features of energy resources

Question 1

list the features of energy resources

Answer 1

1) renewable
2) depletable
3) locational constraint
4) ease of transport
5) ease of storage
6) abundance
7) intermittency
8) predictability
9) energy density

Question 2

outline the feature of abundance

Answer 2

• the amount of a resource which exists
• this is not the same as the amount which is available for use
  for example they may be too deep or wave power to far from the coast where water is too deep to dive
• as new tech develops and energy prices increase the resource may become viable to extract later on

Question 3

outline energy density

Answer 3

the measure of the amount of energy in a given mass from a resource

• higher energy densities mean smaller amounts of the resource need to be used
• therefore it is easier to transport and store

Question 4

outline locational constraints

Answer 4

energy sources can only be accessed via extraction, if it is not possible to extract it the resource can not be used for example

• wave power needs costal areas with strong currents
• solar power needs areas with high light intensity and low cloud cover

Question 5

outline intermittency

Answer 5

if an energy resource is not available at all times it is difficult to rely on it

Question 6

define renewable and non renewable energy

Answer 6

1) resources which naturally reform relatively quickly so using them doesn’t reduce future availability
2) resources which are either not formed or reform so slowly that current use reduces availability for future uses

Question 7

define depletable and non-depletable

Answer 7

1) resources which can reduce future availability if used unsustainably
2) resources which will never run out no matter how unsustainably used they are