Ch5 geo Energy and the environment

• Energy resources


  Natural resources that can be used to produce energy
• Renewable energy resources


  • Wind
  • Solar
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Biomass
• Renewable energy resource


  An energy resource that can be replenished and is not depleted by use
• Non-renewable energy resource


  An energy resource that is finite and will eventually run out
• Non-renewable energy resources include oil, coal, gas and peat
• Renewable energy


  • Better to use than non-renewable energy resources
• Non-renewable energy resources


  • Oil
  • Coal
  • Gas
  • Peat
• Fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas and peat are all examples of non-renewable energy sources
• Fossil fuels were formed from decomposing plants and organisms
• Over 80% of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels
• In Ireland, 91% of our energy comes from fossil fuels
• Fossil fuels cause great harm to our environment
• People are too dependent on fossil fuels
• Advantages of oil


  • Gives off hardly any smoke
  • Produces great heat
  • Very efficient
  • Easily transported
• Disadvantages of oil


  • Expensive
  • Have to import it
  • Must be transported by sea in tankers
  • Oil leaks can cause serious pollution
• Many countries, including the USA and Norway, have oil reserves, but the vast majority are located around the Persian Gulf in the Middle East
• Oil prices are set by OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), which causes the price to fluctuate
• In Ireland, 48% of our energy comes from oil
• Ireland has not yet exploited its oil reserves due to the location and quality of the oil
• There is a lot of exploration work occurring around Ireland's coastline, with the Barryroe oil field off the coast of West Cork being investigated
• In Ireland, 27% of our energy comes from gas
• Ireland's natural gas comes from both Ireland and abroad, with gas fields off the coast of Cork and the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo
• Corrib gas field


  Gas field located off the northwest coast of Ireland, near Co. Mayo
• Positive socio-economic impacts of the Corrib gas field

  • Worth €4.4 billion to the Irish economy
  • Provides 60% of Ireland's gas
  • Created over 1,200 jobs during construction
  • Local communities have benefitted
• Negative socio-economic impacts of the Corrib gas field

  • Concerns about safety
  • Environmental issues such as harm to local water supply
  • Visual impact of the terminal
• 10% of Ireland's energy still comes from coal, with a coal-powered station in Moneypoint, Co. Clare
• Peat has been an important source of heating and energy in Ireland for hundreds of years
• The commercial harvesting of peat is declining in Ireland
• Coal is a solid fuel used to heat many homes. The ESB runs a coal-powered station in Moneypoint on the Shannon Estuary in Co. Clare. The station burns imported coal for the production of electricity.
• Peat is a fuel made of decayed plants and other organic matter found in bogs. Peat has been an important source of heating and energy in Ireland for hundreds of years. While the commercial exploitation of peat is being phased out, it is still an important energy source in the raised bogs of the west coast of Ireland. In Ireland, 5.5 per cent of our energy comes from peat.
• We can identify power stations using non-renewable energy resources on Ordnance Survey maps by the symbol 'Stáisiún cumhachta (breosia iontaiseach)' which means 'Power Station (Fossil)'.
• Non-renewable energy resources


  • Coal
  • Peat
  • Fossil fuels
• The energy resources we rely on now are mostly non-renewable or finite, meaning that they will eventually run out. They also cost a lot of money. We need to develop our production and use of renewable energy.
• Renewable energy sources


  • Hydroelectric power
  • Wind energy
  • Solar energy
  • Geothermal energy
  • Biomass
• Hydroelectric power (HEP)


  The creation of electricity by using the force of falling water
• How hydroelectric power works

  1. Dam built across river to trap water

  2. Part of dam opened to allow water to rush through

  3. Water used to turn turbine

  4. Turbine generates electricity
• HEP is the largest source of renewable energy. In 2015 it generated over 16 per cent of the world's electricity.
• Requirements for HEP stations

  • Water supply
  • Slope
  • Bedrock
  • Climate
• Wind energy


  The force of the wind can be used to turn turbines and create electricity
• Wind energy is becoming a very important source of renewable energy. It is a clean source of energy and one that is used by more than 80 countries worldwide.