2.1 Resources and reserves

Question 1

Renewable resources

Answer 1

A resource that can be replaced (or replenished) over time at the same rate that they are used, or does not abate at all

Question 2

What sources of energy are considered renewable resources?

Answer 2

Solar, wind, wave, hydro, tidal, thermal, biomass

Question 3

What are non-renewable resources?

Answer 3

Resources that does not renew (replenish) itself at a suffice to rate for sustainable economic extraction

Question 4

What sources of energy are considered nonrenewable?

Answer 4

coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear, oil, timber

Question 5

What is the availability of non-renewable resources and what is its relation to the frequency at which designers use them?

Answer 5

There is a finite amount of non-renewable resources, yet there is a high human dependency on them

Question 6

What are reserves?

Answer 6

A natural resource that has been identified in terms of quantity and quality and can be economically and technically extracted

Question 7

What are the exceptions for reserves?

Answer 7

In some cases reserves may exist but it is not economically viable to extract them or the technology does not exist yet

Question 8

What are examples of reserves?

Answer 8

Deepwater drilling for oil
Extraction of gold
Lithium
Fracking
Oilsands

Question 9

What is the impact of the extraction of resources on local populations

Answer 9

1. Increase in wage gaps (companies that are paid to develop a resource in a country can bring wealth and employment opportunities - but it would increase wage gaps because most wealth from extraction leaves the country)
2. Mining for rare earth minerals generates large volumes of toxic and radioactive material

Question 10

What is the economic/ political importance of reserves?

Answer 10

1. Setup costs (typically high + require funding support from multinationals)
2. Efficiency of conversion/ sustainable and constant supply (needs to be economically + technologically feasible to extract)
3. Social impact (bringing employment)
4. Environmental impact (toxic fumes)
5. Decommissioning (the plan for when the resource is depleted - how will the infrastructure, communities and natural environment be protected)

Question 11

Renewability

Answer 11

The degree to which a resource is renewable