Theme 3 - Energy Flashcards
definitions
non-renewable
sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our lifetimes
definitions
fossil fuel
non-renewable energy sources that are formed from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago:
definitions
clean/green energy
energy sources that are environmentally friendly and do not release pollutants
definitions
self-sufficent
the ability of a country or region to meet its energy needs without relying on other countries or external sources
definitions
natural gas
a mixture of gases which are rich in hydrocarbons
definitions
crude oil
A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid form
definitions
coal
black sedimentary rock with a high amount of hydrocarbons
definitions
nuclear energy
energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons
definitions
solar energy
energy generated by the sun
definitions
geothermal power
energy source from the Earth’s core - stored in rocks, soils, and groundwater
definitions
wind power
energy source that uses wind to generate electricity
definitions
wave power
the energy in ocean surface waves that can be captured
definitions
tidal power
power produced by the natural rise and fall of tides
definitions
HEP
energy source that uses the force of moving water to generate electricity
- hydroelectric power
definitions
climate change
long-term shift in average weather patterns around the world
greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour
natural gas
benefits
- low cost
- easily transported
- warmth for cooking & heating
natural gas
disadvantages
- highly flammable
- finite
- pollutes water
- can be toxic
crude oil
how is it used?
heated by a furnace and fractionally distilled - separated into components by boiling point
crude oil
benefits
- easy to extract
- variety of uses
- cheap to transport
crude oil
disadvantages
- relatively expensive
- produces carbon dioxide
- pollutes the air
coal
how is it used?
formed over millions of years.
boiled in a boiler which causes a turbine to spin, generating energy
coal
benefits
- affordable
- provides jobs
- reliable
coal
disadvantages
- finite
- emits greenhouse gases
- dangerous for miners
nuclear energy
how is it used?
released from the nucleus
put through generators which produce electricity
nuclear energy
benefits
- clean energy source
- creates jobs
- reliable
- cost effective
nuclear energy
disadvantages
- uranium -> non renewable
- building nuclear plants is expensive
- nuclear waste is radioactive
solar energy
how is it used?
solar technologies in solar panels convert sunlight into electricity
solar energy
benefits
- reduces electricity bills for people’s houses
- affordable
solar energy
disadvantages
- only works in sunlight
- weather dependent
geothermal power
how is it used?
hot water is pumped through wells, creating steam, which turns a turbine and generates energy
geothermal power
benefits
- not weather dependent
- installations take up less land -> not visually obtrusive
geothermal power
disadvantages
- gases released can harm the environment
- geothermal plants are expensive
wind power
how is it used?
capturing the kinetic energy of wind to produce electrical energy
turbines spin causing generators to generate energy
wind power
benefits
- clean
- environmentally friendly
wind power
disadvantages
- risks to birds and bats
- high upfront costs
- visual & noise polluting
wave & tidal power
how is it used?
underwater turbines that rotate, connecting to a generator which generates energy
wave & tidal power
benefits
- not expensive to maintain
wave & tidal power
disadvantages
- limited installation sites
- expensive to build
- can impact the surrounding ecosystem
HEP
how is it used?
water spins a turbine which is connected to a generator, producing energy
HEP
benefits
- can reduce the risk of flooding
- very affordable, low cost energy
HEP
disadvantages
- can damage local ecosystems
- marine life can be affected
- floods can be caused
- limited installation sites
CASE STUDY: Energy in CHINA
Introduction
- country in Asia
- very large land mass
- uses three main types of energy: coal, oil & HEP
CASE STUDY: Energy in CHINA
Coal
- 63.7% of China’s energy use
- 1,118 operational coal power plants
- supplies coal to indonesia and russia
- has lead to 366,000 premature deaths in 2013 alone due to air pollution
CASE STUDY: Energy in CHINA
Oil
- 18.6% of China’s energy use
- 299 oil facilities, 1.23 million barrels of oil
- used for 250 million cars in china
- supplies oil to saudi arabia
CASE STUDY: Energy in CHINA
HEP
- 8.5% of china’s energy use
- 150 dams, carrying capacity of 300 megawatts
- largest hydropower producer on the planet
- three gorges dam is the largest HEP facility in the world
