bio-fuels and non-renewables Flashcards
what are bio-fuels?
renewable energy resources created from either plant products or animal dung, they can be solid liquid or gas and can be burnt to produce electricity or run cars like fossil-fuels
what is debated about bio-fuels?
that they’re carbon neutral
why are bio-fuels fairly reliable?
as crops take a short time to grow and some can be grown all year round, but they cannot respond to immediate energy demands
why is it expensive to refine bio-fuels?
growing crops specifically for bio-fuels will mean there isn’t enough space or water to meet the demands for crops grown for food
what has happened to make room to grow bio-fuels?
deforestation, destroying animal habitats and burning them increases CO2 and methane emmisions
why are fossil fuels and nuclear energy reliable?
there’s enough to meet current demand and they are extracted at a fast enough rate that there is always stock
when could some fossil fuel stocks run out?
within a hundred years
what are the costs of power plants?
set-up costs are high but running costs aren’t too expensive
what are the environmental effects?
release CO2 when burned which adds to the greenhouse effect, sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain, ruins landscape, nuclear waste and risk of disaster
what is most of our energy produced from?
fossil fuels and nuclear power
why do people want to use more renewable energy?
we know what damage can be done, becoming more aware that we will run out of non-renewables, pressure from other countries and the public and car companies creating electric cars
why can scientists only give advice on what to do?
they don’t have the power to make people, companies or governments change their behaviour
what is stopping building new renewable power plants?
it costs money and energy providers are reluctant
what are people debating about new power plants?
where to put them, whether its ethical to make people put up with things like wind farms next to them
why can’t people make personal changes?
its very expensive
