7.1 - Energy Choice And Security Flashcards
What do fossil fuels include
- coal
- natural gases
- crude oil
How are fossil fuels formed
Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of plants and animals
- Chemical energy stored in fossil fuels originally came from sunlight
- Energy from the sun was transferred to chemical energy stores within plants through photosynthesis (plants use energy from sunlight to make food)
- Animals ate the plants and the energy was then transferred to their chemical store
What are 3 advantages of fossil fuels
- The current systems of transport and electricity generation used by human societies rely heavily on fossil fuels, which are generally readily available on a daily basis
- In the past fossil fuels have been reliable for large scale energy production (although this is changing as supplies deplete and prices rise)
- Efficient - fossil fuels typically have a high energy density (they produce a large amount of energy per kilogram)
What are 6 disadvantages of fossil fuels
- takes millions of years to form
- the increasing demand for a decreasing supply cause process to increase
- burning fossil fuels pollutes the atmosphere with harmful gases
- oil spills
- prices fluctuate
- supplies can be affected by conflict and political disagreements
What are the 3 main uses of fossil fuels
- transport
- generating electricity
- heating
How is population growth affecting energy demand
- The higher demand for food leads to more intensive farming, which requires more energy for machines, light and heat
- Increasing industry requires energy for heating, lighting and machinery
- There is more transport all of which requires energy in the form of petrol, diesel or electricity
- Urbanisation increases with the development increasing domestic appliances, heating, lighting
- Increased wealth means people buy more appliances and technology which require energy
What are renewable energy sources
Sources of energy with lower carbon dioxide emissions than fossil fuels include renewable energy sources
What are examples of renewable energy sources
- Solar
- Biomass
- Hydropower
- Wind
- Wave and tidal
- Geothermal
What do renewable energy sources not produce
Greenhouse emissions, however the process of creating the equipment to use these resources may produce this energy
What are examples of renewable energy sources
- Solar
- Biomass
- Hydropower
- Wind
- Wave and tidal
- Geothermal
- Nuclear
What are solar of panels
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels transfer energy from sunlight electrically producing a current, and therefore generating electrical power
- Solar cells, sometimes called photovoltaic cells, are made of semiconducting materials
- A number of photovoltaic cells or panels connected together can supply electricity to homes, small-scale businesses, communication devices and satellites
- Energy generated can be stored in batteries for later use
What are some advantages of solar Pv panels
- Solar energy is a renewable resource
- In many places on Earth sunlight is a reliable energy resource (this means that the sun shines most of the time)
- Solar farms produce no greenhouse gases or pollution
- Solar energy can be generated in remote places where they don’t have electricity (e.g. to power solar street signs in rural areas)
- Can be small or large scale
- Can be incorporated into building design
- Technology is improving and reducing the cost
What are the disadvantages of solar PV
- Solar farms need to be large scale to produce large amounts of electricity, which is expensive to set up
- Uses large areas of land
- People often don’t like the appearance of large solar farms, this is known as visual pollution
- In many places on Earth sunlight is not a reliable energy resource (there are not enough sunshine-hours to justify the set-up costs)
What are solar thermal panels
Solar thermal panels transfer energy from sunlight to the thermal store of the solar panels which is used to heat water in the pipes
- Solar panels can be used to warm domestic water supplies
- This can reduce the cost of producing hot water since it is heated partially by solar panels
What are advantages of solar thermal panels
- Solar energy is a renewable resource
- In many places on Earth sunlight is a reliable energy resource (this means that the sun shines most of the time)
- Solar thermal panels produce no greenhouse gases or pollution once they are operating
- Solar thermal panels can cut the cost of energy bills for households
What are the disadvantages of solar panels
- Additional energy (e.g. from fossil fuels) is still needed to heat water to a higher temperature in domestic households
- In many places on Earth sunlight is not a reliable energy resource (the sun doesn’t shine regularly enough to justify the set-up costs)
What is biomass
Biofuels (also known as biomass fuels) are renewable fuels derived from organic materials, such as plants and animal waste, that can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels.
