energy demands

• What is required for nearly everything in our daily lives?

  Energy
• How is energy transferred from one place to another?

  By transferring it from one energy store to another
• What are systems that can store large amounts of energy called?

  Energy resources
• Name three major energy resources available to produce electricity.

  Fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, and bio-fuel
• Where does all the energy on Earth originally come from?

  From the Sun
• What is energy needed for in homes?

  For cooking, heating, and running appliances
• What is energy needed for in public services?

  For running machinery and warming rooms
• What is energy needed for in factories and farms?

  For operating heavy-duty machines and production chains
• What environmental issues can arise from producing and distributing electricity?

  It can cause pollution and harmful waste products
• What do buses, trains, cars, and boats need for transport?

  A fuel source
• What gases are released from burning fossil fuels?

  Carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide
• What effect does carbon dioxide have on the environment?

  It adds to the greenhouse effect
• What is the impact of sulphur dioxide on the environment?

  It causes acid rain
• What were the patterns and trends in energy resource use during the Industrial Revolution?

  • Significant increase in fossil fuel extraction and burning
  • Advances in automation and transport
• How did electricity change in the 20th century?

  It became a convenient way of distributing energy
• How does energy demand vary throughout the day?

  It is higher in the early evening and lower overnight
• How does energy demand vary with the seasons?

  More energy is needed in winter than in summer
• What are the reasons fossil fuels are still widely used for electricity generation?

  • High power output compared to other resources
  • Existing infrastructure makes them cheaper
• What is the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels?

  It has caused society to develop renewable energy resources
• What is a growing form of electricity generation in developed countries?

  Nuclear power stations
• What is a key advantage of nuclear fuel compared to fossil fuels?

  It releases large amounts of energy without emitting carbon dioxide
• What is a major disadvantage of nuclear power?

  Radioactive waste is difficult to store and dispose of
• What political and economic pressures influence energy resource decisions?

  Countries with economies based on oil have a strong interest in fossil fuels
• Why do growing countries like China continue to use fossil fuels?

  They need a large power output to grow their industry
• What are the two types of energy resources based on their renewability?

  Renewable and non-renewable
• What is a renewable energy resource?

  One that can be replenished as it is used
• How can renewable resources be replenished?

  By human action or natural processes
• What is a non-renewable energy resource?

  One with a finite amount that will eventually run out
• What are the main features of the most common energy resources used today?

  • Fossil fuels: Non-renewable, high power output, releases CO2
  • Nuclear fuels: Non-renewable, very high power output, produces radioactive waste
  • Bio-fuel: Renewable, medium power output, carbon neutral
  • Wind: Renewable, very low power output, takes up large areas
  • Hydroelectricity: Renewable, medium power output, affects local habitats
  • Geothermal: Renewable, medium power output, very low impact
  • Tides: Renewable, potentially very high output, hard to harness
  • Sun: Renewable, dependent on weather, very little output
  • Water waves: Renewable, low power output, very low impact
• Why are fossil fuel and nuclear power stations considered reliable sources of energy?

  They operate almost continuously and provide much of the country’s electricity
• What is the advantage of gas power stations when additional power is needed?

  They can start generating electricity almost immediately
• What is the challenge of decommissioning old nuclear power stations?

  It is very expensive and the radioactive waste needs long-term storage
• What is the cost of fuel for nuclear power stations compared to the cost of building them?

  The fuel is relatively cheap, but the power stations are expensive to build
• Why is water power considered reliable and predictable?

  Because of the Moon causing tides and rainfall filling reservoirs
• What is a disadvantage of many renewable energy sources?

  They are unreliable and cannot respond to increased demand
• What is the cost structure of renewable resources?

  They have no fuel costs, but the equipment is expensive to build