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Geography AS > Energy Issues > Flashcards

Energy Issues Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four major non-renewable energy resources?

A

Oil

Gas

Coal

Nuclear

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2
Q

What is a non-renewble (stock) resource?

A

It’s finite

Cannot be used without depleting the stock because rate of formation is so slow

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3
Q

What is a renewable (flow) resource?

A

Yield a continuous flow that can be consumed in any period of time without endangering future consumption

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4
Q

What is an energy resource?

A

Any part of the environment that can be used to meet human needs. Can be classed as renewable or non-renewable

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5
Q

What is resource management?

A

The control of the exploitation and use of resources in relation to the associated economic and environmental costs

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6
Q

Why is it necessary to carefully manage the rate of use of some of the renewable energy resources?

A

Divided into ‘critical’ section

Forests, plants, and animal waste require prudent management because renewability is not automatic and needs time.

Needs to remain sustainable

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7
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary energy resources?

A

Primary: energy sources in raw form such as oil, gas or running water. Used for power in natural form to produce secondary energy

Secondary: manufactured sources of power such as electricity or petroleum

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8
Q

What is meant by the term energy mix?

A

The range of energy sources used in an area.

Both primary and secondary

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9
Q

The U.K. was, until very recently, able to provide all of its own primary energy resources. Why has this changed?

A

Not economically viable (coal)

Clean air legislation

Coal industry was privatised in 1990’s and since then all pits in U.K. have closed down

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10
Q

Is the U.K. currently a net energy importer or exporter?

A

In 2004, became net energy importer

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11
Q

What percentage of U.K. energy is supplied by fossil fuels?

A

2015 = 54.5

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12
Q

What are the two main energy sources in the U.K.?

A

Gas

Renewables (over-took coal in 2015)

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13
Q

How much of the UK’s energy mix comes from renewable resources?

A

20-30%

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14
Q

Why does the government wish to increase proportion of renewable resources in the energy mix?

A

As part of its goal to reduce emissions

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15
Q

Which sectors of the U.K. economy have increasing, and which have decreasing, energy demands?

A

Transport: 30% and still increasing

Increase in domestic

Decrease in Industrial

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16
Q

If the question asks you to “comment on” the UK energy mix, what should you do?

A

Say that the UK needs to stop relying on fossil fuels and start using more renewables

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17
Q

What’s the energy mix in the U.K.?

A

Gas: 29.5%

Renewables: 24.7%

Coal: 22.6%

Nuclear: 20.8%

Oil: 2.4%

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18
Q

More developed countries use 75% of the global supply of oil, gas and coal. Why is this likely to change in the near future?

A

As China and India industrialise their consumption will continue to increase rapidly

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19
Q

What are the main fuel sources used in the lowest-income countries?

(33% of the worlds population have no access to modern energy supplies)

A

Wood for fuel and biomass

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20
Q

Refining and marketing in BP

What are its products?
How many refineries does it have?
Where are they?
How many outlets in Germany?

A

Products are fuel, gasoline and kerosine

Owns 17 refineries with a capacity of processing 2.8 million barrels/day

5 in USA, 7 in Europe

Europe + North Europe are BP’s largest fuel retailer

Germany has 2,700 outlets

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21
Q

Transport in BP

What’s it’s stake in the Caspian Sea
How much staff working in transport?
How many ships?

A

Has its own pipeline and ships

Holds 30% stake in Caspian Sea pipe

Helping fund 700km pipeline in Gulf of Mexico, capable of transporting 1 million barrels per day

Operates own fleet of tankers

More than 100 ships

1,500 staff

22
Q

What are the impacts of oil industry ?

A

Oil spills

23
Q

Exxon Valdez oil spill

Where?
When?

Impacts?

A

March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Thousands of animals died
immediately and shoreline habitats may take up to 30 years to recover

24
Q

Gulf of Mexico spill

A

Deepwater horizon , BP

  1. 7 million gallons in 1st few hours
  2. 2 million gallons in total

Long recovery rates for marine species

25
Q

What are the issues with frontier exploration?

A

In the Arctic for example:
•inhospitable environment (high winds, poor visibility, extreme temperatures)

  • winter sea ice makes clean up access near-impossible
  • home to increasingly rare and threatened species - polar bears, walrus, whales
  • 1000’s km’s of Arctic coastline vulnerable to oil spills
26
Q

Role of TNC’s

The positive impacts on Nigeria - Shell NL

A

Employment:
•26,000 - 90% workforce Nigerian

Economic:
•billions paid in taxes and royalties
•microcredit programmes (helps small businesses)

Social:
•investment in water and electricity
•3000 schools and uni scholarships a year 
•more schools built 
•health clinics+vaccinations
27
Q

Role of TNC’s

The negative impacts on Nigeria - Shell NL

A

•5000 major oil spills in 50 years:

  • destruction of wetland ecosystems
  • destruction of agricultural production

Health funds:
•gas flaring
•causes toxic gases
•respiratory diseases and cancer

Social:
•crime
•corruption

Economic:
•Profits generated in HQ country
•therefore locals don’t benefit from their natural resources

28
Q

Arguments in favour of nuclear power

A

Small quantities of waste (compared to CO2 from coal)

Highly efficient therefore power stations have smaller footprint compared to renewables

Modern nuclear power stations are efficient and safe

Large stocks of uranium

Good reliability: need little fuel, less vulnerable to shortages

Safety: 10,000 - 50,000 die per year from air pollution due to coal

29
Q

Arguments against nuclear power

A

More CO2 emissions compared to renewables

Long delays: long planning and construction time

Potential for using the technology to develop nuclear weapons capabilities

Radioactive waste transport and storage

Radiation - risk of accident

waste disposal

30
Q

UK’s energy plan

What are the timetable of events?

