sustainability of current energy use

Question 1

list some impacts of energy exploitation before use

Answer 1

1) extraction- coal mining or oil extraction
2) processing
3) equiptment maufacture
4) site development - habitat damage
5) transport- use of fossil fuels
6) emboided enegry in all eqiptment

Question 2

list impacts as a consequence of energy exploitation

Answer 2

1) pollution
2) habitat loss
3) depletion of reserves

Question 3

outline the impact of pollution

Answer 3

1) atmospheric pollution- fossil fuels
2) oil pollution- oil, tar sands
3) radioactive waste- nuclear power
4) noise pollution- wind power
5) thermal pollution- steam turbine station

Question 4

outline the impact of environmental damage

Answer 4

HEP schemes- downstream changes in flow velocity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen
habitat loss
population declie

Question 5

outline current economic sustainability

Answer 5

1) depletable nonrenewable resources will become more expensive as energy is needed for all aspects of life
2) failure to invest in the development of future energy supplies may result in shortages for future generations when new tech is first introduced it is expensive so fewer people want to invest but as old tech decreases such as fossil fuels it takes time to develop new tech so an energy gap is formed

Question 6

outline current sustainability of resource depletion

Answer 6

non-renewable energies are currently the most widely used but as their reserves decline new tech must be invented to convert more resources into reserves