ENERGY CHALLENGES Flashcards
(115 cards)
1
Q
Q: What are non-renewable energy resources?
A
A: Energy resources that are finite and have been built up over time, including coal, oil, and gas.
2
Q
Q: What defines renewable energy resources?
A
A: They yield a continuous flow that can be consumed without exceeding net renewal rates.
3
Q
Q: Give three examples of non-renewable resources.
A
A: Coal, oil, gas.
4
Q
Q: Give three examples of renewable resources.
A
A: Wind, solar, tidal.
5
Q
Q: What are critical renewable resources?
A
A: Renewable resources that may run out if input does not equal output, e.g., biomass.
6
Q
Q: What are non-critical renewable resources?
A
A: Resources that are everlasting and won’t run out, like geothermal and solar.
7
Q
Q: Why are global energy supplies unevenly spread?
A
A: Due to geological history and international boundaries.
8
Q
Q: What are recoverable reserves?
A
A: Energy resources likely to be extracted for commercial use.
9
Q
Q: What are speculative reserves?
A
A: Potential energy deposits that are not yet economically viable or explored.
10
Q
Q: Which country dominates global coal production?
A
A: China, followed by the USA.
11
Q
Q: Why is deep coal mining in decline?
A
A: It is highly polluting; open cast mining is more common now.
12
Q
Q: Where are oil reserves mainly concentrated?
A
A: Middle East, USA, and Russia.
13
Q
Q: Which countries have benefited from oil sands and heavy oil?
A
A: Canada and Venezuela.
14
Q
Q: Which country has the largest reserves of natural gas?
A
A: Iran.
15
Q
Q: What is the dominant source of nuclear energy?
A
A: Uranium.
16
Q
Q: Where is uranium typically found?
A
A: Continental shield areas with Precambrian crystalline rocks.
17
Q
Q: What percentage of global renewable energy production is bioenergy?
A
A: Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source.
18
Q
Q: Which country leads the world in hydroelectric power (HEP) development?
A
A: China.
19
Q
Q: Why is ocean energy not widely adopted?
A
A: It’s expensive and still immature in technology.
20
Q
Q: Name two existing tidal barrage systems.
A
A: Sihwa Barrage (South Korea), La Rance Barrage (France).
21
Q
Q: How is coal formed?
A
A: From plant debris in swamps buried under mud and sand, subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
22
Q
Q: What is coalification?
A
A: The process that increases carbon content and quality of coal.
23
Q
Q: What is anthracite?
A
A: A high-grade coal that is 86-98% pure carbon, used to heat homes.
24
Q
Q: What is steam coal?
A
A: Coal used in power stations, milled to a fine powder for faster burning.
25
Q: How are oil and gas formed?
A: From marine organic material buried in sedimentary rocks, transformed under heat and pressure.
26
Q: What is kerogen?
A: The intermediate substance from organic matter that transforms into oil and gas.
27
Q: What traps oil and gas underground?
A: Impermeable rock layers trap the hydrocarbons in porous rocks.
28
Q: What is crude oil?
A: A complex mixture of hydrogen and carbon compounds, usually found above trapped water.
29
Q: What is natural gas primarily composed of?
A: Methane.
30
Q: How does plate tectonics influence fossil fuel deposits?
A: It causes movement of sediments and creates pressure to form hydrocarbons.
31
Q: Why is oil production offshore more expensive?
A: Due to complex and costly extraction technology.
32
Q: What geological conditions are needed for geothermal energy?
A: Suitable hot rocks close to the surface in tectonically active areas.
33
Q: What is an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS)?
A: It uses drilling and injection to extract heat from dry underground rocks.
34
Q: What affects solar energy potential?
A: Sun angle, air mass, cloud cover, and day length.
35
Q: Where is solar energy most effective?
A: In regions near the equator with high insolation rates.
36
Q: What wind conditions are ideal for wind farms?
A: Average wind speeds over 5.5 m/s and consistent wind direction.