A

2003 - aim to increase renewable energy production

2007 - tackle climate change by cutting emissions

2008 - 80% revision in carbon emissions by 2050

2012 - set out decarbonisation targets

31
Q

UK’s energy policy

Plans for nuclear?

Plans for Renewables?

Plans for gas?

A 
Nuclear:
•8 new sites identified 
•10 years to build 
•private companies
•16GW of nuclear capacity

Renewables:
•20% cut in greenhouse gas
•20% increase of renewables
•20% cut in consumption by increase in efficiency

Gas:
•reliance on gas to continue
•potential exploration of shale gas reserves
•80% of total gas through imports by 2020

32
Q

Low carbon transition plan

A

Power sector:
•cut 22% of emissions by 2020
•facilitate building of new nuclear power stations
•gas imports will be 50% lower

Homes:
•cut emissions from homes by 29% on 2008 levels
•investing 3.2 billion to help households be more efficient
•clean energy cash-back schemes

Workplace:
•crating 1.2 million jobs in the low-carbon industry
•approximately £120 million will he invested in off-shore wid

Transport:
•cutting average CO2 emissions from new cars
•investing inuo to £30 million in low-carbon bus technology
•government to announce plans for further electrification of rail network

33
Q

Namibia

Population?
GDP growth?

A

2 million population

GDP growth 2001-2009 = 4% per annum

34
Q

Namibia future energy and and policies

A

By 2030 it hopes to be an industrialised nation

Renewable energy programme regional distribution master plan

Policies:
• increase 40 MW of modern renewable capacity
•new policies in support of renewable energy

Plans:
•power station to feed Namibian and South African power grid
•800 MW capacity
•first wind powered park is under construction
•Namibian government considering nuclear power

35
Q

Sustainable transport - Medellin, Columbia

A

Escalators

Buses, cycling

Buses link to other ways of transport

Bike paths with public bike scheme

36
Q

Sustainable transport - Edinburgh, Scotland

A

New fleet of low carbon buses

15 hybrid buses produce 30% less CO2 emissions than a diesel bus

Scotland ambition to decarbonise all road transport by 2050

37
Q

Sustainable transport - Peterborough, England

A

Plan to improve cycleways and footpaths

Community bike-share scheme

Bicycle scheme for schools (good for LIC families)

38
Q

Sustainable transport - Masdsr City, Abu Dhabi

A

Aim is to make city carless

Self-driving 4-man pods

39
Q

Sustainable transport - Bristol, England

A

Congestion solutions

Showcase bus routes:
•increase frequency 
• increase accessibility
•realtime passenger displays 
•park and ride

City-car club:
•only pay for your journey

Freight consolidation:
•cutting number of delivery vehicles
•saved 9,000 journeys since 2008

40
Q

Causes of acid rain

A

Reaction in atmosphere of SO2,CO2, NO2, water, oxygen and other chemicals

Coal burning causes 2/3rd’s of USA’s acid rain

Power stations release sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide

Countries affected by acid rain are not always responsible for causing it. E.g. Scandinavia hugh concentrations of acid rain due to prevailing winds from UK

41
Q

Impacts of acid rain

A

Acidification of lakes and streams

Kills vegetation

Causes breathing problems

42
Q

Problems with tackling it

A

International cooperation

Lack of alternatives to burning coal

43
Q

The solutions

A

Use coal with less sulphur (or wash the coal)

Shift to renewables

Restore quality of lakes (use lime) - but this is expensive and only a short term solution

Legislation?
•1998 large combustion plant directive
•SO2 had to be reduced by 58% by 2003

44
Q

Energy efficient homes

A

Improve thermal efficiency

Self-generate electricity

Energy efficient domestic appliances

Use less artificial lighting

45
Q

Energy efficient work place

A

Big windows - less artificial light

BUT - double glazing too keep heat

Motion sensor lights

Computers on timers

Dual flush

Cut down on paper use in offices

46
Q

Examples of energy efficient appliances

A

Wind turbine (small : £1,500)

Solar panels: £2,000 heating and hot water

Double glazing: halves heat lost through windows

Lost and wall insulation : cuts heat moss by a 3rd

47
Q

Biofuel - derived from plant biomass

Advantages and disadvantages

A

Adv:
Oil prices rising

Disadv:
Land taken from food production leads to rising food prices/shortages

48
Q

Solar power

Advantages and disadvantages

A

Adv:
Free
No pollution
Good for remote areas

Disadv:
Doesn’t work at nght
Expensive to build
Sunny climate

49
Q

Wind power

Advantages and disadvantages

A 
Adv: 
Free
No pollution
Land surrounding free for farming
Can be tourist attractions 
Remote areas
Disadv:
Not reliable 
More expensive Ham coal
Eyesore
Kill birds 
Can be noisy
50
Q

Hydro electric power

Advantages and disadvantages

A 
Adv:
Once dam is built it's free
No pollution 
More reliable
Can be constant (electricity)

Disadv:
Expensive to build (dams)
Kill habitats in construction
Finding a site is hard

51
Q

Tidal - barrage built across river estuary

Advantages and disadvantages

A

Adv:
Once built it’s free
Reliable
Tides are predictable

Disadv:
Barrage expensive to build
Environment is changed
Only provided power for 10 hours/day
Few suitable sites

Geography AS (4 decks)

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