Sustainable Energy Supplies

Question 1

RENEWABLE ENERGY DEFINITION

Answer 1

• have unlimited availability such as solar power
• or can be replenished quite fast such as wood
• known as flow/income resources- they yield a continuous flow of energy

Question 2

WHAT 2 GROUPS CAN RENEWABLE RESOURCES BE SPLIT INTO

Answer 2

1. Non-critical
   
   • have unlimited availability
   • are everlasting
   • don’t need to worry about rate they are used
   • eg solar, tidal + wave power
2. Critical
   
   • need careful management
   • can be used up quicker than they are being replaced
   • eg energy produced from wood, biomass + animal wastes

Question 3

RESOURCE DEFINITION

Answer 3

• any part of the environment that can be used to meet human needs

Question 4

ENERGY RESOURCE DEFINITION

Answer 4

• something that can be used to provide people with heat, light + power

Question 5

WHAT 4 WAYS IS ENERGY USED

Answer 5

• transport
• domestic use
• industry
• commerce + other uses

Question 6

SUSTAINABILITY DEFINITION

Answer 6

• is how biological systems remain diverse + productive over time
• eg of sustainable biological system: long-lived + healthy wetlands

Question 7

RESOURCE ENDOWMENT DEFNITION

Answer 7

• natural resources within the borders of a country

Question 8

ENERGY GAP DEFINITION

Answer 8

• improvement potential of energy efficiency/ difference between optimal + actual level of energy consumption

Question 9

ENERGY MIX DEFINITION

Answer 9

• sources of energy a country uses

Question 10

FOSSIL FUEL DEFINITION

Answer 10

• a natural fuel
• eg coal/gas
• formed in geological past from remains of living organisms

Question 11

5 PHYSICAL FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY SUPPLY

Answer 11

1. Geology
   
   • rocks can block energy from being transported
   • if area has hard rock pipelines will have to be built over land
2. Geothermal
   
   • comes from magma + relies on Earth’s internal heat
   • geothermal heat pump can extract enough heat from shallow ground anywhere in world
3. Wind
   
   • from major trade winds
   • wind power needs high av. speeds of 11mph
   • wind farms are located at sea/mountainous area
   • eg. Windfarm in Kent
4. Tidal
   
   • best areas where there’s an increase from low + high tidal range
   • tidal power stations need a big tidal range. Leads to more energy
5. HEP
   
   • needs a dam/high precipitation
   • needs certain landforms
   • is expensive + need to relocate people

Question 12

2 POLITICAL FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY SUPPLY

Answer 12

1. Agreements
   - 2015 Paris agreement: aim was to reduce climate change by 195 countries
   
   • long term aim: keep temp below 2 degrees
     - 2012: Rio summit: aim to reduce climate
   • gov faces fines if they don’t reach targets
2. International rivers
   
   • if 1 country puts HEP upstream, further downstream has less discharge
   • means if country is on border, they have less irrigation
   • eg Ganges river

Question 13

4 ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY SUPPLY

Answer 13

1. Energy prices
   - leads to energy companies spending more on exploration + development
   
   • eg Exxon may see that oil is running out
2. Hydroelectric sites near big transport routes are economically better that build
   
   • rather than in accessible locations
3. Onshore oil + gas deposits are easier to develop than offshore deposits
   
   • eg under the seabed
4. Direct investment is needed in LEDCs for available energy resources to be developed