Energy Resources Flashcards
What are fossil fuels?
Natural resources that form underground over millions of years
What is the main problem with renewable energy?
Don’t provide much energy and some are unreliable as they depend on weather
How does wind power work?
Each wind turbine has generator & rotating blades turn generator and produce electricity
What are the disadvantages of wind turbines? Name 4
- Turbines stop when wind stops/if wind is too strong = impossible to increase supply when there’s extra demand
- Spoil the view
- Very noisy
- Initial costs are quite high
What are the advantages of wind turbines? Name 3
- No fuel costs and minimal running costs
- No pollution (expect in manufacture)
- No permanent damage to landscape
How does solar power work?
Solar cells generate electric currents directly from sunlight
What is solar power mainly used for?
Used to generate electricity on a relatively small scale
What are the advantages of solar power? Name 3
- No pollution
- In sunny countries = very reliable source of energy
- Running costs almost nil
What are the disadvantages of solar power? Name 3
- Lots of energy and some pollution in manufacture
- Only reliable in daytime/sunny days
- Can’t increase power output when there’s extra demand
What is geothermal power?
Uses energy from underground thermal energy stores
What is geothermal power used for?
To generate electricity or to heat buildings directly
Where is geothermal power possible?
In volcanic areas where hot rocks lie near the surface
What does geothermal power use a source of energy?
Slow decay of various radioactive elements (uranium) deep inside Earth
What are the advantages of geothermal power? Name 2
- Brilliant free energy that’s reliable
2. Very few environmental problems
What are the disadvantages of geothermal power? Name 2
- Aren’t many suitable locations for power plants
2. Cost of building a power plant is high compared to amount energy it produces
What does hydro-electric power essentially do?
Transfers energy from kinetic store of falling water
How does hydro-electric power require?
Requires flooding of a valley by building a big dam