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GCSE Geography > energy > Flashcards

energy Flashcards

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1
Q

non renwable fossil fuels definition

A

a fuel that is either finite or non-sustainable
will eventually run out

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2
Q

renewable energy supply definition

A

can be used continually & won’t run out.
Wind, water, geothermal, wave, tidal, biogas, biofuels ( like ethanol) and solar energy are all renewable.

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3
Q

biofuels definition

A

Fuels produced from living organisms or from their by-products, such as food waste.

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4
Q

energy security definition

A

the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

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5
Q

advantages of coal

A
  • Will last another 118yrs at current rates of consumption.
  • Improved technology, has increased output, making it cheaper to generate electricity, can be used for heating & making coking coal
  • Energy dense.
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6
Q

disadvantages of coal

A
  • Cheapest & most accessible used up – cost has risen.
  • Air pollution – greenhouse gas ( C02) & produces acid rain.
  • Open cast mining harms environment & deep mining dangerous to miners.
  • Heavy & bulky to transport.
  • Dirtiest fossil fuel.
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7
Q

advantages of oil and gas

A
  • More efficient to burn, transport & distribute by pipeline & tanker.
  • Energy dense.
  • Less harmful to the environment than coal. Gas is cheaper & cleaner than oil.
  • Can generate electricity.
  • Oil provides the raw material for the petrochemical industry.
  • Well established and ready to use.
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8
Q

disadvantages of oil and gas

A
  • 2016 – oil may only last 50yrs & gas 80yrs.
  • Peak oil has been reached – the world now consumes more oil than it finds in new oil fields.
  • Danger of pollution through oil spills.
  • Wen burnt both give off nitrogen oxide & sulphur dioxide = acid rain.
  • Prices can fluctuate widely.
  • Pipelines targets for terrorism.
  • Political decisions can cause supply problems e.g. Ukraine war.
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9
Q

challenges to renewable energies

A
  • Intermittent
  • Costs
  • Environmental impacts
  • Local resistance
  • Natural constraints
  • Storage
  • Infrastructure
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10
Q

intermittent of renewable energies

A

Solar & wind energy are limited to times of sunshine & wind. There are times it produces too much & times it produced too little.

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11
Q

costs of renewable energies

A

expensive and requires government support at the beginning. Infrastructure & storage remains expensive.

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12
Q

enviromental impacts of renewable energies

A

wind turbines kill rare birds of prey, solar farms trip area of ecology, HEP drowns valleys & biofuels cause monoculture.

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13
Q

local resistance of renewable energies

A

Eye sore & requires a large amount of land.

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14
Q

natural constraints of renewable energies

A

HEP & solar require water, which is scarce in some arid areas.

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15
Q

storage of renewable energies

A

Tech for storage of renewable energy is not developed well enough for the times when renewables produce an abundant supply.

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16
Q

infrastructure of renewable energies

A

existing is set up for fossil fuels. New infrastructure is needed, but this is costly.

17
Q

opportunities provided by renewable energies

A
  • Constantly available & will never be used up.
  • Cause less environmental impact ‘green’ energy.
  • Countries can become self-reliant as won’t have to import fossil fuels.
  • Governments can avoid controversy & disadvantages of using nuclear power.
  • Reduce carbon emissions and meet targets.
  • Can create economic opportunities.
  • Provide energy to billions who do not have modern energy services.
  • Costs are falling & energy capacity is increasing.
18
Q

benefits of geothermal

A
  • Replenished by nature.
  • Good for heating and cooling Individual houses can benefit.
  • Partially built underground so little surface impact.
  • Reliable and consistent supply once available.
  • Very low carbon emissions from equipment.
19
Q

advantages of wind

A
  • Wind is free
  • Once built no air pollation.
  • Although tall, only takes up small amount of land Surface below can continue to be farmed.
  • Useful in remote areas away from national electricity grid
  • Various sizes and costs for use in MEDCs and LEDCS.
20
Q

hydro electric power (HEP) advantages

A
  • No pollution issues.
  • Reliable once built as simple structures: few breakdowns reported
  • Have a long life.
  • Provides drinking water plus other opportunities, eg boating, fishing, a road across the dam, tourism.
  • Can respond to supply and demand quickly.
  • Can control flooding downstream.
21
Q

wave and tidal power advantages

A
  • Renewable while there are tides which rely on the sun and the moon.
  • Very efficient in converting energy into electricity.
  • Predictable unlike other renewables that rely on the weather.
  • No greenhouse gas pollution.
22
Q

solar energy advantages

A
  • The sun’s energy is free,
  • Renewable while there is a sun.
  • No noise and no air pollution.
  • Little maintenance-needed once set up
  • Easy to install in individual homes or as solar farms.
  • Can be used in remote areas away from a national electricity end
23
Q

geothermal energy disadvantages

A
  • Location-specific needs to have correct geology and access to the hot water underground
  • Might cause small earthquakes.
  • High set-up costs.
  • Only sustainable if underground reservoirs managed carefully so that use of water equals replacement by rainwater.
24
Q

wind energy disadvantages

A
  • Needs reliable wind but this can range from zero to storms
  • Storage of electricity problem. Visual issues of wind farms
  • Can be as very noisy
  • Manufacture produces some air pollution.
  • Largest turbine can only produce electricity for 475 homes. Many needed for a town.
25
Q

hydro-electric power disadvantages

A
  • Site requirements mean often have to locate in remote mountain.
  • High cost of building dam and electricity infrastructure.
  • Requires large area for reservoir and may involve relocating people.
  • Dam prevents seasonal flooding of ecosystems which affects widlife.
  • Relies on rain/snowmelt
26
Q

wave and tidal disadvantages

A
  • Very high set-up costs.
  • It takes 7 years to build and 2 years before it generates electricity.
  • Storm waves can damage machinery
  • Limited to sites with high tidal ranges to turn the turbines.
  • Works for 10 hours a day during tidal surges - need back-up power source.
  • Disrupts fish migration and can damage marine creatures.
27
Q

solar power disadvantages

A
  • Limited availability of sun in many areas.
  • Very high set-up costs.
  • Cannot be generating during cloudy days or at night.
  • Limited storage capacity.
  • Can take up large amount of land.
  • Visual issues of solar farms.
28
Q

benefits of biofuels

A
  • Renewable & sustainable.
  • Creates jobs in LICs.
29
Q

disadvantags of biofuels

A
  • deforestation
  • loss of habitat
  • soil erosion
  • ‘Food vs Fuel’ debate
30
Q

disadvantages of nuclear

A
  • Dangerous if there is an accident: Chernobyl
  • Waste can remain dangerous for 1,000years
  • problems storing waste
  • Cost of shutting down nuclear power station is very high

GCSE Geography (11 decks)

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