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Consuming Energy Resources Flashcards

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1
Q

-+++++++++++++++++++++++++54A1\M

types of energy sources- non-renewable.

A

Once used, an energy source cannot be reused and so the amount of fuel available is limited. (fossil fuels)

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2
Q

types of energy sources- renewable

A

This energy source can be used over and over, since there isn’t a limit to the supply of materials or force that generates electricity. (solar, wind and HEP)

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3
Q

types of energy sources- recyclable

A

Energy is provided from sources that can be recycled. Even though the amount of fuel is limited, more can be grown or made. (biofuels and nuclear)

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4
Q

What are fossil fuels?

A

Fuels that take thousands of years to form underground, from dead vegetation and animals.

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5
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels?

A

:) Cheap to mine
:) High demand, since fossil fuels can
be used in all countries and provide a
reliable source of energy
:( Polluting - releases carbon dioxide
and methane, which contributes to
Global Warming
:( Non-renewable, so limited supply left
of coal

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6
Q

What is nuclear energy?

A

Using Uranium (through nuclear fission) to produce energy.

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7
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages to nuclear energy?

A

:) Very reliable output of energy, so
good base energy source throughout
the year
:( Risk of radiation poisoning if
uncontrolled
:( Any waste must be sealed in
concrete and glass, and left
underground for hundreds of years
:( When the power station is finished, it
is expensive to decommission

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8
Q

What is solar power?

A

Panels that convert the sun’s
energy into electricity.

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9
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

A

:) Costs are decreasing rapidly
:) Large potential in desert areas
:( Not very efficient yet (15-20%)
:( Effectiveness dependent on climate
and time of the year and day

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10
Q

What is wind power?

A

Wind drives large turbines and
generators that produce electricity.

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11
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power?

A

:) Low running costs
:) Can be used year round
:) Plenty of suitable sites
:( Bird life can be affected
:( Weather dependent

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12
Q

What is hydroelectric power?

A

Water from a reservoir pushes turbines built within a dam, as it escapes downhill.

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13
Q

What are the advanatages and disadvantages of using hydroelectric power?

A

:) Dams built for reservoirs can also
generate electricity, improving clean
water and energy supplies
:(Large dams are expensive to build
:( Disrupts fish migration along the river,
as fish cannot swim through the dam

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14
Q

What is biofuel?

A

Vegetation and waste food can be burned (as pellets or directly into the fire).

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15
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using biofuels?

A

:) Cheap and easy to find
:) Biofuel is a renewable alternative to
oil, which doesn’t require car engines
to be modified
:( Vegetation must be found
sustainably, so land shouldn’t be
cleared for biofuels and not
replanted.

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16
Q

How does landscape scarring have environmental impacts?

A
  • Mining will damage the landscape and many habitats must be cleared to make room for the mine.
  • Even if pit head is small, there must
    be space for waste rubble and transport to take the coal away.
  • Open-cast mines are most damaging to landscape, as the top of ground is dug away to reveal the fuels.
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17
Q

How do oil spills have environmental impacts?

A
  • Oil spills can be frequent and toxic to
    any wildlife nearby.
  • The oil spill is difficult to contain, since oil spreads quickly in water.
  • Oil spills can happen if the oil rig becomes
    damaged or if any pipelines leak.
  • Following a leak, many marine animals will wash up dead and seabirds become unable to fly.
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18
Q

How do removal of forests have environmental impacts?

A
  • To make room for a power station, dam or mine, builders may clear the land.
  • This means all vegetation is destroyed and trees are cut down, through deforestation.
  • Wildlife must migrate to live elsewhere.
  • Land is also cleared to grow more renewable biofuels.
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19
Q

How does hydroelectric power flooding have landscape impacts?

A
  • HEP plants use dams to trap water for energy production- this creates a resevoir which floods a large area of land.
  • The river on which the dam is built on can be affected by changes in water flow.
  • A build up of sediment can block sunliht causing plants and algae in the river to die.
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20
Q

How do wind turbines have landscape impacts?

A
  • Large number of wind turbines are needed to produce significant amount of electricity and need to be set quite far apart.
  • This means they take up lots of space.
  • They produce a constant humming noise- complains.
  • Spinning blade can injure birds and bats.
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21
Q

How do solar panels have landscape impacts?

