P3 Energy Sources Flashcards
How are biofuels made?
Anything that was alive, usually biowaste is processed into bioethanol. Some places like Brazil specifically grow sugarcane to be used as biofuel
Are Biofuels renewable?
Yes
What effect do biofuels have on CO2 levels?
They are carbon neutral: the amount of co2 released when they are burned is the same amount as they took in when they were alive
Advantages of biofuels?
Biofuels are renewable, carbon neutral, easily used and don’t need special equipment to be used
Disadvantages of Biofuels?
Large area required to grow crops for biofuels, produces some harmful gas, food crops sometimes burned which takes food from those who need it
How does nuclear power work?
Radioactive fuel is used and due to instability in the nucleus of the atoms they can split and release a large amount of energy causing chain reaction which produces lots of thermal energy.
What fuel is used for nuclear power?
Uranium or plutonium
Is nuclear power renewable?
No but it can be recycled a lot
Advantages of nuclear power?
No fuel is burned so zero greenhouse gases are emitted, much more efficient than fossil fuels
Disadvantages of nuclear power?
Radioactive materials can be released accidentally, used fuel must be stored safely, fuel reaction can get out of hand in some cases and cause disasters
How do fossil fuels work?
Coal oil or natural gas is burned to convert stored chemical energy into thermal energy which a power plant can turn into electricity
Advantages of fossil fuels?
Cheap, easy to use, lots of existing infrastructure
Disadvantages of fossil fuels?
Non renewable, finite supply, gases released with burning are not good for us or environment
How does geothermal energy work?
Cold water pumped to hot rocks beneath the surface, makes steam which returns to surface and is used to make electricity
Is geothermal energy renewable?
Yes
Advantages of geothermal energy?
Renewable, produces very little pollution, little environmental harm
Disadvantages of geothermal?
Only possible in a few places, setup is very expensive
Two different types of solar energy?
Solar cells
- directly absorb suns energy and converts it into electricity
Solar heating panels
- heat water that is passed through pipes or focus heat onto a tank of water
Advantages of solar cells
Cheap to run, useful in low energy requirement situations.
Advantages of solar heating panels
On a hot day can supply an entire house with power
Disadvantages of solar cells
Inefficient, expensive to buy, lots of sun and cells needed to generate useful levels of power
Disadvantages of solar heating panels
Need regular cleaning, unreliable in cloudy environments
How does tidal power work?
Water from high tide is trapped behind a barrage. Water then released at low tide into the sea through turbines. Water turns turbines and generates power
Is tidal power renewable?
Yes
Advantages of tidal power?
Renewable, no pollution made, reliable, cheap to run
Disadvantages of tidal?
Expensive to build dam, barricade can cause flooding, can affect nearby animals and their habitats
How does wind power work?
Electricity generator is built atop a tower. Large turbines which spin when wind is strong and turn kinetic energy of wind into electricity.
Is wind power renewable?
Yes
Advantages of wind power
Renewable, don’t pollute, cheap and easy to buld
Disadvantages of wind power
Loud when working, considered by some to be ugly, only work when it is windy.
How does a pumped storage scheme work?
It utilises two reservoirs, one much higher than the other and when energy demand is highest, it lets water run from the higher reservoir down to the lower reservoir through a turbine, generating power and when there is the lowest power demand, cheap energy is used to pump the water back up.
