NRE 1000E M3: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

What is energy?

The ability to do work.

What are the main types of renewable energy sources?

Hydropower, solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen.

What are non-renewable energy sources?

Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and nuclear power.

What percentage of the world's population lacks access to energy?

8% (657 million people).

Which continent has the most countries with low access to electricity?

Africa.

How is primary energy defined?

Energy sources like coal, petroleum, and natural gas that are used directly.

What is secondary energy?

Electricity produced from primary energy sources.

What is the efficiency of energy used for electricity production in the U.S.?

Only 41% reaches consumers; 59% is lost.

What is the highest emission source of CO2?

Coal.

What are the products derived from crude oil?

Diesel, gasoline, kerosene, tar, and asphalt.

What is the environmental impact of petroleum compared to coal?

Burns cleaner with 85% less CO2 and less sulfur and particulates.

What is the primary component of natural gas?

Methane (CH4).

What is the process of nuclear energy generation?

Fission, which is the splitting of an atom by a neutron.

What is a significant risk associated with nuclear energy?

Radioactive waste and potential for catastrophic failures.

What is biomass?

Organic matter used as fuel, including wood, charcoal, and biofuels.

What is geothermal energy?

Energy derived from the heat within the Earth.

What is the chemical reaction for hydrogen fuel?

H2 + O2 = H2O + energy.

What is energy efficiency?

The measure of how much energy is lost in production, transmission, and use.

What is fractional distillation?

A process to extract various products from crude oil.

What is the impact of hydropower on ecosystems?

Can change water flow and submerge areas, affecting local ecosystems.

What are the advantages of wind energy?

It is clean energy but has issues like sound, aesthetics, and bird kills.

What is the main challenge of solar energy?

Requires large areas for solar farms and smart design.

What is the significance of energy quality?

It measures the ease with which energy can be converted to work.

What is the relationship between energy use and economic development?

Higher energy use is directly correlated to better quality of life.

What are smart grids?

Energy systems that allow two-way communication between consumers and utilities.