topic 9 - consuming energy resources (energy resources) Flashcards
energy sources can be…
renewable, non-renewable or recyclable
how can an energy source be renewable
an energy source is renewable if it can be replenished on a very short timescale
what are the types of renewable resources
wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power
whats wind energy
turbines use the energy of the wind to generate electricity, either on land or out at sea. Often built in large windfarms
whats solar energy
energy from the sun is used to heat water and solar cookers or to generate electricity using photovoltaic cells
whats HEP
HEP uses energy of falling water. Water is trapped by the dam and allowed to fall through tunnels, where the pressure of the falling water turns turbines to generate electricity
why can’t renewable energy resources be replenished quickly
they take millions of years to form, meaning they can run out
examples of non-renewable resources
fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas)
what are fossil fuels
formed millions of years ago from the remains of dead organisms and can be extracted from the ground and seabed
what is recyclable energy sources
those made from waste products or whose waste products can be used to generate more energy
examples of recyclable sources
nuclear energy, biofuels
what is nuclear energy
uses uranium atoms - when split, lots of heat is produced, which is used to boil water. The steam turns a turbine, generating electricity. New breeder reactors can generate more fuel during the splitting process, making nuclear energy more like a renewable energy resource. Radioactive waste can also be processed so it can be used to generate more energy
what is biomass
wood, plants or animal waste can be burnt to release energy or used to produce biofuels. Easy to produce as living organisms grow quickly