A
  • Some solar farms use ground and surface water to clean their solar panels -leads to water shortages.
  • Heat reflected from mirrors in solar farms can kill wildlife.
  • Can disturb and damage habitats.
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22
Q

How does geology cause uneven distribution of energy resources?

A
  • Fossil fuels can be found only for specific geology types - either sedimentary rock or natural gas/oil has become trapped in rocks.
  • Geothermal energy can only be produced near magma plumes, which are only found near tectonic boundaries or in individual pockets.
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23
Q

How does accessibility and development cause uneven distribution of energy reesources?

A

The development of a country will affect the technology available.
* Some energy sources are difficult to extract or power stations require high tech monitoring- countries with low levels of technology can’tuse some energy sources, such as nuclear.
* For a country to use tidal energy, it must have coasts. Therefore landlocked countries can’t use it.

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24
Q

How does relief and climate cause uneven distribution of energy resources?

A

Climate can impact the efficiency of renewable sources
* Solar energy relies on limited cloud cover, so rainy climates are unsuitable.
* Not all countries have wind powerful enough for wind turbines. They are best out at sea, or built across low-lying plains
* HEP requires dams to be built in mountainous areas. Therefore the shape of the land is important.

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25
Q

How does the reliance of traditional fuel sources vary the global pattern of energy use per capita?

A
  • Energy-poor = lack of electricity or income to pay for it.
  • It keeps women poor by limiting their chances to attend school as hey have to collect their own fuel.
  • 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity.
  • 2.4 billion people rely on biomass for cooking and heating.
  • 2.5 million women and children die each year caused by smoke from tradiitonal cooking stoves.
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26
Q

How does the levels of economic development and demand from different economic sectors vary the global pattern of energy use per capita? -LIC

A
  • They have mainly primary economies which uses small amounts of energy.
  • Most energy is used in the home.
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27
Q

How does the levels of economic development and demand from different economic sectors vary the global pattern of energy use per capita? -NIC

A
  • Industrialisation increases energy consumption.
  • They focus on manufacturing high volumes of energy.
  • This encourages economic growth.
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28
Q

How does the levels of economic development and demand from different economic sectors vary the global pattern of energy use per capita? -HIC

A
  • More product consumption= high energy demand.
  • Many reduced their energy use by exporting their manufacturing industries overseas to countries like China.
  • This increases Chins’a energy consumption.
  • Growth of service industries and knowledge economy demands for less energy than manufacturing.
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29
Q

How are oil reserves and production unevely distributed?

A
  • New oil resources are often found in places that are hostile or far away from world markets.
  • 2012- 63% of the world’s oil came from 10 countries.
  • (oil also known as ‘black gold’ as it’s regarded as a valuable commodity)
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30
Q

Why is the rising GDP per capita causing oil consumption to grow?

A
  • People is wealthier countries need more energy for new technology and vehicles
  • Around 65% of oil is used to fuel vehicles.
31
Q

Why is rapid industrialisation causing oil consumption to grow?

A
  • Since 1990, China has undergone rapid industrialisation with many factories producing goods for exports.
  • Continues drowth has resulted in an inccrrease in energy demand, especially oil.
  • 2004-2014 - China’s oil consumption doubled (12.4% of global consumption).
  • 2nd to USA.
32
Q

How do changing internationald relations affect oil supply and prices? - Conflicts (the Iraq war)

A
  • 2003- US and Allied forces invaded Iraq.
  • Has the world’s 4th largest oil reserves, its then leader, Saddam Hussein, was to pose a threat to global oil supplies.
  • Conflict led to shortages of oil and an increase in prices.
  • Other Allies increasd production to stabilise prices.
33
Q

How do changing internationald relations affect oil supply and prices? - diplomatic relations

A

Oil prices may increase because of tensions between oil-producing countries.
2005-2010 - Oil prices rose becausee of:
* Nigeria shutting down 20% of its production as a protest against political interference.
* OPEC member countries restricted oil supplies to the worls market to keep prices high.

34
Q

How do economic factors affect oil supply and prices? - periods of recession

A
  • Recession- period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial acticity are reduced.
  • 2008- Global financial crisis decreased demand for oil because economic growth slowed down.
  • Caused prices to fall.
35
Q

How do economic factors affect oil supply and prices? - periods of economic boom

A
  • Economic boom- period of time where economy is very productive.
  • Oil prices increase because of increased consumption and demand.
36
Q

How do economic factors affect oil supply and prices? - over and under supply

A
  • Over supply- prices fall.
  • Under supply- prices increase.
37
Q

How is the Arctic at risk because of the reliance of fossil fuels?

A
  • 25% of the Earth’s remaining gas and oil reserves are in the Arctic.
  • The melting of icebergs due to global warming has also increased the accessibility of oil and gas reserves
  • Several countries lay claim to the Arctic

Russian oil companies have been drilling for oil for over ten years
* Gazprom announced recent success drilling in the Kara sea and Barents Sea

38
Q

How do new technologies enable companies to exploit oil and gas?

A

Technological improvements mean that:
* Finding oil and gas reserves is easier and quicker.
* Drilling can take place in areas that were previously too cold or under deep seas
* It’s now possible to transport gas to a liquid for easier transport through liquefaction.

39
Q

What are the economic benefits of developing new conventional oil and gas sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas?

A
  • Exploration of new areas creates many jobs
  • Oil sales enable countries such as Norway to invest in social benefits
  • Education and care of the elderly are also funded in part through the sale of oil and gas
  • Gas and oil are abundant
  • Over 50% of Alaska’s income comes from oil and gas
40
Q

What are the economic costs of developing new conventional oil and gas sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas?

A
  • Damage to Arctic fisheries and impact on the way of life of indigenous communities

Increased potential for oil spills
* 21,000 tonnes of oil spilt into the Ambarnaya river and surrounding subsoil
* Oil spills will impact on many animals
* Heat from the terminal buildings, workers homes and transport to and from the oil fields has led to permafrost melt and buildings subsiding

41
Q

How are tar sands extracted?

A
  • The extraction of a very dense, sticky form of petroleum called bitumen from tar sands by injecting hot steam underground.
  • Heats the sand and makes bitumen less sticky so that it can be pumped out.
42
Q

What are the environmental impacts of tar sands?- ecosystems.

A
  • Involves large scale open pit mining requires destruction of forests and therefore ecosystems.
  • Greenpeace worried that this had led to a decline in many animal species (eg lynx).
  • Thought that >6 million birds will be lost by 2050.
43
Q

What are the environmental impacts of tar sands?- water quality

A
  • Huge amounts of water required for process.
  • can take 2-5 barrels of water for 1 barrel of oil.
  • Estimated that in Athabasca, 359 milion tonnes of water is used annuallly in the extraction.
  • Threatens wildlife that rely on clean water supply.
  • leaks - estimated that 11 million litres of toxic waste reaches Athabasca River daily.
44
Q

How is shale gas extracted?

A
  • Natural gas is trapped underground in shale rock.
  • Shale is impermeable which means gas trapped can’t be reached or pumped out using conventional vertical drilling.
  • Fracking used to extract gas.
45
Q

What are the environmental impacts of shale gas?- ecosystems.

A
  • smaller than tar sands mining but lead to some loss or damage to habitats.
  • Can be a significant increase to local traffic as trucks bring in water for fracking and take away gas.
  • This increases noise and air pollution in local area.
46
Q

What are the environmental impacts of shale gas?- water quality.

A
  • Chemicals pumped in to release shale gas may leak and contaminate groundwater supplies and make people ill.
  • Some drinking water wells near fracking sites have recorded methane conc 17x higher than normals.
  • Has resulted in gas entering homes.
47
Q

What is carbon footprint?

A
  • Calculation of the totsl greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Can be direct or indirect.
48
Q

How does energy efficiency reduce demand for energy?

A

It involves proving the same service but using less energy.
* E.g. energy efficient light bulbs.

49
Q

How does energy conservation reduce demand for energy?

A

It involves not using as much energy.
* E.g. switching lights off when not in use.

50
Q

How can you achieve energy efficient homes?- Green Deal

A

Green Deal provides funding to help make homes more efficients
* LED lighting
* insulation
* considering boiler
* solar panels

51
Q

How can you improve transport energy efficiency?

A
  • In the UK the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned from 2030- electric cars increase

Investment in public transport
* New buses are hybrid or electric

Road tax depends on levels of vehicle pollution- encourage electric cars.

52
Q

What are the benefits of biofuels?

A
  • Uses waste or biofuels which regrow
  • Available in most locations
  • Produces fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels
53
Q

What are the costs of biofuels?

A
  • Large quantities of water required to grow biofuel crops
  • May lead to deforestation
  • Increases competition for land
54
Q

What are the benefits of wind power?

A
  • No greenhouse gas emissions once installed
  • No air pollution- uses kitenic energy from wind
  • Can be small or large scale
  • Cheap to run
  • Can be on land or offshore
55
Q

What are the costs of wind power?

A
  • Not reliable only works when the wind is strong enough
  • Visual and noise pollution
  • Many turbines are needed to produce the same energy as an average coal fired power station
  • May injure or kill birds who fly into the moving blades
  • Greenhouse gas emissions produced during manufacture
56
Q

What are the benefits to solar energy?

A
  • No greenhouse gas emissions once installed
  • No air pollution
  • Can be small or large scale
  • Can be used in most locations
  • Can be incorporated into building design
57
Q

What are the costs to solar energy?

A
  • Expensive
  • Not reliable-only works when it is sunny
  • Large numbers needed to produce energy
  • Greenhouse gas emissions produced during manufacture
58
Q

What are the benefits to HEP?

A
  • No greenhouse gas emissions
  • Controls flooding downstream
  • Reliable and consistent source of energy.
  • May provide water storage for irrigation and domestic use
59
Q

What are the costs to HEP?

A
  • Large areas of land are flooded behind the dam
  • Dam traps sediment which can affect ecosystems downstream
  • Visual pollution
  • Can prevent fish movement upstream
  • People and settlements may have to be relocated
  • Expensive to build and maintain
60
Q

What are the benefits to future technologies?- hydrogen.

A
  • Can be used as a substitute for oil
  • It produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution
  • It’s efficient in releasing more energy than any other fuel (except for nuclear)
61
Q

What are the costs to future technologies?- hydrogen.

A
  • Expensive
  • Requires energy to produce the hydrogen- if fossil fuels used, it has negative impact on environment
  • Difficult and dangerous to store and move
62
Q

Contrasting views- business as usual.

A

Which means that oil and gas will continue to supply most of the world’s energy.

63
Q

Contrasting views- sustainable energy.

A

Use where renewables will replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions.

64
Q

What are the views of consumers?

A
  • Mainly consume electricity produced by fossil fuels
  • Purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles make up 23% of all new car sales
  • The additional cost often dissuades people from making sustainable choices
  • Main concern is reliable and cheap energy
  • Increased awareness of carbon emissions
65
Q

What are the views of TNCs?

A

Companies such as Shell, Exxon and BP who produce oil and gas supplies
* BP state that they are working towards net zero and support sustainability
* Shell support innovation to reduce carbon emissions
* Continue to explore oil and gas reserves
* Aim to maximise their profits

66
Q

What are the views of governments?

A

UK government views on energy future:
* Banning of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030
* Schemes such as grants for installing energy efficient heating
* £265 million in subsidies for renewable energy sources
* Main aim is to maintain energy security

67
Q

What are the views of climate scientists?

A
  • Most climate scientists (over 95%) support the consensus that climate change is caused by human activity
  • Encourage more sustainable actions like greater use of renewable energy
  • Scientific evidence shows how the climate has changed
68
Q

What are the views of environmental groups?

A

Support and promote sustainable options as a way to:
* Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
* Protect wildlife and the environment

69
Q

What are ecological footprints?

A

Amount of land and water required to produce resources and deal with waste from each country.
* People in developed countries have the highest carbon footprints - USA average is 21 tonnes CO2e a year

70
Q

How is rising affluence changing attitudes
to unsustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon footprints?- positive.

A
  • Affluent countries started to reduce energy consumption per capita
  • cut energy use by uing new technology and investing more in efficient cars
  • Development of renewable resources
71
Q

How is rising affluence changing attitudes
to unsustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon footprints?- negative.

A
  • Places great pressure on environment

People travel to have exotic foods
* known as food mile- increases use of fossil fuels.

72
Q

How is environmental concerns changing attitudes to unsustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon footprints?

A
  • Green political parties emerged, together with pressure groups like Greenpeace
  • As people’s main needs are met due to the development of countries they are no longer the main concerns
    Pollution and environmental concerns become increasingly important to people
  • Environmental activists like Greta Thunberg.
73
Q

How is education changing attitudes
to unsustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon
footprints?

A
  • UK schools teach about sustainability
  • Schools able to change attitudes
  • Actions taken by schools include recycling campaigns, using local food and encouraging public transport

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