Consuming Energy Resource Flashcards
Define Biofuel
Energy and fuel made from living material such as crops and vegitation
Define Climate Change
The changing characteristics of the climate and seasons in regions across the world
Define Decommission
The process of closing safely disposing waste from a power station. This can cost millions of pounds and take over a year to complete
Define Deep Water Oil
Oil found deeper underground, which is more difficult and riskier to extact
Define Deforestation
The removal of trees and woodland
Define Energy Deficit
A country that generates less energy than its population needs (the supply is less then the demand)
Define Energy Mix
The composition of a country’s energy sources
Define Energy Security
When a country has ownership and control of their energy source, production and transporation
Define Energy Surplus
A country that generates more energy than its population needs (the supply is more than the demand)
Define Fossil fuels
Non-renewable sources of fuel (gas, oil and coal) which take hundreds of thousands of years to form from dead vegetation and animals
Define Fracking
The process of releasing trapped natural gas from shale rocks. Fracking involves pushing high-pressure liquids underground to cause the hale rocks to crack
Define Geothermal Energy
Water is pumped deep underground to be heated by magma plumes or radioactive rocks. The hot water creates steam which turns turbines to generate electricity
Define Greenhouse gases
Gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) which absorb and emit radiation
Define Hydroelectric energy
A form of energy which uses moving water to turn turbines and generate electricity. We usually associate this type of energy with dams
Define importing
Buying resources from another country, for example food and goods
Define Non-renewable Energy
A source of energy that will run out or will take thousands of years to replace such as fossil fuels
Define Nuclear Fusion
The process of joining atomic nuclei together to produce energy
Define oil spills
Accidents where oil leaks from pipes, oil rigs or even freight ships
Define Open-Cast Mines
Mining that involves removing the top layer of soil to extract minerals or fuel. All wildlife and vegetation living on the surface is destroyed
Define Recyclable Energy
Energy produced from sources that can be renewed; even though there is a limited amount of fuel, more can be grown or made to replace
Define Renewable Energy
Primary energy that can be re-used to produce electricity or has a short lifetime, therefore any used can be replaced quickly e.g hydroelectric, biomass, solar
Define Secondary Energy
The product of primary energy, mostly electricity
Define solar energy
Where solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into energy
Define Tar Sands
Sands which contain bitumen (oil). This can be extracted in a process which uses a lot of water and energy
Define Tidal Energy
Energy which is powered by the changes of the tide. Turbines are built on the seabed which are turned by the water when the sea goes out or comes in as the tides change
Define Wave Energy
Energy created by waves. Small turbines are located in buoys which float on the surface of the sea. The waves pass through the turbines and create electricity
Define Wind Energy
Energy created by wind. Wind goes through wind turbines which generate electricity as they turn
