Topic 1b - Energy Resources Flashcards
What is a renewable energy resource?
A renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used - made at same rate as usage, so never runs out.
What is a non-renewable energy resource?
An energy resource which is not being produced at the same rate at which it is used => will run out.
What are 4 examples of non renewable energy resources?
- Coal
- Oil
- (Natural) Gas
- Nuclear fuels (uranium + plutonium)
What are 7 examples of renewable resources?
- Wind
- Tidal
- The Sun (Solar)
- Water waves
- Bio-fuel
- Hydroelectricity
- Geothermal
How are renewable energy resources different to non-renewable energy resources? (3)
- Not as much damage to the environment as non-renewable
- Doesn’t provide as much energy as non-renewable
- Can be unreliable as most are weather dependent
What are the 3 main uses of energy resources?
- Transport
- Heating
- Electric
How are energy resources used for transport and which are renewable and non-renewable? (3)
- Petrol and diesel - fuel created from oil used to power vehicles (non-renewable)
- Coal - used in some old fashioned steam trains to boil water to produce steam (non-renewable
- Some vehicles in modern day, run on biofuel (renewable)
What are some non-renewable energy resources used for heating? (3)
- Natural gas - burned to heat water, which is pumped into radiators in the home
- Oil - some homes are heated by burning oil in a tank
- Coal - burnt in fire places
What are some renewable energy resources used for heating? (2)
- Geothermal power - a geothermal heat pump can be used to heat buildings
- Solar power - solar water heaters use electromagnetic radiation from the sun to heat water which is then pumped into radiators in the building
What can energy resources be used to generate for transport and heating?
Renewable + non-renewable can be used to generate electricity used in transport and heating, e.g, electrically powered vehicles, electric heaters etc.
What do wind turbines do (wind power)? (2)
- Generate electricity when exposed to the weather, as each one has a generator inside.
- Electricity = generated directly from the wind turning the turbines.
What are the pros of wind power? (5)
- No pollution (minimal amount during manufacturing)
- No permanent damage - if removed everything returns to how it was prior to the instalment
- Reliable 70-85% of the time
- Initial costs are high, but there are no fuel costs and minimal running costs
- Renewable
What are the cons of wind power? (3)
- Need 1500 wind turbines to replace 1 coal-fired power station - ruins the view/scenery
- Noisy
- Reliability problems - not enough or too much wind
What do solar cells do? (2)
- Generate electric currents directly from the sun’s radiation
- The electric currents directly from the sun’s radiation can be plugged straight into electrical components just like batteries
What are the pros of solar cells? (3)
- Initial costs are high, but after that energy is free and running costs are almost nothing
- Reliable in sunny areas and in the daytime
- Renewable
What are the cons of solar cells? (2)
- Often best if not a lot of energy is required, or in remote areas where energy is minimal
- Usually used on small scale, e.g, powering individual homes
How are tides produced?
By the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon.
What are tidal barrages?
Big dams built across river estuaries, with turbines in them, which are connected to electrical generators which generate electricity.
How do tidal barrages work? (2)
- As the tide comes in, it fills up the estuary
- The water can be allowed out through the turbines at a controlled speed - when there is a height difference of water between the 2 sides of the barrage
What are the pros of tidal barrages? (4)
- No pollution
- Initial costs are high, but no fuel costs and minimal running costs
- Creates significant amounts of energy
- Renewable
What are the cons of tidal barrages? (3)
- Prevents free access by boats, spoiling the view and altering the habitats of wildlife
- Tides are fairly reliable but the height isn’t
- 4 times a day when water height is the same each side - barrage won’t work
What is wave power and how does it work? (2)
- To generate electricity using water waves, you need lots of small wave powered turbines located around the coast
- The up and down motion of waves on the shore can be used to drive a generator, as air is pushed out by the water and into a turbine which turns a generator and produces electricity
What are the pros of wave power? (3)
- No pollution produced
- Initial costs are high but no fuel costs and minimal running costs
- Renewable
What are the cons of wave power? (5)
- Disturbs the sea bed and habitats of animals
- Spoils the view
- Hazard to boats
- Unreliable as waves tend to be wind dependent
- Can be useful on small islands, but not on a larger scale