37
Q: Why does the UK have good wind energy potential?
A: It lies in a temperate zone with long fetch for uninterrupted air flow.
38
Q: What physical features are ideal for HEP?
A: Steep valleys with narrow exits and stable, impermeable rock.
39
Q: Why is ocean energy location-specific?
A: It requires consistent, strong waves typically found between 30° and 60° latitudes.
40
Q: What is a drawback of tidal energy?
A: It only generates power during tidal movements.
41
Q: How is coal formed?
A: From plant debris in swamps buried under mud and sand, subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
42
Q: What is coalification?
A: The process that increases carbon content and quality of coal.
43
Q: What is anthracite?
A: A high-grade coal that is 86-98% pure carbon, used to heat homes.
44
Q: What is steam coal?
A: Coal used in power stations, milled to a fine powder for faster burning.
45
Q: How are oil and gas formed?
A: From marine organic material buried in sedimentary rocks, transformed under heat and pressure.
46
Q: What is kerogen?
A: The intermediate substance from organic matter that transforms into oil and gas.
47
Q: What traps oil and gas underground?
A: Impermeable rock layers trap the hydrocarbons in porous rocks.
48
Q: What is crude oil?
A: A complex mixture of hydrogen and carbon compounds, usually found above trapped water.
49
Q: What is natural gas primarily composed of?
A: Methane.
50
Q: How does plate tectonics influence fossil fuel deposits?
A: It causes movement of sediments and creates pressure to form hydrocarbons.
51
Q: Why is oil production offshore more expensive?
A: Due to complex and costly extraction technology.
52
Q: What geological conditions are needed for geothermal energy?
A: Suitable hot rocks close to the surface in tectonically active areas.
53
Q: What is an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS)?
A: It uses drilling and injection to extract heat from dry underground rocks.
54
Q: What affects solar energy potential?
A: Sun angle, air mass, cloud cover, and day length.
55
Q: Where is solar energy most effective?
A: In regions near the equator with high insolation rates.
56
Q: What wind conditions are ideal for wind farms?
A: Average wind speeds over 5.5 m/s and consistent wind direction.
57
Q: Why does the UK have good wind energy potential?
A: It lies in a temperate zone with long fetch for uninterrupted air flow.
58
Q: What physical features are ideal for HEP?
A: Steep valleys with narrow exits and stable, impermeable rock.
59
Q: Why is ocean energy location-specific?
A: It requires consistent, strong waves typically found between 30° and 60° latitudes.
60
Q: What is a drawback of tidal energy?
A: It only generates power during tidal movements.
61
Q: What are the main factors influencing energy supply?
A: Geology, climate, topography, and technological accessibility.
62
Q: Why are fossil fuels found in limited locations?
A: Due to specific geological formations and historical sedimentation processes.
63
Q: How does rifting affect oil and gas formation?
A: It frees hydrocarbons from deep basins, allowing them to be trapped before surfacing.
64
Q: What makes geothermal energy viable?
A: Presence of accessible heat sources close to Earth's surface.
65
Q: Why is solar energy intermittent?
A: Because it depends on sunlight which varies by time of day and weather.
66
Q: What makes wind energy unreliable?
A: It's dependent on consistent wind speeds; too little or too much wind is ineffective.
67
Q: What factors influence HEP potential?
A: Drainage basin shape, precipitation, river flow, and topography.
68
Q: Why is tidal power predictable?
A: Because tidal patterns are regular and driven by lunar cycles.
69
Q: Which countries produce the most biofuels?
A: USA (corn-based ethanol) and Brazil (sugarcane ethanol).
70
Q: What event caused a dip in global energy consumption in 2008-09?
A: The global financial crisis.
71
Q: Which regions drive the growth in global energy demand?
A: Non-OECD countries like China, India, and Brazil.
72
Q: What is the most consumed energy source globally?
A: Oil.
73
Q: Which region has the highest per capita energy consumption?
A: North America.
74
Q: What is the energy transition model?
A: A model showing how energy use and sources evolve with development.
75
Q: Name a country in the 'traditional society' stage of the energy transition.
A: Niger.
76
Q: What defines a 'maturing economy' in terms of energy use?
A: High fossil fuel use, rising living standards, and increasing energy consumption.
77
Q: What is energy security?
A: The uninterrupted availability of energy at an affordable price.
78
Q: What is an energy pathway?
A: The route energy takes from source to consumer.
79
Q: What role do TNCs play in energy supply?
A: They develop and distribute energy, driven by profit and investment.
80
Q: What is OPEC's goal?
A: To stabilize oil prices by controlling production among member countries.
81
Q: How do oil prices influence exploration?
A: High prices make expensive or risky exploration financially viable.
82
Q: What are upstream activities in the oil industry?
A: Exploration and extraction of oil.
83
Q: What are midstream activities in the oil industry?
A: Transporting and storing oil.
84
Q: What are downstream activities in the oil industry?
A: Refining and distribution to consumers.
85
Q: Name two major energy TNCs.
A: Shell and BP.
86
Q: What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?
A: Capturing CO₂ emissions and storing them underground to reduce atmospheric pollution.
87
Q: What is gasification?
A: A process converting carbon-based material into syngas for cleaner combustion.
88
Q: Why is hydrogen fuel considered clean?
A: Its only by-products are water and heat.
89
Q: What is a downside to hydrogen fuel?
A: It is expensive and can be risky to store.
90
Q: What is a biogas digester?
A: A system that ferments organic material to produce methane-rich gas.
91
Q: What are the pros of biogas?
A: Produces electricity and gas, reuses waste, reduces emissions.
92
Q: What is the Clean Power 2030 Plan?
A: A UK initiative to increase renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
93
Q: Name a UK renewable energy investment.
A: Humber Gateway offshore wind farm.
94
Q: What is the BedZED project?
A: A UK eco-village designed for energy efficiency and sustainable living.
95
Q: What type of energy is predominant in Mali?
A: Biomass.
96
Q: What is the EU Emissions Trading Scheme?
A: A system where companies buy and sell emission allowances.
97
Q: What does the Kyoto Protocol aim to do?
A: Reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
98
Q: Why is nuclear energy politically sensitive?
A: Due to risks of accidents and its link to nuclear weapons.
99
Q: What disaster prompted a rethink on nuclear power?
A: Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan 2011.
100
Q: Why is coal declining in the global energy mix?
A: Environmental concerns and cleaner alternatives.
101
Q: Which energy source is growing fastest globally?
A: Renewable energy.
102
Q: What factors influence a country's energy mix?
A: Development level, resources, culture, legislation, and security.
103
Q: What is energy poverty?
A: Lack of access to modern energy services.
104
Q: Why is diversification of energy sources important?
A: To avoid over-reliance and increase energy security.
105
Q: What are indigenous energy resources?
A: Energy resources that are available within a country.
106
Q: Why might LICs struggle to develop renewables?
A: Lack of technology, funding, and infrastructure.
107
Q: What are some problems with energy extraction?
A: Environmental damage, displacement, pollution.
108
Q: What are common transport methods for energy?
A: Pipelines, tankers, electricity grids.
109
Q: What are negative effects of fossil fuel use?
A: Climate change, pollution, and resource depletion.
110
Q: What social issues are tied to energy use?
A: Health impacts, displacement, and inequality.
111
Q: How can clean technology improve sustainability?
A: By reducing emissions and increasing efficiency.
112
Q: Name a clean transport technology.
A: Electric/hybrid vehicles.
113
Q: How can energy efficiency be improved?
A: Better insulation, efficient appliances, smart grids.
114
Q: Why is seaweed farming considered a CCS technique?
A: It absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere and sinks it.
115
Q: What is the main output of Aspley Farm’s biogas plant?
A: Electricity, gas, fertiliser, and CO₂.
