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Enviro > Energy Resources > Flashcards

Energy Resources Flashcards

1
Q

renewable energy source definition

A

aresourcewhich can be used repeatedly and replaced naturally

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2
Q

renewable energy source examples (name 4)

A 
Solar origin (wind and hydropower), forests (trees), geothermal energy, hydroelectric power (dams), tidal power
•Nuclear fuels can be characterized as both renewable and nonrenewable depending on how they’re used
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3
Q

non renewable energy source definition

A

aresourceof economic value that cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption; their use is not sustainable because their formation takes billions of years

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4
Q

non renewable energy source example

A
  • Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas and certain metals)
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5
Q

define geothermal energy and its advantages

A

• heat from earth is used. Steam comes from beneath earth’s surface which can be harnessed by several techniques and can generate electricity

  • Dry steam geothermal power plant- underground steam flows into turbine to drive generator which produces electricity
  • Binary cycle plant
  • Advantages= low emissions, small physical footprint, minimal environmental impact, recycle wastewater
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6
Q

define fuel cell energy and its uses

A

• Generates electricity from hydrogen and oxygen—exhausts nothing but water (because hydrogen combines with oxygen)
- Provide critical energy backup for many large facilities, and they provide primary energy for some remote locations. Fuel cells are even being used to power vehicles and homes. Individual fuel cells can be stacked to provide more power, taller stack = more power it generates

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7
Q

define solar energy

A

• energyfrom the sun that is converted into thermal or electricalenergy
- Solar panels, has no emissions, doesn’t make noise, doesn’t need water or fossil fuels to produce power

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8
Q

how is solar energy converted? (4 ways)

A
  1. Parabolic solar trough- most widely applied approach- uses lenses or mirrors that condense large area of sun into a small beam, beam is directed onto tube that is heated. Fluid enters heat exchanger and boils water, creating steam and pressure that is passed thru turbine to generate electricity. 2. Power towers- advanced version of parabolic solar trough. 3. The Stirling engine- used in many developing countries. 4. Methane production- anaerobic digestion of animal and plant wastes in municipal sanitary landfills yields methane as a byproduct- systems collect methane which is used to generate heat and electricity
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9
Q

Biofuels definition

A

• can create clean, renewable transportation fuels from plants, trees, and a range of other organic materials — in other words, biomass.
- Biomass is an organic renewable energy source that includes materials such as agriculture and forest residues, energy crops, and algae. Scientists and engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratories are finding new, more efficient ways to convert biomass into biofuels that can take the place of conventional fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel

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10
Q

bioenergy definition (what organism?)

A

algae, or more correctly, microalgae, are very small aquatic organisms that convert sunlight into energy. Some of these algae store energy in the form of natural oils. Under the right conditions, algae can make a lot of oil that can be converted into biofuels

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11
Q

marine and hydrokinetic energy definition

A

movement of the ocean’s waves, tides, and currents carries energy that can be harnessed and converted into electricity to power our homes, buildings and cities

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12
Q

hydroelectric power definition

A

water flows from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, and a hydropower facility uses turbines and generators to convert this motion into electricity, largest source of renewable power

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13
Q

wind power definition

A

• use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for electric power

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14
Q

how does a wind turbine work?

A
  • a wind turbine blade works sort of like an airplane wing. Blowing air passes around both sides of the blade. The shape of the blade causes the air pressure to be uneven – higher on one side of the blade and lower on the other. And that’s what makes it spin… the uneven pressure causes the blades to spin around the center of the turbine
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15
Q

advantages of geothermal energy

A
  • good for environment- no emissions
  • reliable- constant source of energy and is available all year long
  • uses less electricity
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16
Q

disadvantages of geothermal energy

A
  • withdrawal of water can lead to subsidence, accidental spillage can lead to increased salinity of soil and pollution of surface waters, problems with release of radon and volatile gases (which accompany the steam)
  • land requirements for geothermal system to be installed
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17
Q

advantages of solar energy

A
  • doesn’t need water or fossil fuels to produce power
  • can be harnessed in all areas of world and is available mostly every day, will not run out of it
  • reduces electricity bills
  • low maintenance costs- only clean a few times/year
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18
Q

disadvantages of solar energy

A
  • solar energy is that infrastructure would cost much more than continuing to burn fossil fuels (initial cost of purchasing solar system is high)
  • weather dependent
  • solar energy storage (in batteries) is expensive
  • uses a lot of space more energy want to produce = more solar panels installed
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19
Q