What are the 3 main biofuels
- Biodiesel - made by refining renewable fats and oils (e.g. vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking oil)
- Bioethanol - made by fermentation (of crops rich in sugars or starches, such as corn or sugarcane)
- Biogas - released when organic waste products decompose
What are the advantages of biofuels
- Biofuel is a renewable resource - uses waste or bioproducts that can be regrown
- Some vehicles can be powered by biofuel rather than using fossil fuels
- Biofuel is considered to be carbon neutral
No sulfur dioxide is produced
What are the disadvantages of biofuels
- Crops of biofuel producing plants must be grown which takes time
- Growing the crops takes a lot of land, and takes resources needed for food production
- Burning biofuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (however, it is considered carbon neutral because plants take in carbon dioxide when they photosynthesise)
What is hydropower
- When water is stored above ground level it has gravitational potential energy
- This energy can be transferred to kinetic energy if the water is allowed to flow down the slope
- Flowing water turns the turbine to generate electricity
What are the advantages of hydropower
- Can respond to demand quickly so is reliable and available
- Can generate large scale amounts of electricity in a short period of time
- Often in sparsely populated areas
What are the disadvantages of hydropower
- Expensive to build and maintain
- Creating reservoirs sometimes results in the need to flood valleys, which destroys habitats, towns and villages
- The pumping systems (used if water needs to be pumped up to the reservoir) often rely on fossil fuels, releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases
- Dam traps sediment which can affect ecosystems downstream
- Visual pollution
- Can prevent fish movement and migration upstream
What is wind power
Wind energy is a renewable form of energy that harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity
It involves the use of wind turbines, which have large blades that spin when the wind blows
The rotating blades transfer kinetic energy to a generator, which converts it into electrical energy
What are the advantages of wind power
- Wind is an abundant resource that will never run out, making wind energy a sustainable and renewable source of power
- Wind energy produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants during operation, helping to reduce the negative impact on climate change and air quality
- Wind energy reduces dependence on fossil fuels and foreign energy sources, promoting energy independence and security
What are the disadvantages of wind power
- Wind is not constant, and the availability of wind energy fluctuates
- Electricity generation from wind turbines depends on wind speed and consistency
- Wind turbines can be visually intrusive, especially when installed in large numbers
- Some people may find the noise generated by wind turbines to be disruptive
What is wave and tidal power
The rise and fall of waves or the tide can be used to turn a turbine and generate electricity
What are the advantages of wave and tidal power
- No pollution
- Reliable and can produce a large amount of electricity at short notice
- Renewable energy resource
- Small systems are being developed to provide -electricity for small islands
What are the disadvantages of wave and tidal power
- Expensive to build and maintain
- Damages fragile habitats
- Very few suitable locations
- The technology is not advanced enough for large scale electricity production
What is geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is caused by the heat that is generated from within the Earth
The Earth’s interior is extremely hot, partly due to radioactive elements deep in the Earth that release energy as they decay
How is geothermal energy formed
This geothermal energy heats up rocks in the Earth’s crust, sometimes to an extremely high temperature
- Water can be poured into shafts below the Earth’s surface
- The water is heated and returned via another shaft as steam or hot water
- Steam can be used to turn a turbine and generate electricity, and the hot water can also be used to heat homes
What are the advantages of geothermal energy
- Renewable resource
- Reliable source of energy
- Geothermal power stations are usually small - - compared to nuclear or fossil fuel power stations
What are the disadvantages of geothermal energy
- Few suitable locations on Earth, so only viable for small scale electricity production in many countries
- Can result in the release of greenhouse gases from underground
- Expensive to build and maintain
What is nuclear energy
Energy stored in the nucleus of atoms can be released when the nucleus is broken in two
This is known as nuclear fission
Nuclear power stations use fission reactions to create steam, to turn turbines to generate electricity
Nuclear power is a low carbon low-emission non-renewable resource but is controversial due to the radioactive waste it produces and the potential scale of any accident
What are the advantages of nuclear power
- No pollution released into atmosphere
- Nuclear reactors are perfectly safe as long as they are functioning properly (rigorous safety checks must be routinely carried out and rigorous safety procedures followed)
- Nuclear power stations can generate electricity reliably on a large scale to be available as needed
- Small amounts of uranium are needed, and large reserves are available
- Reduces reliance on fossil fuels
- Increases energy security
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power
- Uranium ore found in the ground is used for fission reactions and since there is a finite supply, nuclear power is a non-renewable resource
- Nuclear fuels produce radioactive waste, which needs to be stored for thousands of years
- Safe ways of storing radioactive waste are very expensive
- If an accident occurs at a nuclear reactor, radioactive waste can leak out and spread over large areas
- Cost of decommissioning (shutting down) nuclear power plants is very high
Who uses the most energy
MEDCs topically use pf energy than LEDCS
Define energy security
