Energy introduction & resources for the energy transition Flashcards
Where has the kargest energy demand fo the last 5yrs been from?
China
What is global energy demand/ usage trend like?
Almosta ubiquitous increase for all nations
What minor contruction problem is associated with renewable power generation?
Natural resources required to build and maintain
What is the cost per solar panel?
£350-500
What is the current domestic cap for solar power?
4-6Kw
How can solar panels pay themselves off?
Free/ very chepa energy
When surplus payments given for feeding into the power grid
Why are solar panels less effecitve/ used in the uk?
Intermittent sun
PLanning permissions of some areas (bounville village council no road facing planels)
What raw materials are needed to produce solar panels?
Sand
Silicon
Boron
Phosporous
Aluminium
Iron
Zinc
Petroleum
Copper
What is the USA production problem with solar panels?
geopolitical with REEs from china needed to produce but can go long winded way around and buy chinese solar panels for materials
What industries have been used to imporve wind turbine efficiency?
Aero and motorvehicle
What are the benefits of wind turbines?
Wind ubiquitous
Long lifespan with replaceble parts
High propotion recylable
Only downside is effort for replacement or removal
What negatives to wind farms are there?
Often local opposition
Impacts on wildlife
Location key – height, spacing, position in relation to other features
If grid at maximum might be turned off wasting energy
What have turbines be recyled for?
Playgrounds, bike sheds and farm bridges but expensive so not done often
What are the biggest uses for lithium?
Betteries
Glass and cermaics (colouring of glass)
How is lithium typically extracted?
Pumped from brine (with water pumped back in 5km away for natural recharge over 10yrs)
Evapouration
Treatment
Precipitation
Filtration
What are the environmental impacts of lithium extraction and processing?
Huge water demand (2 million litres for 1 tonne)
Extraction in already water stressed areas
Borate acid leaks
Neo-colonisation (land grabbing)
What is the problem with lithium batteries?
Finite life with little reycling plus recycled material not being suitable for batteries ( so if recyled used by glass then new can be used for batteries)
Why is disposal of small batteries to landfill damamging?
metal pollution
Burn/ explosion risk
How do energy storage systems work?
Using surplus energy from renewables to pump water in resevoirs or winch up weight so can be realsed under gravity when shortage
What is energy vault technology?
Gravity pendulum idea where contrere tower surrounds winch system with blocks lowered to outer ring to produce energy
