Energy Test Flashcards
What are the two types of energy
Conventional and alternative
Conventional energy
- Is mostly non-renewable
- Can be ecologically hazardous
5 main types of conventional energy
- Coal
- Oil
- Natural Gas
- Hydroelectricity (only one considered renewable)
- Nuclear
Renewable resources
- generally living resources (EX. fish, forests, etc.)
- non-living renewable natural resources include: wind, solar, water, soil, etc.
- can restock, or renew themselves if they are not over-harvested
Non-renewable resources
- exist in a fixed amount
- cannot be re-made, re-grown, or regenerated
- examples include: coal, oil, natural gas, minerals, etc.
- some non-renewable resources can be renewable, but take an extremely long time to renew (millions-billions of years)
Natural resources
Naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively natural and unmodified form. They include renewable and non-renewable resources.
Alternative energy
- is renewable
- can be found and is available in nature
Alternative energy types that Canada is now using (7 of them)
- solar power
- wind power
- geothermal power
- biogas power
- ethanol power
- hydrogen fuel cell power
- tidal power
3 reasons why the world is becoming dependant on energy
- An expanding world population means more energy is needed
- Emerging industrial countries, such as China and India, have standards of living that are becoming higher (which increases their need for energy)
- People in industrialized countries, such as Canada and the US, continue to use cheap energy to improve their standard of living
What can Canada do with their energy resources?
We can export much of our oil, natural gas and coal in exchange for money used for imports
What can Canada’s energy resources do?
- sustain the modern lifestyle that we all enjoy
- a valuable resource that can be traded on the international market
- provide other countries with a way of improving their standard of living
Main points on energy resources and the Canadian economy
- Canada is emerging as a major player in the sale of energy resources worldwide
- Canada sells a majority of its energy resources to the US
Problems with Canada’s Energy Market
- Canada is too dependent on just this one market (energy market)
- If the US stops buying our energy, our economy will suffer
- It is possible that the US won’t need our energy resources in the future because of 2 major reasons (found on another slide)
Why is it possible that the US won’t need our energy resources in the future
- the US is developing its own oil and natural gas in Alaska
- oil sands have been discovered in Colorado
Consumption
The using up of a resource
Conservation
The action of conserving something
Kyoto protocol
International treaty that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based in the premise that global warming exists and man-made CO2 emissions have caused it.
Description of coal
- the biggest power plants in Canada are coal-fired
- most of Canada’s coal comes from Alberta
- not used as much as it once was
Pros of coal
- Canadian coal is in demand for export to Asain countries such as Japan and Korea
- helps fuel the automotive industry in Canada
Cons of coal
- dangerous jobs because of poisonous gases, cave-ins, and cold, damp conditions
- releases 29% more carbon than oil and 80% more carbon than natural gas
- affects climate change because it produces more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
- burning coal contributes to smog and acid rain
Description of oil
- Used to make gasoline, cosmetics, tar and plastics
- dispersed throughout the lower layers of the Earth’s crust
- oil is pumped out of the ground and sent to a refinery where gasoline is made
- oil deposits have been found in the arctic, but have not been developed yet
Pros of oil
- Keeps the wheels of modern industry turning
- provides cars with what they need to function
- (more pros for oil sands industry on another slide)
Cons of oil
-difficult to find out where the oil is located
-drilling is expensive and time consuming
-chances of ecological disaster are huge if oil spills into the ocean
(More cons of oil sands on another slide)
Description of Natural Gas
- found under cap rock
- found above oil
- pipelines are used to transport natural gas
- can be converted to liquid before transportation