9 - energy Flashcards
(35 cards)
1
Q
what are the three types of energy sources?
A
- renewable : the planet has an endless supply, and it can be replenished easily
- non-renewable : cannot be replenished quickly, and so can run out
- recyclable : made from usable waste products to generate more energy
2
Q
examples of renewable energy
A
- wind energy
- solar energy
- HEP (hydroelectric power - the energy of falling water)
3
Q
example of non-renewable energy
A
fossil fuels - remains dead organisms forming fuels over millions of years
4
Q
examples of recyclable energy
A
- nuclear energy (uranium atoms splitting, producing heat that boils water - the steam turns a turbine)
- biomass being burnt to produce biofuels
5
Q
what impacts does mining have on the environment?
A
- surface mining strips areas of soil/rock/vegetation
- habitats are destroyed and forests are cleared
- mining processes release ghg -> global warming
6
Q
what impacts does drilling have on the environment?
A
- onshore drilling strips vegetation for drill/road access
- oil spills cause major damage (esp. offshore -at sea- drilling), harming animals
- extracting natural gas can leak ghg -> global warming
7
Q
how might wind energy impact the environment?
A
- building turbines takes up space
- turbines have a constant humming noise, so noise pollution
- spinning blades on turbines can injure birds
8
Q
how might solar energy impact the environment?
A
- the heat reflected from mirrors on solar farms can kill wildlife
- solar panels on ground can disrupt and damage habitats
- some solar farms use water to clean solar panels, leading to water shortages in arid areas, disrupting ecosystems
9
Q
how might HEP impact the environment?
A
- uses dams to trap water, flooding large areas of land
- river on which the dam is built on can be affected by changes in water flow
- so a build-up of sediment in parts of the river can block sunlight, causing eutrophication with sediment
10
Q
what factors is a country’s access to energy affected by?
A
- geology (fossil fuels are found in permeable sedimentary rocks + being on plate boundaries allows for geothermal energy)
- climate (sunlight for solar energy)
- accessibility (permafrost? protected areas?)
- landscape (more wind on higher ground + water reservoirs and sources for HEP)
- technology and wealth
11
Q
how is energy consumption distributed globally?
A
- developed countries consume lots of energy because they can afford to
- and industrial activities require large amounts of energy to power machinery or transport
- developing countries’ lifestyles are often less dependent on high energy consumption
- some regions rely on traditional fuel sources because they can’t afford to exploit their own resources (eg biomass burnt for cooking and heating)
12
Q
define oil reserves
A
recoverable oil that can be extracted using technology - they’re found in a specific handful of countries
13
Q
what factors affect oil production?
A
- oil reserves (declining?)
- infrastructure/technology
- domestic demand
14
Q
what factors affect oil supply/prices?
A
- diplomatic relations and conflicts (disrupt oil production -> disrupt oil supply
-> increase oil prices) - recessions ( industrical and economic activities slow down -> less demand for oil -> decrease oil prices)
- economic booms (opposite as above)
15
Q
what are the benefits of exploiting conventional gas reserves (eg fossil fuels)?
A
- countries with oil and gas reserves can save money by reducing energy imports
- these countries can make money from exporting energy
- brings investment and jobs to an area
16
Q
what are the costs of exploiting conventional gas reserves (eg fossil fuels)?
A
- clearing land, disrupting fragile ecosystems
- noise and vibration from drilling offshore confuses marine mammals that rely on sound for communication and navigation
- increasing air/water/soil pollution
17
Q
what are unconventional gas/oil reserves?
A
energy reserves that are exploited using more expensive methods that need specialist technology - extraction takes a lot longer : eg shale gas/tar sands
18
Q
how does shale gas work/ affect the environment?
A
- it’s a natural gas in shale rock underground that is extracted by fracking (liquid pumped in at high pressure causing the rock to crack and release gas)
- chemicals can pollute groundwater
- land has to be cleared to build drilling pads, disrupting ecosystems
19
Q
how does tar sands work/affect the environment?
A
- surface mines collect tar sand and transport it to processing plants which separate bitumen (that can be refined to produce oil) from the sands
- space and clearing is needed, disrupting ecosystems
- processing contains harmful chemicals that can pollute water supplies if not managed properly
20
Q
how can the demand for energy be reduced?
A
- energy conservation - changing behaviours (eg driving less/washing line instead of dryer)
- energy efficiency - something that does the same job but uses less energy (eg a low-energy lightbulb)
21
Q
how can you reduce energy use in a home?
A
- insulation (less heating needed)
- modern boilers (more efficient)
- solar panels fitted to roofs
22
Q
how can you reduce energy use through transport?
A
- hybrid cars that use electricity and batteries where possible
- engine manufacturers making more efficient engines due to laws and costs
- improving public transport and encouraging walking/cycling
23
Q
what advantages does reducing the use of fossil fuels have?
A
- reduces individual carbon footprints
- diversifies the energy mix of a country, reducing reliance on a single source of energy, improving energy security of a country
24
Q
benefits and costs of biofuels?
A
- B: less pollution than fossil fuels / made from waste products, so reduce total waste
- C: growing crops to burn reduces crops for food / can lead to deforestation in some areas
25
benefits and costs of wind energy?
- B: don't release any ghg after made and transported / relatively cheap
- C: wind is unpredictable / environmental issues
26
benefits and costs of solar energy?
- B: don't release ghg after made and transported / not much maintenance required / widely available technology
- C: sunny climates needed / toxic metals in construction / environmental issues
27
benefits and costs of HEP?
- B: no ghg emissions / reliable because flow of water can be controlled
- C: expensive / environmental issues
28
benefits and costs of hydrogen fuel (hydrogen fuel cells from chem) ?
- B: no ghg emissions - only byproduct is water / from water, so not limited to particular areas
- C: extracting it from water burns fossil fuels anyway / expensive / hydrogen can be dangerous - flammable
29
what are the two main energy futures possible?
- "business as usual" - everything carries on as normal with no change
- "move to sustainability" - reduced fossil fuels and increased use of renewable energy sources
30
what attitudes might consumers have towards energy futures?
- they want security, but also affordability
- so most consumers favour "business as usual", but as environmental awareness increases, they begin to favour a "move to sustainability"
31
what attitudes might TNCs have towards energy futures?
- many TNCs are involved in extracting and refining fossil fuels, and invest a lot of money into the energy sector - expecting profit
- they typically favour "business as usual" because its cheaper for them, lowering costs, increasing gains
32
what attitudes might the government have towards energy futures?
- they want security, but affordability but also no backlash for not protecting the environment (developed)
- fossil fuels have helped countries develop in the first place and emerging countries want this
33
what attitudes might climate scientists and environmental groups have towards energy futures?
they favour the "move to sustainability", so want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to lessen its consequences on the planet
34
why are attitudes to energy futures changing to be more sustainable?
- rising affluence (gov. has more money to invest + people have a choice)
- education (understanding of how to and consequences)
- environmental concerns (increased research and better priorities)
35
what factors affect a person's carbon footprint?
- food (meat? locally produced?)
- home (size+energy usage)
- travel and transport
- lifestyle (shopping? recycling?)
