P3. Energy Resources Flashcards
What is a renewable energy resource?
An energy source which can be replenished as it is being used up
Give four examples of renewable energy sources.
- Wind energy
- Hydro-electricity
- Tidal energy
- Solar energy
Give an example of a non-renewable energy resource
Fossil fuels (for example coal, oil and gas)
What are the advantages of generating power using gas rather than coal?
Flexible Generation: Gas power stations have short start-up times so can be switched on/off more readily
Lower emissions of carbon dioxide
State two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power.
Output often determined by external factors (like wind speed) so supply is uncertain
Generating power through other means is often more efficient and economically beneficial
Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels
Carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect, and causes global warming
Sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops
State three advantages of fossil fuels as an energy resource
- Reliable: Not dependent on external factors so can generate power anytime
- Can produce large amounts of energy for a given quantity
- Still relatively abundant so cost effective
State three advantages of nuclear power
- Very large amounts of energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
- Doesn’t release greenhouse gases and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
- Low fuel costs
State three disadvantages of nuclear power
- Produces nuclear waste which is harmful to humans & must be safely stored for centuries
- Non renewable energy source
- Risk of nuclear accidents, which have fatal consequences on humans and the environment
How does hydroelectric power produce energy?
Rainwater collects behind a dam
When this water is released it used to turn a turbine
This turbine turns a generator which produces electricity
What are some disadvantages of using biofuels?
When plants are burned or decay they release CO₂
In order to grow biofuels you need to destroy land which leads to problems because:
The land could have been natural habitats
Destroying land may involve burning plants growing on it, which would release CO₂
Growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing food
What are the advantages of tidal energy sources?
They do not produce greenhouse gases
They are quite reliable, as tides happen twice a day
They are cheap to run as tides are natural, and so are free
What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?
The dam may cause flooding
It can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure
What are some advantages of solar panels?
They don’t cause harm to the environment
They are a renewable resource
They can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible
Give an example of a social factor which may acts as a deterrent for certain types of energy production
Visual pollution
Sound pollution
(both of these are disadvantages of wind farms)
