Energy Flashcards
Non renewable
Are finite eg coal,oil,gas
Will not be replenished
Renewable energy
Energy resource that are sustainable eg geothermal, wind, HEP, wave and tidal power
Reasons for the increase in demand for resource
Population growth
—-> more people need to use these resource in order to survive
—> use of heating for the population
Economic development
—-> fuel for industry and manufacturing growth
—> new countries rely on energy to support infrastructures
Increasing wealth
—> more are able to afford better lifestyles, which use energy resources
—> bigger houses
—> holidays and private forms of transport use a large carbon footprint
Technological advances
—> use of phones and the internet
—> usage of appliances that are electrical
Advantages of higher energy comsumption
Electricity makes household tasks easier
Modern technology system are based on oil use
Industry requires high energy to make it work
Disadvantages of higher energy consumption
There are concern we are using it too quickly ,and that we will soon run out of supplies
Create air pollution
Interdependence of supply may lead to conflict
Safety concern of extraction
Coal advantages (non renewable)
Available in large amounts
Easy to store
Produce efficient energy
Cheap
Electricity produced from oil is reliable
The technology to burn coal to generate electricity already exist
Coal disadvantage (non renewable)
Coal is finite so will eventually run out
Releases greenhouse gases
Becoming harder to extract
Oil leakage causes environmental issues
Mining causes damage
Oil production unstable
Less supply more demand increases price
Oil advantages (non renewable)
Technology is improving to extract deeper reserves as well oil in tar sand
Technology to burn oil to generate electricity already exist
Oil disadvantages (non renewable)
Oil is finite so will eventually run out
Oil can cause widespread pollution when split
Release greenhouse gases
Lots of oil is located in politically unstable countries
Gas advantages
Burning gas releases less greenhouse gases then coal and oil
Possible to compress gas and transport it more easily
Easy to store
Easy to preserve
Cleanest fossil fuel
Transported through pipelines and tankers and I and on sea
Gas disadvantage
Gas is finite
Gas is vulnerable to leaks and explosion
Toxic and flammable
Leakage of gas causes explosion and fire
Gases can cause health problems
Damage to the environment
release green house gases
Solar advantages
Clean form of energy
Infinite resource
It can be used to heat water and generate electricity
No fuel cost
No pollution
Safe
Effective for low power usage
Solar disadvantages
Sun doesn’t shine all the time
Hard to store surplus energy
Supply doesn’t always equal demand
Expensive to make solar panels
Large areas are required
Wind advantages
Clean form of energy
Infinite resources
Used in local scale
Not polluting
Space efficient
Wind disadvantage
Visual pollution
Noise pollution
Wind is unreliable
Expensive to install especially onshore
It is hard to store surplus energy
They have to be turned off on very strong wind
Turbine are a threat to birds
Tidal advantages
Clean form of energy
Infinite source,tides happen twice a day
Ideal for island countries
Tidal disadvantages
It can block important shipping routes
May interfere with some animals eg sea otters and seals
Limited number of sites
Useless for landlocked countries
High start up cost the technology still being developed
May be damaged by tropical storms
Waves advantages
It clean form of energy
Infinite resource
Ideal for island countries
Waves disadvantage
Again it can block shipping route and interfere with animals
Again not suitable for landlocked countries
The strength of waves can varies
HEP advantages (renewable)
Renewable
No pollution
No fuel cost
Electricity produced at a constant rate
Power station can respond quickly to changing demands
HEP disadvantages (Renewable)
Dam is expensive to build
Large reservoir taking a lot of space
—>affecting local livelihood
Disrupt wild life
Expensive to maintain
Droughts can cause an effect on power station
Nuclear advantages
Power efficient—> low fuel cost
Reliable
Easy to transport
Doesn’t produce greenhouse gases
-large amount of electricity can be generated
Low running cost
No atmospheric pollution
Doesn’t enhance global warming
Use small amounts of uranium
Nuclear power disadvantage
CO2 is released when transporting fuels
Radiation/ risk of cancer
Very expensive to build power station
Difficult to dispose
Can harm humans
Nuclear
Heat up into steam
Steam drives turbines
Turbines turn the generator
Generated electricity is transferred through transmission lines
Nuclear fission- uranium atoms split in nuclear reactors
Explain how pollution may threaten the local natural environment
Build up toxins
Loss of habitat
Noise scare wildlife
Impact ecosystem
Global warming
Acid rain
Destruction of vegetation
Benefit of renewable
Won’t run out
Cheaper running cost
Doesn’t pollute
Doesn’t produce acid rain
Less likely to enhance global warming
No waste product
Suggest reason to explain why New Zealand doesn’t use nuclear power
Hard to dispose
Worries over radiation
Expensive buildings
Public pressure
Problem disposing waste
Political issues
