7.1 energy choices and security

Question 1

global energy consumption has increased with

Answer 1

• growth of population
• industrial development
• increased standard of living

Question 2

pros of fossil fuels

Answer 2

• infrastructure set up in most countries
• high energy content
• cheap
• abundant

Question 3

cons of fossil fuels

Answer 3

• finite resource, unsustainable
• extraction, destroys habitats, reduces biodiversity
• transport produces emissions of carbon dioxide, NOxs and particulates
• combustion of fossil fuels produces GHGs, air pollutants, precursors of photochemical smog and acid deposition
• power plants, large amount of water, competition for other uses, bad for aquatic ecosystems

Question 4

coal

Answer 4

• most abundant fossil fuel
• obtained from mines
• mining dangerous for human health, contaminate aquatic systems with toxic metals

Question 5

oil

Answer 5

• pumped from underground reservoirs
• drilling, pollute underground aquifers
• transport, accidental spills, marine life
• builds road, fuel for vehicles, plastic, fertilizer
• less CO2 emissions than coal but more than natural gas

Question 6

natural gas

Answer 6

• hard to detect leaks, odourless, colorless, tasteless
• hydrogen sulphide added to aid leak detection
• less harmful emissions than coal or oil
• fracking, contaminate groundwater, pollute surface water, seismic activity

Question 7

nuclear power

Answer 7

• nuclear fission, heat
• heat, water into steam
• steam to a turbine rotating generating electricity
• contamination of groundwater
• dispersal of radioactive materials, human activity, geological change
• nuclear accidents, chernobyl, fukushima

Question 8

pros of nuclear power

Answer 8

• no carbon dioxide emissions
• less deaths compared to fossil fuels

Question 9

cons of nuclear power

Answer 9

• nuclear radioactive waste, last thousands of years
• risk of nuclear accidents
• radioactive material from power stations to produce nuclear weapons
• expensive to build and decommission

Question 10

pros of renewable energy

Answer 10

• improve local air quality
• reduced GHG emissions
• increasing costs of fossil fuels
• better efficiency of renewables
• government support
• helps meet international targets

Question 11

solar power

Answer 11

• solar thermal panels, heat water and buildings
• photovoltaic panels, convert sunlight into electrical energy
• 10-20% efficiency
• production and installation high, running low
• no emissions once set up

Question 12

pros of solar power

Answer 12

• remote areas
• low running cost, free sunlight
• no pollutants once operational
• sustainable, renewable and reliable
• silent

Question 13

cons of solar power

Answer 13

• needs sunlight, varies regionally seasonally, weather dependent
• high initial cost
• production of solar panels produces pollution
• no electricity at night, needs to be stored

Question 14

wind power

Answer 14

• wind turbines move, produce electricity

Question 15

pros of wind power

Answer 15

• renewable(inexhaustible), sustainable
• abundant supply
• used in remote areas
• once set up no air pollutants
• low cost to operate

Question 16

cons of wind power

Answer 16

• wind dependent
• noise pollution
• aesthetically displeasing
• kil flying animals and impact migratory patterns
• high initial costs
• needs storing

Question 17

hydropower

Answer 17

• most used source of renewable energy
• flowing water drives turbines connected to a generator, converts mechanical energy into electrical
• dams to increase amount of power

Question 18

pros of hydropower

Answer 18

• low running cost
• sustainable
• increase water resources, reduce risk of flooding
• ecosystem for fisheries, recreation opportunities
• no air pollutants

Question 19

cons of hydropower

Answer 19

• high initial cost
• dam construction, displacement of people, loss of habitat and species biodiversity, siltation, disruption of migration for river organisms

Question 20

geothermal power

Answer 20

• energy from interior of earth, hot springs and geysers
• heat buildings, generate electricity

Question 21

pros of geothermal power

Answer 21

• cheap
• low emissions
• reliable
• sustainable

Question 22

cons of geothermal power

Answer 22

• high initial cost, drilling
• poisionous gasses can be released
• limited to areas near volcanic activity

Question 23

energy security

Answer 23

• uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

Question 24

energy security depends on

Answer 24

• supply of energy that matches demand
• reliable and affordable supply

Question 25

threats to energy security

Answer 25

• conflict
• disasters
• exhaustion of a resource

Question 26

reducing threats to energy security

Answer 26

• self sufficient energy supply
• diversifying sources of energy
• reducing demand

Question 27

USA
energy security

Answer 27

• uses large amount of fossil fuels and imports it

reduce reliance on other countries
- increasing production levels of fossil fuels
- including renewables to diversify
- increasing energy efficiency in vehicles
- increase energy conservation
- nuclear power

Question 28

factors impacting energy choices
availability

Answer 28

• location, some countries have more access to one type
• topography, hills-wind, rivers- hyrdo

Question 29

factors impacting energy choices
sustainability

Answer 29

• investing long term in renewables

Question 30

factors impacting energy choices
scientific/technoloigical development

Answer 30

• increasing affordable alternative energy choices

Question 31

factors impacting energy choices
cultural attitudes

Answer 31

• more nature centered value system vs more technologically centered

Question 32

factors impacting energy choices
politics

Answer 32

• some governments improve long term energy security, others reflect current viewpoints

Question 33

factors impacting energy choices
economics

Answer 33

• affordable to all people
• economic wealth of a country

Question 34

factors impacting energy choices
environmental impact

Answer 34

• reduce GHGs for future