P13 - P27 Y10 Flashcards
(74 cards)
When did the last UK coal powered power station close
The last UK coal powered power station closed on the 30th of September 2024, ending 142 years of coal use in the UK and made us the first country to stop using coal to generate energy
Turbines and generators
Production of electricity involves rotations a turbine which turns a generator
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are finite resources, they produce carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change
Advantages of fossil fuels
A cheap and reliable source of energy well developed systems to harness the energy
Disadvantages of fossil fuels
Contains high amounts of carbon and contributes to the global warming
A non renewable and unsustainable energy source
Accidents such as oil spills contribute to pollution and environmental contamination
Shale Gas
Shale Gas is a natural gas trapped in the earths crust, hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process for extracting the gas from the shale
Describe the process of ‘Fracking’
Sends a high pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the rock to release the gas
How is Nuclear power generated
A nuclear power plant produces energy through a process called fission - the splitting of uranium atoms in a nuclear reactor.
Advantage and disadvantages of Nuclear power
Nuclear power is clean and efficient, however the waste material is radioactive and dangerous to life the waste fuel requires specialist handling , decommissioning and lots of storage space
How much energy can a kilogram of uranium release
A kg of uranium can release 3 million more types of energy than coal
Renewable energy
Wind, wave, tidal geothermal, biomass and solar energy are renewable, these are natural sources of energy that are non finite and can be quickly replenished
Describe the process of Wind power
The wind turns a propeller-like blades on the rotor, this is connected to a generator which creates the electricity
Advantages of wind power
Wind energy is very cost effective, it is clean and sustainable and renewable
Disadvantages of wind power
Wind energy can be unpredictable and wind farms affect the visual appearance of the landscape
Tidal power
The move to of water turns under waters turbines which drive generators
Advantages of tidal power
A constant, predictable, renewable energy source which is clean
Disadvantages of tidal power
Expensive to set us and maintain
Solar panels advantages
Renewable, clean power, no greenhouse gases, Energy can be collected on sunny or cloudy days
Solar panels disadvantages
Energy generation levels are lower in winter months when daylight hours are shorter
Biomass energy
Is organic matter that can be extracted by burning or anaerobic digestion, which creates a biogas and a biofetilliser
Biomasss advantages
A renewable form of energy with a plentiful supply of material, carbon neutral
Biomass disadvantages
Risk of deforestation, if trees are not replanted increase in CO2 emissions
Hydroelectric Power
A turbine converts this kinetic energy into mechanical energy, and a generator turn this into electricity.
Hydroelectric Power advantages
Hydroelectric energy is renewable, reliable and does not pollute, it can be regulated according to demand