advantages of hydroelectric power

A
  • renewable
  • doesn’t pollute
  • reliable
  • flexible – adjusting water flow and output of electricity is easy
  • safe (no fuel involved, besides water)
  • dams in particular = Allows large numbers of people to inhabit previously uninhabitable regions and protects plains from periodic flooding, and permits construction of cities that otherwise couldn’t exist
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20
Q

disadvantages of hydroelectric power

A
  • environmental consequences= Alters environment for aquatic life and the lives of people, can alter the way nutrients and minerals travel (leading to decrease in farming in some areas and fishing), displaces many people who live near the site, construction brought up salts from the ground making it less usable for agriculture, increase growth of algae and phytoplankton, erosion caused landslides
  • expensive
  • if drought occurred, it could affect this source
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21
Q

advantages of wind power

A
  • unlimited, free, renewable
  • doesn’t pollute
  • cost of wind power is about one-quarter of that for electricity generated using natural gas
  • costs are steady and do not fluctuate
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22
Q

disadvantages of wind power

A
  • blades on wind towers produce noise
  • interfere with TV reception
  • harm birds
  • initial cost
  • aesthetic impact (visual effects on nature and scenery)
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23
Q

environmental impact of geothermal energy

A

• less pollution although some still is emitted (hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane which produce rotten egg smell), impacts on water quality (possible contamination) and consumption, takes up land which should be sensitive to ecological areas

24
Q

social impact of geothermal energy

A

displacement and disputes over land rights, the rights of indigenous people, loss of livelihood, short term disruptions such as traffic, road, influx of population, noise, odor etc., lack of stakeholder engagement or consultation and disputes over employment and economic benefits

25
Q

economic impact of geothermal energy

A

low cost energy source, locally produced, reducing foreign oil imports and boosting rural economies through royalties and tax payments (unlike wind and solar, geothermal plants pay federal and state royalties and significantly more property taxes, generating revenue in rural counties where these plants operate), large scale transformation in global energy markets, increase in economic output, bring significant economic advantages such as jobs and tax payments, can be tourist draw for students, scientists

26
Q

environmental impacts of solar energy

A

• better for environment, land use and habitat loss, water use (some used to manufacture solar PV components), and use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, emissions produced in manufacturing, materials transportation, installation, maintenance

27
Q

social impact of solar energy

A

less pollution=good for health, job creation

28
Q

economic impact of solar energy

A

added new jobs, reduces cost of electricity bills, can sell energy back to local utility company if have excess energy from panels

29
Q

environmental impact of hydroelectric power

A

• cleaner energy, can require large amounts of land, destroys forest, wildlife habitat, agricultural land and scenic lands, entire communities can be forced to relocate, pollutants released during installation and dismantling

30
Q

social impact of hydroelectric power

A

can raise issues with ownership and access rights for both water and land, people may have to relocate

31
Q

economic impact of hydroelectric power

A

operating costs are low, keeps electricity costs affordable for consumers = positive impact economy

32
Q

environmental impact of wind power

A

• local destruction/change to woodlands/plants around the turbines, destruction/change of wildlife habitats, access roads and traffic from maintenance vehicles extending the disruption/destruction beyond the turbine site, impact on birds and bats, changes in streams and water sources from build and runoff, noise pollution, effects compounded by illegal logging and violations of clean water act, but potential decrease in the overall use of fossil fuels and impact from fossil fuels

33
Q

social impact of wind power

A

• towns were funded differently for the right to build turbines, neighboring town in Canada affected setting up conflict, dissentwithin community started (build vs don’t build), important residents were leaving small townsb/c of turbine impacts, groups within the community were labeled as non-environmentalists, “not in my back yard” meant shifting responsibility to another community to shoulder the burden of doing the right thing, potentially changed the community away from sleepy, tourist area (good for some, bad for others)

34
Q

economic impact of wind power

A

decrease tourism, decreased property values, increased money into town, potentially decreased energy costs, potentially increased jobs

35
Q

coal is…

A

an energy source used for heat or electricity, steel production, cement manufacturing

36
Q

steam (thermal) is used in…

A

is used in power stations to generate electricity. First it is turned into a fine powder which allows it to burn quicker, then blown into a boiler where it is burnt at high temperatures and converts water into steam which is passed thru a turbine. Steam passes through turbine, generating electricity

