Alternatives to Fossil Fuels (Lesson 10b)

Question 1

Give three ways in which solar power can be used

Answer 1

.Solar water heaters use solar energy to heat water
.Solar cookers work by concentrating sunlight converting it to heat energy and then trapping it to use for cooking
.PV cells convert light energy into electrical energy
.Materials used that absorb the sun’s heat during the day and release it at night can be used to keep houses warm

Question 2

In Rizhao city what % of households in the central districts use solar water heaters?

Answer 2

99% of households in the central districts

Question 3

What % of households in Rizhao city use solar water heaters?

Answer 3

30% of households use solar water heaters

Question 4

Give two disadvantages of solar power

Answer 4

.Carbon dioxide is released in equipment production
.PV cells are expensive
.Large areas of solar panels and sunny climates are needed to produce large amounts of electricity
.In the UK sunshine is less reliable than other European countries
.At present the initial investment required for solar energy is high and conversion efficiency is relatively low

Question 5

What do primary biofuels include?

Answer 5

fuelwood, woodchips and pellets that are in an unprocessed state

Question 6

What are secondary biofuels and what two types of fuels are created from them?

Answer 6

.These are derived from the processing of crops
.The two types of fuel created are bio-alcohol and biodiesel

Question 7

Give two disadvantages of Biomass

Answer 7

.Larger areas of land are needed to produce sufficient amounts of biofuels
.Biofuels grown in marginal farming areas can stress the natural environment and increase forest loss as people are forced to find new land and deforestation would offset any carbon reduction benefits from switching to biofuels
.Biomass is only a renewable energy source if it is carefully managed
.Loss of traditional countryside

Question 8

Since when has Brazil been running an ethanol fuel programme?

Answer 8

1970s- the ethanol is made by fermenting sugar cane

Question 9

What % of new passenger vehicles sold in Brazil have a flex fuel energy that work using petrol and ethanol?

Answer 9

90% of all new passenger vehicles

Question 10

By 1994 how many cars were totally powered by ethanol?

Answer 10

6.4 million

Question 11

What % of the worlds energy production is wind energy responsible for?

Answer 11

1%

Question 12

Give two advantages of wind energy

Answer 12

1. The turbines don’t take up a lot of space so habitats and farmland can co-exist with them
   2.Wind electricity generation is becoming increasingly competitive with coal power stations and is cheaper than nuclear
   3.Pollution free and does not contribute to global warming
   4.The time profile is favourable-wind is strongest in Winter and usually builds to an afternoon peak

Question 13

Give 3 disadvantages of wind energy

Answer 13

.Wind energy is unpredictable with the amount of energy generated varying
.Large numbers of turbines are needed to produce significant amounts of electricity
.Technological challenges in meeting peak demands for electricity

Question 14

What did the Danish govt offer tax exemptions for and how many joined?

Answer 14

They offered tax exemptions for generating their own electricity by either investing in community turbines or buying their own
.By 2004 over 150,000 households had joined