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P1.5- Energy Resources - Coggle Diagram
P1.5- Energy Resources
Demands and issues
The amount of energy used varies across a day across a year (people use more energy in the winter and more energy in the evenings)
Coal and nuclear power stations have long start up times- they can't increase their output immediately
Start up time means the amount of time it takes to start producing energy after the power station has switched on
Coal and nuclear power stations provide the base load. Gas fired power stations and pumped storage schemes are used to meet the variations- they start up quicker
Pumped storage scheme is when water is pumped up to the reservoir of a hydroelectric plant. This is done when energy demand is low (e.g. summer). This water is then released and generates electricity when demand is high.
Payback time: amount of time taken to save the same amount of money that it cost to buy the solar panels/wind turbines in the first place
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Biofuel
Methane is a biofuel can can be collected from cows, animal manure, sewage works and decaying rubbish
Any fuel taken from living or recently living organisms ethanol,nutshells, straw and woodchip
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In fossil fuel and nuclear power stations the burning of the fuel heats water, which turns to steam and drives a turbine
The majority of energy generated is using fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal)
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Coal, oil & nuclear can't be replaced
Coal, oil & gas contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
Wind and water energy
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Wave power
The motion of waves causes floating generator to move up and down, which generates electricity
However it requires a lot of cables and buildings along the coast and may affect tidal flow patterns which could affect wildlife
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Energy and environment
Nuclear
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Cons
Used fuel rods contain radioactive waste, which has to be stored safely for centuries
Nuclear reactors are safe in normal operation, but an explosion in a reactor could release radioactive material over a wide area, which would affect both the area and people in it for years
Renewable
Pros
They don't produce greenhouses gases or acid rain, or create radioactive products
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They can be used where connection to the National Grid is uneconomical (solar cells for road signs and those in remote areas)
Cons
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Wind turbines create a whining noise that can upset people nearby, and some consider them unsightly
In general, they're unreliable, not always available and currently don't meet the world's demand
Hydroelectricity schemes need large reservoirs of water, which can affect nearby plant and animal life- habitats are often flooded to create dams
Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide, causing acid rain (to stop this, sulfur dioxide must be removed from the fuel before it is burnt)
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Fossil fuels will eventually run out- we're using them faster than they are being replaced and they're non-renewable
It's all in one area, so there is a lot of conflict over it
Carbon capture and storage (CSS) is a process which captures the CO2 released from a power station and is stored underground to keep it from the atmosphere