Consuming energy resources Flashcards
(61 cards)
Non renewable
Energy sources which are used up and cant be replaced like coal oil and gas
Renewable
Energy sources that are from a natural source which never run out (infinite)
Recyclable fuel
Energy sources that once used can be used again eg biofuels
Examples of renewable energy sources
- solar
- wind
- HEP (Hydroelectric power)
- geothermal
- tidal
Problems with renewable energy sources
- less reliable
- climate dependent
- we already have the infrastructure that distributes energy, if we wanted to switch to this, more power plants would need to be built
Good with non renewable
- abundant
- cheaper
- produces more energy
Prob with biofuels
- stink
- requires cows
4 types of energy production
- Opencast coal mining
- Drilling for oil
- HEP
- Wind turbines and solar panels
Environmental impact of opencast coal mining
state what term and scale its affected
- Deforestation - loss of habitats, loss in transpiration (rain)
- landscape scarring (hard for vegetation to grow, cant recover)
- soil and water pollution (death of fishing industry)
All local scale, long term consequences
Environmental impact of drilling for oil
state what term and scale its affected
- Deforestation - loss of habitats L-ST, loss in transpiration (rain) G-LT
- Oil spills = water and soil pollution N-ST and L-ST, death of fishing industry N-ST
Environmental impact of HEP (water enters through turbines from dams to generate electricity)
state what term and scale its affected
- Slows the flow of the river
- Flooding created N-LT upsteam before dam
- Water insecurity downstream after fam N-LT
- G - fish and bird to migrate (bird = not enough food)
Environmental impact of wind turbines and solar panels
state what term and scale its affected
- Threat to wildlife = blades can kill
- noisy so in rural areas
- Ugly wind turbines
- solar = takes up land, used for crops and grazing
- manufacturing panels is harmful because of silicon and lead
What does the Brandt line show?
Countries above are more developed than countries below the line
Factors that affect the distribution of energy resources
- Geology
- Relief and climate
- Accessibility and development
How does geology affect the distribution of energy resources
- FF found in sedimentary rocks
- Middle East = 48% of worlds oil and gas reserves
- Countries on plate boundaries like Iceland have access to geothermal energy
- Volcanic activity creates heat stored in the magma beneath the earths surface creating a natural geothermal system = used to heat water and generate electricity
How does relief and climate affect the distribution of energy resources
- High rainfall and suitable relief = good for HEP
- Large vol of water + steep sided valleys chosen for dam construction
- exposed areas mean high winds = wind turbines
- sunlight for long hours + intense = solar parks
How does accessibility and development affect the distribution of energy resources
- Economic development affects investment in tech
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Why does global energy consumption continue to grow?
Fast-growing global economy - wealthier key factor = industrialiastion
Where are new oil resources found?
- hostile areas or far away from world markets eg TR
- Artic
- unpredictable seas
What happened to oil prices per barrel in 1991
1991 - gulf war conflict - price increased to 40 dollars per barrel
What happened to oil prices per barrel in 2003
Iraq war conflict - price increased to 25 dollars
What happened to oil prices per barrel in 2008
Global economic crisis - bulk buying took place - banks in America collapsed and lost lots of money - prices decreased the most to 140 dollars
What happened to oil prices per barrel in 2013
BP oil spill decreased the price to 45 dollars
What happened to oil prices per barrel in 2020?
Covid - decreased