Energy Flashcards
(28 cards)
Define Renewable Energy
Sources can be quickly replenished by themselves and can be used again and again. Sometimes called infinite energy
Define Non-Renewable Energy
Energy that will run out
Give 3 non-renewable energy sources
Oil Rigs
Nuclear power station
Coal
Describe how nuclear power works and give the pros and cons
Electricity is generated from energy released when fission occurs.
Pros:
- Small amount of material makes a lot of energy
- No pollutants
- Cheap raw materials
Cons:
- Expensive to run
- Nuclear waste is highly toxic
- Leaking of radioactive material is devastating
Describe how oilfields works and give the pros and cons
Are reciprocating pumps used in onshore oil fields to bring oil to the surface
Pros:
- Oil produces large amounts of energy
- Reliable
- Easily available
Cons:
- Gives of atmospheric pollutants
- Limited supply
- Oil spills are devastating
What energy source is most commonly used in the UK
Natural Gas (38%)
The UK is expected to use the same amount of energy today as it will in……….
2030
…….Used to dominate the UK’s energy supply due to the large domestic resources available
Coal
Give some reasons on why the energy balance has changed significantly over time
Changes in resource availability
Technological progress
Relative cost of different forms of energy
Consumer behaviour
Give the pros of high energy consumption
Create jobs
Aberdeen (North-East Scotland) 2nd richest area in UK
Microgeneration
Give the cons of high energy consumption
Visual pollution
Expensive
Greenhouse gasses
Air pollution
The sun delivered enough………to the Earth each minuet to meet the global demand for a……
Energy
Year
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power
Advantages:
- Low running costs
- Generate electricity in remote places
- No pollutants produced
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t work at night
- Photovoltaic cells are very expensive
How popular is Hydroelectric power
Very!!
90% total global output from renewable resources
Very efficient!
Large scale hydroelectric plants produce…..times more energy during their lifespan than the energy needed to build and run them in the first place
200
Give the advantages and disadvantages of Hydroelectric power
Advantages:
- Low operating costs
- No pollution or waste
- Reliable technology
- Constant electricity generated
Disadvantages:
- Dams are expensive
- Large scale flooding may cause environmental problems
- Suitable sites are limited
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Geothermal energy
Advantages:
- No pollution
- Low running costs
Disadvantages:
- Location dependant
- Sometimes dangerous gasses and minerals could emerge
Britain is the………..place in Europe
Windiest
What is the most cost effective method of electricity generation available
Wind
Give the advantages and disadvantages of Wind power
Advantages:
- Low running costs
- No waste or pollution
- Land can still be used for farming
Disadvantages:
- No wind, no power
- Some think they spoil the view
- interfere with TV and Radar reception
What are the advantages of Nuclear power
Saves lives - prevented 1.8 million deaths, ranks last in death per energy produced
Waste is stored, fossil fuels are released into he atmosphere
Reduces CO2 emissions - saved 64 giga tonnes of CO2 being released
Prevents Global Warming
New technology can save the problem with waste (Thorium). 1 ton of Thorium = 3.5 million tons of coal
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power
Nuclear weapons also created
Plutonium takes ages to destroy
Accidents + disasters - japan she down all power stations for 4 years after disaster.
Nuclear is the most expensive source in Europe
Give some major accidents that have occurred form Nuclear Power
1979, Pensilvania = Core melted + thousands killed
1986, Chernobyl = Radioactive cloud
Fukushima
What is the future of Nuclear power
70 new reactors under construction
10% energy by nuclear
