mitigation strategies

Question 1

salt caverns

Answer 1

strengths: can be used to store power, something that is needed so we don’t end up wasting electricity, and we can maximise on energy without shortages, less risk than other strategies

weaknesses: can only store energy temporarily, several years of construction time is needed and it demands a lot of space

Question 2

carbon capture

Answer 2

strengths: you do not add more to the quantity of co2 in the atmosphere, it can be made into products as well, it is multipurpose

weaknesses: it can be very energy intensive, as it requires often bulky equipment in order to function properly. this also means that the machinery risks damaging the environment around it - a disadvantage which applies to many strategies which are on a big scale

Question 3

converting to electricity generally

Answer 3

strengths: there are multiple ways that we can use electricity to replace fossil fuels e.g. electric cars. domestication of solar panels which work out cheaper for the household

weaknesses: cobalt mining is energy intensive and companies often mistreat the workers who mine cobalt. in the democratic republic of congo, children are forced to mine in horrible conditions, with no protective gear which leads to lifelong health issues. cobalt is dangerous to touch with bare hands, as it can also cause health issues. if we want to increase our electricity storage, we must use ethical mining, or find another source altogether. in order to do this, companies have to be held accountable for the affects that this mining has had on its workers. this links with ‘decent work and economic growth’.

Question 4

solar panels

Answer 4

strengths: when you have excess energy, you can sell it to the grid. is a majority of people sell their energy to the grid, it means that there will be less energy needed from the grid in the first place, and the neighborhood can ‘share’ the energy. there is increasing assistance from the government who will contribute to sustainable energy-related costs if eligible so cost will go down

weaknesses: the cost is quite high, the regular man will not be able to pay it upfront. we depend on fossil fuels too much

Question 5

wind turbines

Answer 5

strengths: they are an efficient use of land, as they are out of the way and their prices are dropping continuously. the sizes vary

weaknesses: it is variable and not completely reliable, it needs wind to work. they can also cause disturbances to local residents. can also impact local wildlife as well. similar to carbon capture, can be bulky

Question 6

geothermal energy

Answer 6

strengths: it comes from within the earth and we do not need large masses of machinery to take the energy. it produces significantly more energy than an wind farm. it also is not dependent on outside surroundings the way that other techniques are e.g. wind farms are dependent on wind, solar panels are dependent on the sun.

weaknesses: it is location dependent, as they need to be built in locations near tectonic plate boundaries or ‘hot spots’. it is also quite expensive in comparison to other technologies. they can also cause earthquakes as it causes instability underground.

Question 7

hydropower

Answer 7

strengths: water is something natural, we will not run out anytime soon

weaknesses: can damage the environment around them e.g. great ethiopian rennaissance dam went wrong, and harmed those living around them, causing inconsistencies in electricity, plus construction issues