The availability, reliability and affordability of energy sources to meet a countrys needs
What does adequate supply of energy mean
Adequate supply of energy ensures that there is enough energy available to meet the demands of individuals, industries, and the overall economy
What does a reliable source of energy mean
Reliable supply of energy means that the energy sources can be consistently accessed and delivered without disruptions or shortages
What does a affordable energy supply mean
Affordable energy supply ensures that energy is priced reasonably, allowing individuals and businesses to access and afford the energy they need
What is energy independence
Energy independence is an important aspect of energy security, referring to a country’s ability to produce or procure its own energy resources without relying heavily on imports from other nations
What 3 things help a country be energy independent
- Diversification of energy sources and supply routes can enhance energy security by reducing dependence on a single source or supplier
- Developing domestic energy resources, such as renewable energy or domestic fossil fuel reserves, can contribute to energy security by reducing reliance on external sources
- International cooperation and collaboration in energy markets and policies can contribute to energy security by promoting stable and transparent energy trade relationships
What is energy conflict
The unequal distribution of energy resources among different regions or countries occurs when certain areas have abundant energy resources while others face energy scarcity or lack access to modern energy services
How does unequal distribution of energy affect power of countrys
This disparity in energy availability can create a power imbalance, where energy-rich countries or regions have a strategic advantage over those with limited energy resources
How can unequal access to energy sources be created
Unequal access to energy sources can exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities, as energy is essential for various aspects of development, including healthcare, education, and economic growth
How can disparities in energy create geopolitical tensions
Geopolitical tensions can escalate when countries rely heavily on imported energy and are vulnerable to disruptions or geopolitical influences in energy markets
Inadequate governance, corruption, and lack of transparent energy policies can further exacerbate tensions and increase the likelihood of conflict
How does energy choices affect a countries design making process
Energy choices adopted by different societies are influenced by a huge number of factors that shape their decision-making processes. The availability of different energy sources, considerations of sustainability, scientific and technological advancements, cultural attitudes, and political, economic, and environmental factors all play significant roles in determining the energy mix used by a society
Why does availability affect your choice of energy source
- The availability of different energy sources plays a significant role in influencing energy choices
- Regions or countries with abundant natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, or renewable energy sources like wind, solar, or hydropower may opt for the energy sources that are most readily available to them
How does sustaible try affect your energy choice
The growing concern for environmental sustainability has a profound impact on energy choices
Societies are increasingly considering the long-term impact of energy sources on the environment, including carbon emissions, air pollution, and resource depletion
This drives the adoption of renewable energy sources and cleaner technologies that have smaller environmental footprints
How does scientific and technological developments affect your energy choice
Advances in science and technology can shape energy choices
Breakthroughs in renewable energy technologies, energy storage systems, and energy efficiency solutions make these options more viable and attractive
Scientific research also provides valuable insights into the environmental impacts and feasibility of different energy sources, influencing decision-making
How does cultural attitudes affect your energy choice
Cultural attitudes and beliefs can influence energy choices
Societal values, traditions, and perceptions of certain energy sources may shape preferences and acceptance
For example, societies with a strong cultural connection to nature may prioritise renewable energy sources due to their harmony with the environment
How does political, economic and enviromental factors affect your energy choice
- Political factors such as government policies, regulations, and incentives have a significant impact on energy choices
- Economic considerations, including the cost and affordability of energy sources, can influence decision-making
- Environmental concerns, such as the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or mitigate climate change, can drive the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives
How does energy security affect your energy choice
The need for energy security, which ensures a reliable and uninterrupted supply of energy, can also influence energy choices
Societies may prioritise energy sources that provide independence from external factors, reduce vulnerability to price fluctuations or geopolitical tensions, and enhance energy self-sufficiency
What is Nepals energy mix
- The main source of energy for 82% of the rural population is fuelwood
In urban areas, the use of fuelwood is 36% - Nepal has no suitable coal, oil or gas reserves so these have to be imported
- Access to electricity has increased rapidly over the past 15 years
88% of the population now have access to electricity - Support from the World Bank has led to more investment in hydropower
There are now over 3000 micro-hydro plants in Nepal
What is norways energy mix
- Norway has significant energy resources including:
1% of the world gas reserves (17th in the world)
0.3% of the world oil reserves (22nd in the world)
There are also some coal reserves - Norway is one of the world’s largest energy exporters
- Hydropower generates 90% of Norway’s electricity and accounts for 65% of energy use
