2 - Energy and the Environment

How is coal formed?

Millions of years ago, plants died and formed peat, which was compressed between layers of sediments and using heat and pressure it formed coal

How is oil and gas formed?

Small animals + plants die and fall to the bottom of the sea - their remains are then covered by sediments, which form layers - the temperature and pressure causes the remains turn to crude oil and gas, which separate and rise through the layers

What are some examples of non renewable fuels?

Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and nuclear power (using uranium)

What are some examples of renewable fuels?

Biofuels (bioethanol, biogas and wood), geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, solar and wind power

How are fossil fuels used to generate electricity?

They produce lots of energy during combustion, that is used to heat water and covert it into steam, which thereby drives turbines

How is nuclear power used to generate electricity?

Uranium (a radioactive element) releases lots of energy when nuclear fission (splitting of the atom) occurs - this energy is used to heat water, produce steam and rotate turbines

How are biofuels used to generate electricity?

They produce lost of energy when combusted, which heats water, converting it to steam which turns turbines

How is geothermal power used to generate electricity?

Cold water is pumped under pressure down to a layer of hot rocks - the hot water returns to the surface under pressure and heats a second supply of water - the steam produced moves a turbine, generating electricity

How is hydroelectric power used to convert energy?

A dam on a river stores water in a reservoir - water is released from a reservoir, flowing through the turbine, rotating it - this turbine activates a generator to generate electricity

How is tidal power used to generate electricity?

It uses the natural rise + fall of water levels - when the levels drop, water is held back by a tidal barrage - a small dam that releases water back through a turbine

How is wave power used to generate electricity?

It also uses a turbine and generator, but uses the smaller differences in water levels that are cased by wind

How is solar power used to generate electricity?

It uses photovoltaic cells that produce small electric charge when exposed to light - a ball of these cells organised into solar panels produce a significant amount of energy

How is wind power used to generate electricity?

Wind turbines have shafts (blades) that rotate due to wind - as the turbine rotates due to wind, the generator produces electricity

What are the advantages of fossil fuels?

Theres a plentiful supply in some locations, extraction provides jobs and its existing technology - the fuel is available for most countries to use

What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?

Co2 and other toxic gases when burnt impact climate change, extraction causes damage to local areas and theres a limited supply - prices will rise as the supply gets smaller

What are the advantages of nuclear power?

Doesn't produce co2 (impacts climate change), small amount of fuel produces large amount of money and power plants employ a lot of people

What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?

There is a risk of radiation leakage, waste products cant be recycled and radiation is active for centuries and theres a limited supply

What are the advantages of biofuels?

Its renewable - bioethanol and wood is obtained from growing plants and biogas is from the recycling of waste products - growing more plants uses more co2 and theres potentially plentiful supply

What are the disadvantages of biofuels?

co2 produced when burnt, a lot of land is needed to grow crops for fuels and potential removal of natural ecosystems to grow fuel crops

What are the advantages pf geothermal power?

Doesn't produce co2, unlimited supply as it uses the heat of the earth as a power supply

What are the disadvantages of geothermal power?

Can be expensive to install and only certain areas have suitable conditions

What are the advantages of hydroelectric power?

Doesn't produce co2 and water can be reused for the purposes

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Building dams can pact the natural flow of water and villages and ecosystems may be destroyed when dams and reservoirs are built

What are the advantages of tidal power?

Doesn't produce co2 and tidal movements aren't dependent of weather conditions

What are the disadvantages of tidal power?

Limited to specific coastal areas and impacts the tourist industry and local fishers

What are the advantages of wave power?

Doesn't produce co2 and is renewable

What are the disadvantages of wave power?

Limited to specific areas and currently not very efficient so large amounts of resources needed

What are the advantages of solar power?

Doesn't produce co2 and sunlight is not a limited resource

What are the disadvantages of solar power?

Only efficient under certain weather conditions, generation only occurs in daylight hours and theres visual impact and potential damage to local ecosystems

What are the advantages of wind power?

Doesn't produce co2 and uses a renewable resource

What are the disadvantages of wind power?

Not all locations are suitable, generation only occurs in certain conditions (at certain wind speeds), ethers a visual impact and it uses a large area

What factors affect the demand for energy?

Domestic demand, industrial demand, transport, personal and national wealth and climate

What is domestic demand and how does it affect the demand for energy?

Its created by affordability, availability and social status - most of the purchases that are considered as necessities now increase the demand for energy supplies, notably electricity

What is industrial demand and how does if affect the demand for energy?

Manufacturing requires a lot of energy throughout production and advanced manufacturing techniques made the products that were once luxury, cheaper so more people will buy it - therefore the demand for the product increases, and the demand for energy needed for production also increases

How does transport affect the demand for energy?

Manufacturers supply customers across the globe, decreasing production costs in countries that import, but increases transport costs as they require lots of energy from fossil fuels to operate

How does having good personal economic conditions affect the demand for energy?

Theres higher employment, more money to spend on luxury items, increased demand for the projects and an increased demand for energy for production

How does having poor personal economic conditions affect the demand for energy?

Families have less money to spend on luxury items and need to make savings - they also reduce the use of fuel and the purchase and use of electrical items, which decreases the demand for energy

How does decline in the economy of a country or national wealth affect the demand for energy? Include an example

Decline in the economy of 1 country can have a global impact - for example, reduction in China's economy meant a worldwide reduction in production of steel, decrease in the amount of manufactured goods (transported by ships) and decrease in the price of oil (energy source)

How does climate affect the demand for energy?

