Energy

Question 1

Energy security

Answer 1

Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices

Question 2

Energy intensity

Answer 2

A measure of how efficiently a country is using its energy

Question 3

Energy mix

Answer 3

Combination of energy sources

Question 4

Non renewable

Answer 4

Fossil fuel, coal/oil/natural gas

Question 5

Renewable

Answer 5

Wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, solar (photovoltaic cells), biomass

Question 6

Recyclable fuels

Answer 6

Waste is recovered and used to make new energy

Nuclear = large energy from small amount of fuel - atoms split and release energy which can be used to generate electricity

Question 7

Developing countries

Answer 7

natural resources E.g firewood

As car use increases = oil use increases

Question 8

Developed countries

Answer 8

Gas and nuclear power

Question 9

Coral reefs generate

Answer 9

£36bn in tourism per year
10million hectares of forest cleared each year

Question 10

Factors affecting access to and consumption of energy?

Answer 10

Physical availability/accessibility

Cost = exploitation, processing, delivery to
consumer

Technology = consume lots of energy to exploit

Public perception = expensive in one country might be reasonable in another (depends on economic development and SOL)

Level of economic development = high development = less sensitive to costs

Climate = high levels of consumption to make extremes of heat and cold more comfortable

Environmental priorities = Governments may opt for more expensive methods to meet their energy needs out of concern for the environment and the need to reduce carbon emissions

Question 11

Energy pathways

Answer 11

Involve different forms of transport, including tanker ships, pipelines and electricity transmission grids

Question 12

Five major players

Answer 12

TNCs = involved in exploring, extracting, transporting, refining and producing petrochemicals

Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) = 13 member countries - owns 2/3 of worlds oil reserves (can change prices)

Energy companies = influence over prices and tariffs and distribution

Consumers = little impact on prices

Governments = look after energy security and how it is sourced

Question 13

Energy pathways

Answer 13

Physical geography has determined the location of energy sources

Human geography has conditioned where those energy sources are needed

Question 14

Coal pathway

Answer 14

Australia and Indonesia export large amounts of coal to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan as well as China and India

Three of the largest producers of coal (the USA, China and India) also import coal

Question 15

Oil pathway

Answer 15

The Middle East is the number one producer of oil in the world

Even though the USA produces oil, it imports oil from South America, West Africa and Europe to help meet the high demands

The USA is the world’s largest oil consumer using more than 19 million barrels of oil a day

There is only one pathway from Russia which is to Europe

Question 16

Gas pathway

Answer 16

Gas flows either directly through pipelines or in liquid form by tanker ships

There is a major pathway from Russia to Europe which is experiencing disruption

In 2021, around 50% of Russia’s crude oil was exported to European Countries

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many countries have pledged to stop or restrict oil and gas imports from Russia to hinder its war effort

Question 17

Unconventional energy sources

Answer 17

There are four main unconventional sources of fossil fuel which have the potential to help meet future energy demands

Tar sands

Oil shale

Shale gas

Deepwater oil

Question 18

Tar sands

Answer 18

Nature = Mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen (a heavy, viscous oil)

Extraction = Have to be mined and then injected with steam to reduce the viscosity of the tar so it can be pumped out

Biggest deposits are in Canada (40% of Canada’s oil output) and Venezuela.

Question 19

Oil Shade

Answer 19

Nature = Oil-bearing rocks that are permeable enough to allow oil to be pumped out

Extraction = Mined or shale is ignited so that the light oil fractions can be pumped out

Little exploration has taken place

Question 20

Shale gas

Answer 20

Nature = Natural gas that is trapped in fine-grained sedimentary rocks

Extraction = Fracking - pumping in water and chemicals forces out the gas

The USA is the leading producer and exporter

In 2015, shale gas provided 25% of the USA’s gas supply

Question 21

Deepwater oil

Answer 21

Nature = Oil and gas found offshore and at considerable oceanic depths

Extraction = Drilling takes place from ocean rigs

Huge oil deposits were discovered off the coast of Brazil in 2006 and Brazil are leading the way in this

Question 22

Benefits of unconventional fossil fuels

Answer 22

Provide countries that currently rely on imported energy with the possibility of greater energy security

May provide a source of fuel whilst renewable energy sources are developed further

Provides jobs and boosts the local economy

Question 23

Costs of unconventional fossil fuels

Answer 23

The exploitation of these sources will continue to threaten the carbon cycle and contribute to global warming

Extraction is expensive and requires lots of complex technology, energy and water

Extraction can cause environmental damage
- Scars of opencast mines and possible ground subsidence

• Contamination of groundwater sources and oil spills
• Large quantities of waste are produced
  Impacts on the local ecosystem

Question 24

How does physical geography determine the renewable energy source/choice?

