Topic 1 Biofuels and nonrenewables Flashcards
What are biofuels made from
Plant products or animal dung
Can be solid liquids or gas and be burnt to produce electricity or run cars in the same way as fossil fuels
are biofuels renewable
Yes
Why do some people say they aren’t carbon neutral
Because you keep growing plants at the rate that you are burning things
Why are biofuels fairly reliable
Crops take a relatively short time to grow and different ones can be grown all year round
What is done because biofuels can’t respond to immediate energy demands
Can be stored for when they are needed
Negative expenses of biofuels
Cost to refine them is very high and growing crops for this reason will mean there isn’t enough water or space for crops used as food
Environmental impact of biofuels
Forests have been cleared to grow them lose of habitats
Decay and burning of vegetation also increases co2 and methane emissions
Are non renewable sources reliable
Fossil fuels and nuclear energy are and they can meet current demands as they are extracted quick enough
Negative of non renewable sources
They will eventually run out
Expense of non renewable
Set up cost of power plants are high but running costs aren’t expensive and fuel extraction cost is low so it is cost effective
What do cal oil and gas do to the environment
Release co2 into the atmosphere and adds to the greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming
What does burning coal and oil also release into the atmosphere
Sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain
