3.4.5: Problems with energy

Question 1

Shale concentrated where in the UK

Answer 1

North of England

Question 2

Percentage gas consumed by UK which is produced by the UK

Answer 2

44%

Question 3

Environmental impacts of shale gas extraction

water usage

Answer 3

• 3-6 million gallons of water is needed per well
  which can impact the local water supply
• toxic fracking water is stored on site

Question 4

Environmental impacts of shale gas extraction

pollution

Answer 4

• produces less CO2 than coal

- produces methane which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2

Question 5

Impacts of fracking on the Blackpool region in 2018

Answer 5

from October to December there were 47 minor earthquakes caused by fracking in the Blackpool region

Question 6

Environmental problems associated with extraction

4

Answer 6

1. underground coal mines lead to subsidence and produce toxic waste that can contaminate water supplies
2. open cast mines scar the landscape and restoration attempts usually result in low quality ecosystems
3. oil infrastructure is ugly and there can be leaks and spills at sites
4. tar sands cause deforestation and pollute the landscape

Question 7

Environmental problem associated with transport

Answer 7

transport of energy along pipelines and tanker routes has resulted in oil spills and leaks causing major damage to local ecosystems
eg: Exxon valdez in alaska

Question 8

Environmental problem associated with usage of non-renewable energy sources

Answer 8

-Burning fossil fuels leads to release of greenhouse gases, coal is the most polluting form of energy and can cause smog and acid rain.

Question 9

Environmental problems associated with usage of renewable energy sources
3

Answer 9

• wind farms can kill seabirds and are ugly
• hydroelectric can involve drowning vegetation for dams which can release methane
• nuclear power can cause widespread environmental damage if things go wrong

Question 10

Political problems with extraction, transport and use of energy
3

Answer 10

1. large supplies of oil and gas in politically volatile areas such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and Libya
2. Russia and Ukraine price wars
3. public protests in UK over fracking were key in suspension of this energy source

Question 11

Technological problems with extraction, transport and use of energy
2

Answer 11

• renewable energy production is limited by abundance and no large storage batteries have been developed yet
• not all countries gave access to facilities for creating new technologies for carbon capture or latest renewables

Question 12

Economic problems with extraction, transport and use of energy
3

Answer 12

• diverging from fossil fuels is expensive, however costs are slowly reducing
• construction of hinkley point, somerset is estimated to cost £20 billion - a new nuclear power station
• Three Gorges Dam, China cost US$25 billion