Answer 24

Not all countries will have coasts or ‘hot rocks’ heated by magma for use in geothermal energy

Not all countries have warm climate with long sunshine hours

Not all countries have permanently flowing rivers or strong winds

Question 25

Benefits of renewable energy

Answer 25

Will not run out Save money in long term as operation and maintenance costs are lower Reduces reliance on importing sources from abroad Creates employment = in the USA, the renewable energy sector employs three times the amount of people that the fossil fuel sector

Question 26

Challenges of renewable energy

Answer 26

Few countries can replace fossil fuels completely due to physical geography Oil prices falling in 2015 means renewable energy costs are higher in comparison (less attractive) Can damage environment (HEP Dams) Many people will protest when there is a proposal made for a wind or solar farm close to their home

Question 27

Benefits of recyclable energy (nuclear)

Answer 27

Countries with high levels of energy consumption will often have no choice but to consider nuclear energy to generate electricity (with low carbon emissions) An additional benefit to this is that nuclear waste can be reprocessed and reused making it recyclable

Question 28

Challenges of recyclable energy (nuclear)

Answer 28

Safety - nuclear incidents such as Chernobyl (Ukraine) and Fukushima (Japan) Disposal of highly toxic radioactive waste (which has a long decay life) Technology used means that nuclear energy is only really open to the most developed countries Costs - despite operational costs being relatively low, the cost of building and decommissioning are high Security of nuclear powered stations at a time when international terrorism is a concern

Question 29

Benefits of biofuels = recyclable energy

Answer 29

Function Derived immediately from living matter, such as agricultural crops, forestry or fishing products and various forms of waste Types Primary biofuels which include fuelwood, wood chips and pellets that are used unprocessed for heating, cooking or electricity - Secondary biofuels are derived from the processing of crops - two type of fuel are extracted (bio-alcohol and biodiesel) which are used to fuel vehicles and generate electricity Examples Biofuel crops that can be used include wheat, maize, grasses, soybeans and sugar cane In the UK, the two main crops that are used are oilseed rape and sugar beet Use: Most of these biofuels are converted into ethanol or biodiesel and used mostly as vehicle fuel

Question 30

Drawbacks of biofuels

Answer 30

The implications this can have on food supply For example, a hectare of space used to grow energy crops is a hectare less for growing much needed food

Question 31

Biofuels in Brazil

Answer 31

Brazil began to diversify its energy sources in the 1970s in order to improve its energy security Brazil is now the largest producer of sugar cane and has become the leading exporter of sugar and ethanol Since 2003, the area used for sugar cane has increased massively and is likely to continue which has led to the displacement of other types of agriculture e.g., cattle pasture

Question 32

Radical technologies - Carbon, capture and storage

Answer 32

Involves ‘capturing’ the carbon dioxide released and burying it deep underground Challenges: - It is expensive because of the advanced technology required - No one can be sure that the carbon dioxide will stay underground and that it will not leak to the surface and enter the atmosphere

Question 33

Radical technologies - Hydrogen fuel cells

Answer 33

Hydrogen does not occur naturally as a gas, it is always combined with other elements e.g oxygen in water most hydrogen is extracted from other forms of fuel e.g oil and natural gas Hydrogen is high in energy an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces next to no pollution A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water A fuel cell will provide electricity as long as hydrogen is supplied and it will never lose its charge Fuel cells are a promising technology for use as: - A source of heat and electricity for buildings - A power source for electric vehicles Hydrogen fuel cells are considered to be one of the best strategies for reducing carbon emissions that has very little impact on the carbon cycle However: - highly volatile and can cause explosions - sourcing and storing can be difficult

Question 34

Primary energy

Answer 34

The energy found in nature that has not been subjected to any human engineered conversion process. It encompasses energy contained in raw fuels and other forms of energy, including waste, received as input to a system. Primary energy can be non-renewable or renewable.​

Question 35

Secondary energy

Answer 35

When we convert primary energy into a transportable form we speak of secondary energy. For example, when we burn coal in a power plant to produce electricity, electricity is a form of secondary energy. Secondary energy includes liquid fuels (such as petrol and diesel – which are refined oil), electricity, and heat.​

Question 36

What is the difference between recyclable and renewable energy?

Answer 36

The main difference is that renewable energy is naturally replenishing Recyclable energy focuses on reusing or recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Question 37

Biomass

Answer 37

Burnt for energy or processed to make biofuels - bioethanol and biodiesel

Question 38

Radical technologies - Electric vehicles

Answer 38

Electric vehicles run off rechargeable electric batteries rather than conventional fuel Quiet so reduces noise pollution However: - batteries have limited distance - producing and disposing of batteries can cause environmental problems - expensive initial costs