P3- National and Global Energy Sources Flashcards
What is a renewable energy resource?
An energy source which can be replenished as it is being used up.
Name all renewable energy resources
Wind energy, hydro electricity,tidal energy,solar energy, Biofuel energy, Wave energy, Geothermal energy
Example of a non-renewable energy resource
Fossil fuels(gas,coal and oil)
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 carbon dioxide emissions
Two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power
Output often determined by external factors(like wind speed),so suppply is uncertain
Generating power through other means is often more efficient and econonmically 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 damge buildings and crops
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
Three advantages of nuclear power
Very large amounts or energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
Doesnt release greenhouse gases and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
Low fuel costs
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 is 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 examples of social factors which may act as a deterrent for certain types of energy production.
● Visual Pollution ● Sound Pollution
(both of these are disadvantages of wind farms)
Renewable energy : key features
Infinite ( will never run out)
Most renewable energy resources damage the environment
Unreliable (weather dependent in most cases)
Non-renewable energy : key features
All damage the environmment
Provide most of our energy
Finite
Reliable
Release carbon dioxide
Release sulfur dioxide
Problem with burning coal and oil
Releases sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain
Wind energy : key features
Consists of wind turbines in exposed areas such as coasts
Each turbine has a generator which produces electricity
Causes visual and noise pollution
High initial costs however low maintenance costs
Weather dependent
Solar cells: key features
Solar cells generate electric currents directly from sunlight
Used in remote places
No pollution
Most Effective in sunny countries but can be used in most places
Initial costs are high but running costs are almost nothing
Usually used to generate electricity on a relatively small scale
Geothermal power: key features
In volcanic areas or where hot rocks lie quite near to the surface
The source is slow decay of various radioactive elements including uranium, deep inside the earth
Low damage to the environment
Free and reliable
Used to generate electricity or heat buildings directly
Hydro-electric power: key features
Requires the flooding of a valley by building a big dam. Water leaves through turbines.
Large impact on environment, visual pollution
Can provide an immediate response to an increased demand in electricity
Relies on rainfall
Initial costs are high but minimal running costs
Risk of dam break
Wave power: key features
Lots of small wave powered turbines around the coast. The moving turbines are connected to a generator.
Disturb the sea bed and animal habitats
Unreliable (wind dependent)
Small scale
High initial costs but no fuel costs and minimal running costs
Tidal barrages: key features
Big dams built across river estuaries, with turbines in them. As the tide comes in it fills up the estuary. The water is then allowed out through turbines at a controlled speed.
Produced by gravitational pull
No pollution
Reliable
High initial costs but no fuel costs and minimal running costs.
Biofuels: key features
Burning crops or animal waste (chemical energy) to make thermal energy which can be converted into electricity.
Renewable
Reliable
Examples include manure and vegetable oil
Large areas of crops may need to be chopped down.
