energy Flashcards
What are positive of coal?
very productive resource-generates large amounts of energy, still enough coal reserves to last 200 years.
What are negatives of coal?
burning coal releases greenhouse gases into atmosphere, mining is dangerous-caused many deaths, expensive to develop mines and opencast pits.
What are positives of wind energy?
Harnessing wind energy doesn’t pollute atmosphere, lowest-priced renewable resource.
What are negatives to wind energy?
energy only produced when is wind to move blades, installations can be unsightly on landscape, relatively high costs to develop-turbine construction, site access roads, foundation and cabling costs.
How has the UK’s energy mix changed in since the 1970s?
1970s: UK’s reliance on coal and petroleum was high-91% of energy consumption.
2014: Reliance decreased with significant rise in renewable energy sources
future: government target 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
How does population affect a countries energy mix?
China has very large population, therefore relies on variety/mix of energy types. Iceland has small population and uses one energy type-geothermal power.
How does wealth affect a countries energy mix?
More developed countries can invest in wider mix of energy types. Less developed countries can’t afford energy mix (e.g. Pakistan depends on imported oil).
How does availability affect a countries energy mix?
Countries e.g. UK are able to develop wind power/tidal power due to location. Other countries rely on imported oil and coal.
What are the 3 key reasons why demand and supply has changed in the past 100 years and why?
Rapid population growth-China and Brazil, rising affluence-people more able to afford fuel resources, Advanced in technology-more electrical goods, renewable energy harnessed, development of new energy resources.
What are the effects of coal on people and environment?
people: Mining causes subsidence of buildings, miners at risk of illness and death
environment: groundwater can become polluted, burning coal produces large amounts of co2.
What are the effects of oil on people and the environment?
people: Leaks/spills expose people to harmful chemicals, extraction process creates jobs locally.
environment: oil spillages=pollution of groundwater and drinking water, land cleared for oil extraction=loss of farmland.
What are the effects of natural gas on people and the environment?
people: safe-=lighter than air and dissipates when is leakage.
environment: made from methane= fewer carbon emissions than other fossil fuels, burning releases greenhouse gases=global warming and climate change.
What are the effects of uranium of people and the environment?
people: damage from natural disasters=high risk of exposing people to radiation, power stations expensive to build.
environment: waste highly radioactive=potential pollution from storing, produces less co2 than burning fossil fuels.
What are the effects of HEP on people and the environment?
people: could generate tourism, providing jobs for local people as guides, building dams displaces people from their homes
environment: HEP generates clean, non-polluting energy. Vegetation and forests may have to be removed in construction process.
What are the effects of wind power on people and the environment?
people: offshore wind farms like the London Array can generate enough energy to power thousands of homes. Wind turbines installed on land can cause noise an visual pollution
environment: offshore wind farms like London Array help save thousands of tonnes of co2 each year. Wind farms can have impact on migration patterns of birds.
