Energy Flashcards
Changing UK energy mix
-oil production declined 6% a year in the last decade
-only 30% of the UK’s gas reserves remain
-only 70% of the UK’s oil reserves remain
-renewables only produce 25% of our energy mix
Solar power
-renewable
-costs are decreasing
-unreliable
Wind power
-renewable
-low running cost
-unreliable
Tidal power
-renewable
-reliable
-expensive
Wave power
-renewable
-offshore
-not used
Hydroelectric power (HEP)
-renewable
-reliable
-expensive
Biomass
-renewable
-carbon neutral
-land use
Geothermal energy
-renewable
-15,000x more energy than oil reserves left
-location specific
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
-non-renewable
-cheap
-CO2
Nuclear energy
-non-renewable
-reliable
-expensive
Impacts of energy insecurity
-food production (home food becomes more expensive, competition between farmers)
-industry (losing out to foreign competition, higher production costs and consumer prices)
-people (decline in quality of life and inability to work)
Human factors effecting energy supply
-economic development (ability to afford resource)
-technology (ability to exploit own resources)
-public opinion
-political agreements (phasing out fossil fuels)
-new methods of extraction (fracking)
Physical factors effecting energy supply
-relief (hills and mountains provide ability to exploit HEP)
-tectonic activity (ability to exploit geothermal)
-climate (ability to exploit solar, wind, etc)
-natural hazards (too risky for nuclear)
Sustainable energy - demand
-turn off lights
-shorten showers
-educate
-promote cycling and walking
Sustainable energy - houses
-smartmeters (track energy consumption)
-timers to switch off appliances not in use
-LED efficient lights
-natural lighting
