challenge of resource management (energy) Flashcards
what are the economic issues with fossil fuels
non-renewable so unsuitable so eventually the economic costs will be too high or they will run out
miners often suffer job related diseases which incur costs to the health service
costs increase to deal with effects of climate change and adaptation to it
what are the environmental issues with fossil fuels
carbon dioxifde is released which contributes to climate change and acid rain
oil spills can devistate wildlife and sea life
there is visual pollution from coal waste heaps and unsightly open cast coal mines
fracking for shale gas can cause groundwater pollution and earthquakes
economic issues with nuclear
nuclear plants expensive to build and decommission, but the raw material uranium is cheap as such small amounts is used
cost to transport and store nuclear waste is high
environmental issues with nuclear
waste remains radioactive for over 100 years and has to be stored safely to avoid contamination
despite a good safety record, nuclear accidents release radiation into the atmosphere, which has long term impacts on wildlife and people
economic issues with renewable energy sources
renewable energy has high set up costs such as wind turbines, solar farms hydroelectric dams and tidal powerstations. costs rise further in remote areas
Biomass means land not used for food production may increase the cost of food.
tourism declines as environments lose their visual appeal; results in job and income loss
low profitability is a concern
environmental issues with renewable energy sources
,amt renewables are considered ugly and ruin the views in both the countryside and the coast
wind turbines can affect bird migration and bat life
hyfro electric dams flood land upstream of the dam, changing the landscape and wildlife. walter held behind the dam chanfes temperature affecting the ecology. sediment is trapped by the dam
biomass reduces biodiversity as only one crop is grown
geothermal energy is limited to tectonically active countries such as the USA and Iceland
why has the domestic consumption of energy changed
the introduction of energy efficient devices such as light bulbs and washing machines
the increased cost of energy leading to lower consumpotion
the increase awareness of the public that they must save energy
what is the UKs energy mix
in 2017, the majority of the UK’s energy mic was fossil fuels they are nonrenewable and emit carbon dioxide so contribute to climate change
nuclear power provides 1 percent of the UK’s energy mix. uranium produces heat in a nuclear reactor. nuclear is nonrenewable, but it does not contribute to climate change
renewable energy sources, such as wind energy and solar energy provide almost a third of the UK’s energy mic they do not contribute to climate change
how has the energy mix changed
- the UK had reserves of oil and gas, but a reduction in these reserves and in the production of coal has led to increasing reliance on imported fossil fuels
- the production of coal gas and oil has declined for many reasons. However, there are still significant supplies that could be exploited. often in less accessible areas.
- in addition, policies introduced both nationally and internationally can have an effect on production and the mix of energy used. for example the use of coal increased in 2011 as older coal-powered stations worked to full capacity in the knowledge they were soon to be closed to EU regulations on emissions
- to reduce reliance on imported fuels and to reduce the carbon emissions generated by burning fossil fuels, the British government is encouraging investment in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy
