Energy

Question 1

What is fracking?

Answer 1

The removal of non-renewable shale gas from deep underground.

Question 2

Why is fracking controversial?

Answer 2

Expensive. Causes earthquakes. Contaminates groundwater supplies.

Question 3

What are the impacts of exploiting nuclear energy?

Answer 3

Positive – low fuel costs, no polluting gases emitted, power stations have long lifetime. Negative – waste is radioactive, potential for catastrophic accidents, costs of building power stations very high.

Question 4

How does energy consumption vary globally?

Answer 4

High in HICs. Low in LICs.

Question 5

Which parts of the world have an energy surplus?

Answer 5

Russia (oil, natural gas, uranium). Eastern Europe (oil, natural gas, uranium). Middle East (oil).

Question 6

Which parts of the world have an energy deficit?

Answer 6

Western Europe. North America. Asia. Sub-Saharan Africa.

Question 7

How do costs of exploitation & production affect energy supply?

Answer 7

Oil pipelines require investment. Nuclear power stations are expensive to build.

Question 8

How do physical factors affect energy supply?

Answer 8

Geothermal energy only found in tectonically active areas. Geology – natural gas & oil found in folded rock layers.

Question 9

How does climate affect energy supply?

Answer 9

Amount of sunshine and wind affects availability of solar & wind energy.

Question 10

How do political factors affect energy supply?

Answer 10

Political instability in Middle East = countries look for alternatives. Some countries want to stop Iran developing nuclear energy. Worries over non-peaceful uses.

Question 11

Why is global energy consumption increasing?

Answer 11

Industrialisation of NEEs. Growth of populations. Increased LIC populations make very little difference to energy demand. Most demand and consumption is in HICs.

Question 12

Define ‘tectonically active’.

Answer 12

Affected by the movement of earth’s tectonic plates.

Question 13

Define ‘geology’.

Answer 13

The structure of the land & type of rocks and minerals that exist within it.

Question 14

What can be done about energy insecurity?

Answer 14

Countries can exploit own energy sources. Countries can reach agreements with other countries. Countries can reduce energy consumption.

Question 15

Why is it difficult to extract oil in the Arctic?

Answer 15

It is environmentally sensitive so complex techniques & expensive equipment are needed.

Question 16

What % of the world’s undiscovered oil is in the Arctic?

Answer 16

13%.

Question 17

What % of the world’s undiscovered gas is in the Arctic?

Answer 17

30%.

Question 18

What % of the world’s energy is used to produce food?

Answer 18

30%.

Question 19

What are biofuels?

Answer 19

Gasses, liquids or solids from natural sources (e.g. plants) used as fuel.

Question 20

Why are biofuels controversial?

Answer 20

High carbon emissions, reduce food security & increase food prices.

Question 21

How does energy insecurity affect industry?

Answer 21

Pakistan – regular power cuts, can last 20 hours per day. Over 500 companies in Faisalabad have closed.

Question 22

Why is energy in Pakistan insecure and expensive?

Answer 22

Reliant on oil imports.

Question 23

How does energy insecurity lead to political conflict?

Answer 23

When energy sources run low/out, countries may fight over resources. Gulf War & Iraq War both driven by West’s fear that oil would run out.

Question 24

How can we increase energy supplies?

Answer 24

Continue using non-renewables. Increase use of renewables.

Question 25

Evaluate non-renewables as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 25

Positive – still lots left, important for energy production. Negative – will eventually run out, highly polluting.

Question 26

Evaluate nuclear energy as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 26

Positive – cost of uranium is low, small amounts of uranium needed to generate energy. Negative – expensive to build power stations, radioactive waste can be dangerous for 100 years.

Question 27

Evaluate biomass as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 27

Positive – abundantly available, low cost. Negative – reduce food security, can cause deforestation.

Question 28

Evaluate wind power as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 28

Positive – turbines can be built on existing farms, no harmful emissions. 2018: 18% of UK energy from wind. Negative – ugly, threat to birds.

Question 29

Evaluate hydroelectric power as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 29

Positive – 2016: created 71% of global renewable energy. Negative – dams expensive to build & maintain, displacement of people to flood land for reservoir.

Question 30

Evaluate tidal energy as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 30

Positive – potential predictable & continuous energy. Negative – expensive to build tidal barrages, negative impacts on marine wildlife.

Question 31

Evaluate geothermal energy as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 31

Positive – 25% of Iceland’s energy from geothermal sources. Negative – limited to tectonically active areas.

Question 32

Evaluate wave energy as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 32

Positive – potential predictable & continuous energy. Negative – only suitable for coastal towns & cities, negative impacts on marine wildlife.

Question 33

Evaluate solar energy as a strategy for increasing energy supplies.

Answer 33

Positive – lots of sunshine in LICs. Negative – only seasonal in some places, expensive to set up, lots of space needed, harmful emissions involved in transporting & installing solar systems.

Question 34

How was natural gas formed?

Answer 34

Organisms decomposed (turned into organic matter) millions of years ago & deposited on seabed. Buried under layers of sediment & compressed. Compression = heat & lack of O2 = chemical reaction, converting organic matter into natural gas.

Question 35

Why is it possible to extract natural gas?

Answer 35

It rises through pores in rock, building up in reservoirs. Extracted from reservoirs using advance technology.

Question 36

What % of natural gas supplies are found in Russia, Iran & Qatar?

Answer 36

60%.

Question 37

How many years will the gas reserves in Russia, Iran & Qatar last?

Answer 37

54 years, if used at current rates.

Question 38

What are the advantages of extracting natural gas?

Answer 38

Least polluting fossil fuel. Lower risk of env. accidents than with oil. Provides jobs for 1.2 million people. Can be transported in various ways: land & sea. Technology = shale gas can be exploited. Power stations can be easily turned on and off.

Question 39

What are the disadvantages of extracting natural gas?

Answer 39

Dangerous if handled/transited carelessly. Some supplies in politically unstable countries. Does still contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Fracking is controversial. Pipelines for transporting it are expensive.

Question 40

What is the Camisea Gas Project?

Answer 40

Project to exploit huge gas field in Amazonian Peru. Led by Argentinian gas company: Pluspetrol.

Question 41

When did the Camisea Gas Project commence?

Answer 41

In 2004.

Question 42

What are the advantages of the Camisea Gas Project?

Answer 42

Saves Peru $4 billion in energy costs. Several billions of dollars’ profit from gas exports. Provided jobs = increased tax revenue. Good infrastructure needed = benefits locals.

Question 43

What are the disadvantages of the Camisea Gas Project?

Answer 43

Initial exploration of the gas reserves by Shell in 1980s = half of Nahua tribe wiped out. Five significant gas leaks = contaminated land & water. Decline in fish stocks. Deforestation to make space for pipelines & roads.

Question 44

What are the features of a sustainable energy supply?

Answer 44

Balance of energy supply & demand. Low energy inefficiency. Push to conserve energy. Energy-efficient homes.

Question 45

How is Malmo, Sweden a sustainable city?

Answer 45

Houses designed to create & conserve energy. Transport system built to reduce car use. All 1,000 buildings use 100% renewable energy. Cyclists given priority over cars at crossroads.

Question 46

How can financial incentives reduce energy demand?

Answer 46

Encourage people to use less energy due to financial benefits.

Question 47

How can technology increase fossil fuel efficiency?

Answer 47

Technology used to design fuel-efficient cars – more aerodynamic & use lighter materials. Development of electric & hybrid cars.

Question 48

How has technology increased fossil fuel efficiency in Brazil?

Answer 48

Biofuel technology developed in car engines, reducing oil use. Petrol use reduced by 40% since 1993. 90% of all new cars run on ethanol & petrol.

Question 49

Where is Chambamontera?

Answer 49

Andes Mountains, Peru.

Question 50

Why does Chambamontera need a sustainable energy scheme?

Answer 50

Locals depend on subsistence farming. Little electricity, heat & light = underdeveloped. Half the population live on US$2 per day. Unsustainable to build electricity grid due to low pop.

Question 51

What is the micro-hydro scheme in Chambamontera?

Answer 51

A small-scale scheme using rivers to produce energy.

Question 52

What was the cost of the micro-hydro scheme in Chambamontera?

Answer 52

$51,000. Funded by Peru & Japan governments and locals (families loaned $750 each to contribute).

Question 53

How has the micro-hydro scheme benefitted locals?

Answer 53

Provided sustainable source of energy. Locals can make a productive living. Jobs in construction & maintenance of scheme. Population has grown. Less outward migration. Energy to power fridges; medicines can be stored. Street lights have improved safety. Reduced risk of flooding as river levels monitored. Less deforestation (less need for firewood for heat).