37
Q

advantages of coal energy

A

affordable, easy to burn, produces high energy, abundant

38
Q

disadvantages of coal energy

A
  • The burning of coal is not environmental friendly because it produces harmful byproducts and gas emissions such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide that causes pollution to the environment including acid rain
  • Coal is fast depleting because we consume too much of it
  • Coal mining ruins the environment and puts the lives of people specially the coal miners in danger
  • Coal energy produces large amount of carbon dioxide which leads to global warming and climate change
39
Q

what is oil used for

A

transportation or home heating purposes, a small percentage is still used as a fuel for electricity generating plants. Once extracted (from underground), oil can be refined into a number of fuel products – gasoline, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (such as propane), distillates (diesel and jet fuels) and “residuals” that include industrial and electricity fuels.

40
Q

3 technologies used to convert oil into electricity

A

conventional steam, combustion turbine, combined-cycle technology

41
Q

conventional steam–how does it work

A

Oil is burned to heat water to create steam to generate electricity.

42
Q

combustion turbine–how does it work

A

Oil is burned under pressure to produce hot exhaust gases which spin a turbine to generate electricity.

43
Q

combined cycle technology

A

Oil is first combusted in a combustion turbine, using the heated exhaust gases to generate electricity. After these exhaust gases are recovered, they heat water in a boiler, creating steam to drive a second turbine.

44
Q

advantages of oil

A
  • small amounts of oil can produce large amounts of energy

- easy to produce and refine

45
Q

disadvantages of oil

A
  • releases high levels of CO2, sulfur dioxide = pollution

- oil spills cause massive pollution of bodies of water = death of many animals and fish

46
Q

what is natural gas used for and how is it produced

A

cooking and heating fuel in houses, generate electricity, heat buildings, fuel cars
· Produced thru steam generation units, centralized gas turbines and combines cycle units
- steam generation units- fossil fuels (natural gas) are burned in a boiler to heat water and produce steam that then turns a turbine to generate electricity

47
Q

advantages of natural gas

A
  • since natural gas is found underground, when storms come this source is not damaged or affected by it
  • reduces dependency on foreign oil since natural gas is reliable alternative
48
Q

disadvantages of natural gas

A
  • natural gas is highly combustible so mishandling can lead to explosions
  • emits CO2 which contributes to climate change and global warming
49
Q

environmental impact of coal

A

coal-fired power plants and coal mines lead to air pollution, coal dust created and goes into environment, forest destruction for mountaintop removal mining, loss of groundwater, soil and water contaminated with chemicals

50
Q

social impact of coal

A

poor/dangerous working conditions, local people forced to relocate, poor union rights

51
Q

economic impact of coal

A

creates jobs, generates state and local taxes

52
Q

environmental impact of oil

A

Burning oil for electricity pollutes the air, water and land but some of the worst environmental woes associated with oil are linked to drilling, transporting and refining. Oil-fired conventional steam plants require large amounts of water for steam and cooling and can negatively impact local water resources and aquatic habitats. Sludges and oil residues that are not consumed during combustion became a solid waste burden and contain toxic and hazardous wastes. Drilling also produces air pollutants, toxic and hazardous materials, and emissions of hydrogen sulfide- all of these emissions can impact the health and safety of workers and wildlife. Loss of huge stretches of wildlife habitat also occur during drilling. Refineries, too, spew pollution into the air, water and land (in the form of hazardous wastes). Oil transportation accidents can result in catastrophic damage killing thousands of fish, birds, other wildlife, plants and soil.

53
Q

social impact of oil

A

oil industry attracts many migrants from different countries. After construction phase results are chronic unemployment, food shortages, crime.

54
Q

economic impact of oil

A

offers jobs, expensive

55
Q

environmental impact of natural gas

A

creates global warming emissions/air pollution, construction of systems alter land use and harm local ecosystems by causing erosion and fragmenting wildlife habitats and migration patterns, may pose risks to drinking water (contaminated), linked to earthquakes

56
Q

social impact of natural gas

A

the need for water when fracking can cause stress for communities near sites during coldest, driest and other critical times of the year for residents

57
Q

economic impact of natural gas

A

creates jobs, some areas can make more revenue than others, local economies could benefit but would result in degrading of local infrastructure and can make some areas unaffordable for residents

Enviro (6 decks)

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