P3 Flashcards
What do non renewable and renewable energy sources both have in common
They are both used to generate electricity
3 main fossil fuels
Coal, oil, gas
What are 3 things fossil fuels do or will do
- all run out one day
- all harm the environment
- provide most of our energy
7 renewable energy sources
- sun (solar)
- wind
- water waves
- hydro-electricity
- bio fuel
- tides
- geothermal
3 things renewable energy sources do and will do
- never run out
- they do damage the environment but in a less harmful way
- dont provide as much energy as most are unreliablem
1 obvious place in which fuel is used
Transport
Transport - non renewable energy resources
Petrol, diesel created from oil. Coal used in steam trains
Transport - renewable energy resources
Vehicles that run pure on bio-fuels or mix bio-fuels with petrol and diesel (hybrid)
Heat - non renewable energy resources
Natural gas, coal burnt on a fire, electric heaters
Heat - renewable energy resources
- geothermal heat pump
- solar water heaters
How is wind energy generated
Lots of wind turbines exposed in places like moors or round coasts. Each turbine has a generator inside of it and the rotating blades produce electricity.
Adv of wind turbines
No pollution, no permanent damage to the landscape, does produce electricity
Disadv of wind turbines
Spoil the view, noisy, when the wind stops or wind is too strong, its impossible to increase supply when there is extra demands, initial costs are high, unreliable, little energy produced
Solar cells
Generate electicity from sunlight.
Disadv of solar
Only work in day, use energy to manufacture in first place, not effective in cloudy countries, can’t increase power output when there is extra demand, initial costs are high
Adv of solar
No pollution, reliable source of energy
Geothermal power
Energy collected from underground thermal energy stores. Possible in volcanic areas, hot rocks lie close to the surface.
Adv of geothermal
Free, reliable and little damage to environment
Disadv geothermal
Are not many suitable locations, and the costs are high
Hydro-electric power
Uses falling water to generate electricity. Requires the flooding of a valley by building a dam. Water is allowed through turbines where electricity is generated,
Disadv hydroelectric power
Big impact on environment due to flooding of the valley - rotting vegetation releasing methane and Co2. Also a possible loss of habitat for some species. And the reservoirs can look unsightly when dried.m
Adv of hydro electric power
Immediate response to demand of electricity, no pollution, reliable except for drought which is rare in britain. No fuel costs and minimul running costs. And useful way to generate electricity on a small scale in remote areas
Wave power
Small wave powered turbines connected to generatores which generate electricity.
Adv of wave power
No pollution, no fuel costs and minimal running costs
Disadv of wave power
Disturbing sea beds, habitats of sea creatures, spoil view, unreiable, high intial costs, never likely to provide energy on a large scale
Tidal barrages
Produced by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. Big dams built across river estuaries with turbines in them. Tides come in and fills these estuaries and the water is then allowed out throuh turbines at a controlled speed,
Adv tidal barrages
No pollution, reliable, potential of generating high amounts of energy and low running costs
Disadv tidal barrages
Preventing boat access, spoils view, altering habitats, initial costs are high
Bio fuels
Made from plants and waste and can produce energy or run cars in the same way as fossil fuels. Carbon neutral
Adv biofuels
Reliable
Disadv of biofuels
Can’t respond to immediate energy demands, costs are very high
3 reasons we burn fossil fuels
Oil to fuel cars, generate electicity, gas to heat homes and cook food
Reasons against renewable energy sources
Price - costs are extremely high with low output and fossil fuel prices are very effective
Location of where to put these sources
Most are not reliable and could waste significants amounts of money
Personal changes are expensive (cars)
What is natural gas used for?
To heat homes. The gas is used to heat water which is then pumped to radiators throughout the home
Use of geothermal heat pump?
Uses geothermal energy resources to heat buildings
How do solar water heaters work?
They work by using the sun to heat water which is then pumped into radiators in the buildings
