STUFF 2 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What are pros of fossil fuels?
generate large amounts of cheap energy
provide reliable supply of energy
What are cons of fossil fuels?
release greenhouse gases
will eventually run out
What are pros and cons of wind power?
no greenhouse gases produced, once set up, energy is cheap
set up costs are high, unattractive and cause noise pollution
What are pros and cons of solar power?
produces no greenhouse gases, once panels have been set up, energy is cheap
no electricity is generated when there is no sunlight, panels are expensive
What are pros and cons of tidal power?
tides are guaranteed and predictable, no greenhouse gases produced
tidal barrages are costly to build and can disrupt ecosystems
What are pros and cons of hydro-electric power (HEP)?
once set up, HEP is cheap
reservoirs provide water supply during shortages
set up costs are high, when dams are built, habitats are often destroyed
What are pros and cons of biomass?
affordable and renewable if resources are replaced (e.g. trees replanted)
burning biomass releases CO2, using wood as fuel can lead to deforestation
What are pros of nuclear power?
generates a lot of electricity
produces no greenhouse gases
What are 2 energy storage systems?
kinetic pumped storage systems
batteries
What are kinetic pumped storage systems?
when demand for energy is slow (e.g. at night), excess energy produced by power station is used to pump water from a low reservoir to a higher reservoir so when energy demand peaks, more water can be released from the high reservoir to generate more electricity
What are the 2 types of batteries?
alkaline
rechargeable
What are characteristics of alkaline batteries?
usually disposable
cannot be reused
best used in devices that do not use a lot of power
How are rechargeable batteries recharged?
charging the battery, reverses the chemical reaction that occurred when it was used
