Energy Resources Flashcards
Non-renewable energy
The energy cannot be replaced - it will eventually run out
Renewable energy
The energy is being replenished
Fossil fuels pros & cons
Pros: Reliable energy on demand, cheap
Cons: Produces CO2 (global warming), SO2 (acid rain), spoils landscape
Provides most of our energy
Nuclear pros & cons
Pros: Lots of energy from little fuel, doesn’t produce CO2 or SO2
Cons: Safety, radiation is dangerous & difficult to dispose
Solar pros & cons
Pros: Renewable, easy to maintain, no pollution
Cons: Expensive to set up, relies on weather, little energy per panel
Wind pros & cons
Pros: Cheap to run, no fuel costs (no pollution), low running costs
Cons: Many are needed to produce much energy, wind dependent, unsightly, can be noisy, high initial costs
Geothermal pros & cons
Pros: Reliable, little environmental damage
Cons: Few suitable locations, expensive to drill deep & build power station
Hydro-electric pros & cons
Pros: Adapt to demand, reliable, little running costs
Cons: High initial costs, environmental impacts
Wave pros & cons
Pros: No pollution
Cons: Disturbs sea bed, relies on waves
Tidal pros & cons
Pros: No pollution
Cons: Prevents boat access, unsightly, alters habitats
Biomass pros & cons
Pros: Carbon neutral, reliable
Cons: Can’t respond to demand, cleared habitats for costs
Uses of energy resources
Transport: mostly non-renewable energy resources used (petrol & diesel, coal - steam trains). But now some electric cars, bio fuels
Electricity generation
Heating: Non-renewable (natural gas, oil, coal), renewable (geothermal, solar power)
Fossil fuels are:
Natural resources that form underground over millions of years.
Burnt to provide energy
- Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuels
Issues of non-renewables
Non-renewable, therefore will run out. All damage environment through emissions, or issues with mining, storage, disposal
Renewable energy resources
Won’t run out. Still damage environment, but less than non-renewable. Provides less energy than non-renewable, most unreliable
Trends in energy resource use
Fossil fuels most used now, electricity use increased in 1900s
Electricity produced by fossil fuels (coal, gas, nuclear)
Oil used for car fuel, gas heats homes, cook. UK now trying to increase renewable energy.
Building new renewable energy plants costs lots, where to put them?, personal changes costly
Why energy issues can’t always be dealt with
Science can identify environmental issues from the use of energy resources but not always power to deal with issues due to political, social, ethical, economic considerations