The demand for energy regarding to climate depends on the country - people living in tempter climbers have colder winters, increasing energy demand for heating and usage of electrical lighting - climate change also increases energy consumption as theres a need for additional heating or installation and operation of air conditioning units

What are some strategies for the efficient management of energy resources?

Reducing consumption (using insulation, turning electrical devices off and using energy efficient devices and vehicles), energy from waste cooking oil, exploiting existing energy sources, education of people for energy conservation and transport policies

How does reducing consumption by using insulation efficiently manage energy resources?

This reduces energy needed to heat buildings, as it prevents heat loss - there's loft insulation which adds a layer in the roof, underfloor insulation, cavity wall insulation where theres a gap between inside and outside walls filled with insulating material so heat passes more slowly and double glazing, where 2 glass panes have a gap filled with air or inert gas as an insulator

How does turning electrical devices off efficiently manage energy resources?

Electrical devices must be turned off when not in use, or left in 'standby' mode and can be accessed rapidly

How does using energy efficient vehicles and devices efficiently manage energy resources?

More energy devices can be bought, and developing alternative fuels for vehicles and further development in engine technology - scrapple schemes remove inefficient machines from use (electrical appliances or vehicles)

How does generating energy from waste cooking oil efficiently manage energy resources?

Vegetable oils once used should be disposed - these oils can be collected and recycles into biofuels suitable for running vehicles - it can be used exclusively or as an additive

How does exploiting existing energy sources efficiently manage energy resources?

You can use renewable energy primarily and have a fossil fuel (or biofuel) powered station as backup when weather is bad - this is a reliable source for industry and households and reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed, but the type of energy source used depends on social, environmental and economic factors.

How does educating people on energy conservation efficiently manage energy resources?

You can convince people savings in energy bills can be made long term, reducing energy use - laws can be passed to make rapid changes, such as stricter building regulations ensuring new constructions are more energy efficient and preventing the sales of inefficient electrical devices - incentives to encourage purchase of more efficient tech can be introduced

How do transport policies efficiently manage energy resources?

There could be checks for fuel efficiency and quality of exhaust gas, restriction on where vehicles can go and when (charging for peak times), taxation on fuels, improving public transport and routes for cyclists and pedestrians so its easier and cheaper than cars, encouraging car sharing and providing incentives to buy more fuel efficient vehicles and those with cleaner technology

What is an example of research and development of new energy resources?

Fracking - obtaining oil or gas from shale rock by splitting them open using water, sand and chemicals

How does fracking work?

A vertical hole is drilled to reach fuel rich shale rocks - water sand and chemicals are pumped down into the shale rock layer, causing it to fracture and release oil and natural gas, which are forces back to the surface and collected

What is the purpose of the 3 components - water, chemicals and sand in fracking?

Water is easy to handle in high pressure, chemicals stock the blockage of pipes and sand keeps cracks in the rock open

What are the advantages of fracking?

Access to more oil and gas, less pollution than burning coal, it provides many jobs locally and the need to import reduces

What are the disadvantages of fracking?

Risk of toxins entering water table, chemicals are toxic, affecting local residents, uses a lot of water causing water scarcity, theres noise pollution, natural areas are damaged and it may cause additional earth tremors

What are the causes of oil pollution?

Offshore oil extraction, oil pipelines and shipping

How is offshore oil extraction a cause of oil pollution?

Leakage from rigs

How are oil pipelines a cause of oil pollution?

Leaks in the oil pipework

How is shipping a cause of oil pollution?

Theres a risk of collision or damage to oil tankers

What are the impacts of oil pollution on birds?

Theres a shortage of food as fish and other creatures die, or they might consume oil while eating fish which is toxic, and when hunting for food, feathers get covered wit oil, affecting their ability to fly

What are the impacts of oil pollution on marine mammals?

Food sources are depleted, mammals may also swallow oil while feeding which is toxic and the coating of oil will affect their skin

What are the impacts of oil pollution of coral reefs?

There will be a complete devastation of the reef due to lack of oxygen, so species die, and areas may be covered in oil

What are the impacts of oil pollution on beaches?

Oil washed by tides coats rocks, organisms in shallow water and rock pools may die due to the toxicity of the oil and animal food sources and tourism is affected

What are some strategies for reducing oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

Those made by MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and double hulled oil tankers

What strategies does MARPOL have for reducing oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

They supervise transport of oil at sea, all tankers must be certificated to show they have appropriate systems in use, else it can result in a heavy fine or the ship won't be allowed to leave the port

How do double hulled oil tankers help reduce oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

Oil spills can be caused by damage to the hull, causing its contents to leak , so double hulled oil tankers have an extra outer hull so if this layer is damaged, the contents are still secure by the inner hulll

How can you minimise the impacts of oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

By using floating booms, detergent sprays and skimmers

How do floating booms help minimise the impacts of oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

A floating barrier is used to surround the oil slick, preventing it from spreading - this works well when the spill covers a small area and the sea is calm

How do detergent sprays help minimise the impacts of oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

Detergents help break down the oil slick into smaller droplets that eventually degrade and disperse it - they are effective on smaller spills but damage coral reefs themselves as they're intolerant to detergents

How do skimmers help minimise the impacts of oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems?

Skimmers clean water using material that oil easily attaches too, and dragging oil of the seawater surface when the oil slick is in a boom and the sea is calm - its then scraped into a container, but once it reaches beaches, it can only be removed by hand which is difficult and time consuming