseeds, wheat, corn and sugar.

Question 7

Geothermal energy

Answer 7

the natural heat found in the Earth’s crust in the from of steam, hot water and hot rock.

Question 8

Geothermal gradient

Answer 8

the rate at which temperature rises as depth below the surface increases.

Question 9

Photovoltaic systems

Answer 9

solar panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity.