Topic 9 - Consuming energy resoruces Flashcards
Define affluence
great wealth or abundance
Define bitumen
a black, sticky, tarry substance
What is a combined heat and power generator
an efficient method of generating electricity and using the heat from the process
Define energy diversification
getting energy from a variety of sources to increase energy security
Define energy security
having access to reliable and affordable sources of energy
Define flow resource
resources such as wind, HEP or tidal energy that is used as it occurs and then replaced t9
What is fracking?
a process that involves drilling down into the Earth and using a highpressure water mixture to release gas trapped inside rock
Define non-renewables
sources of energy such as coal, oil or natural gas -that cannot be ‘remade’, because it would take millions of years for them to form again
What is open-cast mining
type of mining that extracts resources from open quarries rather than digging tunnels underground to reach mineral deposits
Define recyclable
energy resources, including biofuels and nuclear, that can be reused, so will last into the future
Define the term renewable
a natural resource such as timber or solar energy that will be regenerated by the environment
What is a reserve?
the estimated amount of resources left which can be extracted
Define the term retrofit?
to fit a new device or technology to make an old system work better
Define stock resource
a non-renewable resource like coal that can be used only once, so will eventually run out
What is strip mining (or open pit)
involves digging large holes in the ground to extract ores and minerals close to the surface
Define tar sands
sediment that is mixed off with oil, can be mined to extract oil to be used as fuel
