Renewable Energy Flashcards
What types of Renewable Energy are there?
Solar, Wind, Tidal, Wave, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Biomass, Wood.
What is a Renewable Energy?
An energy that is created more than used.
Why is Renewable Energy being enforced?
To lessen the use of fossil fuels and therefor stopping global warming.
What is Solar Power?
Energy from sunlight is captured in solar panels and converted into electricity.
What are the advantages of Solar Power?
Potentially infinite energy supply and single dwellings can have own electricity supply.
What are the disadvantages of Solar Power?
Manufacture and implementation of solar panels can be costly.
What is Wind Power?
Wind turbines (modern windmills) turn wind energy into electricity.
What are the advantages of Wind Power?
Can be found singularly, but usually many together in wind farms and a potentially infinite energy supply.
What are the disadvantages to Wind Power?
Manufacture and implementation of wind farms can be costly and some local people object to on-shore wind farms, arguing that it spoils the countryside.
What is Tidal Power?
The movement of tides drives turbines then a tidal barrage (a kind of dam) is built across estuaries, forcing water through specific gaps.
What are the advantages to Tidal Power?
Ideal for an island such as the UK.
Potential to generate a lot of energy.
Tidal barrage can double as a bridge, and help prevent flooding.
What are the disadvantages to Tidal Power?
Construction of barrage is very costly. Only a few estuaries are suitable.
Opposed by some environmental groups as having a negative impact on wildlife.
May reduce tidal flow and impede flow of sewage out to sea.
What is Wave Power?
The movement of seawater in and out of a cavity on the shore compresses trapped air, driving a turbine.
What are the advantages of Wave Power?
Ideal for an island country.
More likely to be small local operations, rather than done on a national scale.
What are the disadvantages for Wave Power?
Not suitable for large amounts of power.
Construction can be costly.
May be opposed by local or environmental groups.
What is Geothermal Power?
In volcanic regions it is possible to use the natural heat of the earth.
Cold water is pumped under ground and comes out as steam.
Steam can be used for heating or to power turbines creating electricity.
What are the advantages to Geothermal Power?
Potentially infinite energy supply.
Used successfully in some countries, such as New Zealand and Iceland, so it sis known to work.
What are the disadvantages to Geothermal Power?
Can be expensive to set up and only works in areas of volcanic activity.
Geothermal and volcanic activity might calm down, leaving power stations redundant.
Dangerous elements found underground must be disposed of carefully.
What is Hydroelectric Power?
Energy harnessed from the movement of water through rivers, lakes and dams.
What are the advantages of Hydroelectric Power?
Creates water reserves as well as energy supplies
What are the disadvantages to Hydroelectric Power?
Costly to build.
Can cause the flooding of surrounding communities and landscapes.
Dams have major ecological impacts on local hydrology.
What is Biomass Power?
Decaying plant or animal waste.
An organic material, which can be burned to provide energy, eg heat, or electricity.
An example of biomass energy is oilseed rape (the fields of yellow flowers you see in the UK in summer), which produces oil.
After treatment with chemicals it can be used as a fuel in diesel engines.
What are the advantages to Biomass power?
It is a cheap and readily available source of energy.
If replaced, biomass can be a long-term, sustainable energy source.
What are the disadvantages to Biomass Power?
When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
Biomass is only a renewable resource if crops are replanted.
