1.3: National and Global Energy Sources

Question 1

What is a renewable energy resource?

Answer 1

An energy source which can be replenished as it is being used up

Question 2

Give four examples energy resources

Answer 2

• wind energy
• hydro-electricity
• tidal energy
• solar energy

Question 3

Give an example of a non renewable energy resource

Answer 3

Fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil, and gas)

Question 4

What are the advantages of generating power using gas rather than coal?

Answer 4

• flexible generation: gas power stations have short startup times so can be switched on/off more easily
• lower emissions of carbon dioxide

Question 5

State 2 disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power

Answer 5

• output often determined by external factors like wind speed, so supply is UNCERTAIN
• generating power through other means is often more efficient and economically beneficial

Question 6

Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels

Answer 6

• carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect and causes global warming
• sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops

Question 7

State 3 advantages of fossil fuels as an energy resource

Answer 7

• reliable: not dependent on external factors so can generate power anytime
• can produce large amounts of energy for a given quantity
• still relatively abundant, so cost effective

Question 8

State 3 advantages of nuclear power

Answer 8

• very large amounts of energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
• doesn’t release GHGs and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
• low fuel costs

Question 9

How does hydroelectric power produce energy?

Answer 9

• rainwater collects behind a dam
• when the water is released, it is used to turn a turbine
• this turbine turns a generator which produces electricity

Question 10

What are some disadvantages of using biofuels?

Answer 10

• when plants are burned or decay they release CO2
• to grow biofuels, you need to destroy land which leads to problems because the land could have natural habitats and destroying land may involve burning plants, which would release CO2
• growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing food

Question 11

What are the advantages of tidal energy sources?

Answer 11

• don’t produce GHGs
• quite reliable, as tides happen twice a day
• cheap to run because tides are free because they’re natural

Question 12

Disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 12

• the dam may cause flooding

- it can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure

Question 13

Advantages of solar panels?

Answer 13

• don’t cause harm to the environment
• renewable resource
• can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible

Question 14

Give an example of social factor which may act as a deterrent for certain types of energy production

Answer 14

• visual pollution
• sound pollution

(both are disadvantages of wind farms)