Geography - Energy Resources
Non-renewable resources = finite, non-sustainable e.g. fossil fuels
Renewable resources = flow of energy: can be used over and over again e.g. solar and geothermal energy
Sustainable: renewable and self-generating however their existence can be threatened when over used, and their value may be reduced
Increasing demand for energy resources:
Population growth leads to an increasing demand of energy resources
Economic development , countries try to raise the quality of life
Increasing wealth
How can we protect the energy resources?
Conservation
Recycling
Glass and waste paper
Greater efficiency
Home insulation, efficient cars
Developing renewable energy resources
Wind, tide, sun
Controlling pollution
Reducing emission
Using appropriate technology
Low cost energy
Non-renewable energy resources
Coal
Advantages
Likely to last for over 300 years
Increase in technology has allowed a larger output per worker
And conversion to energy more efficient
Disadvantages
Most easily accessible deposits used up
With increased competition, its used a lot less
Burning of coal produces air pollution – contributes to global warming
Deep mining is dangerous
Its heavy and bulky to transport
Oil and Natural gas
Advantages
More efficient than coal
Easier to transport than coal
Less harmful to the environment than coal
Gas is cheaper and cleaner than oil
Safer than nuclear
It’s the basis of a huge petrochemical industry
Disadvantages
Reserves will only last another 50-70 years
New fields are difficult to discover and produce
Danger of oil leaks and fires
Releases nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide
Vulnerable to political, economic and military pressures
Nuclear energy
Advantages
Only a very small amount of fuel needed
Wont be exhausted for a long time
Risk of accident is minimal
Waste is limited and can be stored underground
Contributes less to greenhouse effect than others
Disadvantages
Not clear how safe it actually is
When a disaster happens, it’s on a huge scale
It is non-renewable
Cannot be used for heating and transport
Potential health risks
Waste can remain radioactive for many years
Cost of decommissioning is very high
Fuelwood
Advantages
Provides basic needs – shelter, food, fuel, shade
No cost
Disadvantages
Wood is running out very quickly
Collecting is a very time consuming job
Desertification
Renewable energy resources
Hydro-electric power
Advantages
Relatively cheap
Reduce the risk of flooding
Only limited pollution
Disadvantages
Dams are very expensive to build
Large areas of wildlife and farmland have been flooded
Visual pollution
Geothermal energy
Advantages
Provides a constant supply of energy
Pollution free
Disadvantages
High construction cost
High maintenance cost
Limited to volcanic areas
Threat of eruption and sulphuric gases
Wind
Advantages
It is safe
It is clean
Does not contribute to global warming or acid rain
Minimal effect on ecosystems
Winds are stronger in winter – when demands are highest
Relatively cheap after building the initial turbine
Source of income for farmers
Likely to be built offshore
Disadvantages
Wind does not blow all the time
Electricity cannot be stored
Visually un-appealing
Not very efficient
100000 turbines needed for 20% of Britain’s energy
Noisy
Solar energy
Advantages
Safe
Pollution free
Efficient
Limitless
Disadvantages
Expensive to build solar stations
Hindered by the weather
Potential is great in MEDC’s
Hydrogen
Advantages
Only biproduct is vapour
Has great potential for the future
Disadvantages
Needs electricity to produce
Research costs a lot
Tidal
Advantages
Renewable
Produce sustained, constant electricity
Disadvantages
Visually unattractive
Destroys wildlife habitats
Expensive to build
Waves
Advantages
Very high energy levels
Disadvantages
Difficult to design materials to withstand the force of waves
Difficult to convert the energy into electricity
Biomass
Advantages
Very cheap to produce
Can be used to power many things
Disadvantages
Methane is a greenhouse gas
Dung cannot be used as a fertilizer
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