How do solar panels work?
absorb sunlight and generate heat- this can be used to heat water or make electricity through photovoltaic cells
state two disadvantages of renewables for electricity generation (generally)
some have bad environmental effects (HEP), some are intermittent (solar, wind), PVs use toxic ingredients, wind turbines are noisy 'eye sore', high cost
What physical conditions are necessary to build an hydroelectric power plant?
fast-flowing water, high rainfall (best if uniform throughout the year), a narrow, deep-sided valley suitable to building a dam, or a natural water store (lake)
State three types of renewable energy that involve water
hydroelectric, wave, tidal energy, geothermal
State one advantage and one disadvantage of wind power
cheap,
state two differences between the formation of coal and oil
coal is formed from plants in swampy areas, oil is formed from marine plants and animals
Name two similarities between the formation of coal and oil
both take 100s of millions of years, formed in anaerobic conditions, formed deep underground
Describe how hydroelectric power is produced
fast-running water drives turbines which power generators that produce electricity
Where are geothermal power plants located?
volcanic areas
How do geothermal power plants generate electricity?
holes are bored deep underground, cold water is pumped down to hot rocks, coverted to steam, pumped to the surface,turns the turbines which generate electricity
Explain why the burning of fossil fuels is problematic
fossil fuels took 100s of millions of years to form but we are burning them in 100s of years, they produce CO2 which is causing the enhanced greenhouse effect
State two advantages to hydroelectric power
One of the cheapest ways to produce electricity, doesn't cause pollution
State two advantages of renewables for generating electricy
sustainable, clean
Name two types of fuels that come from biomass
biofuels, wood, bioethanol (made from fermentation of corn)
Name two types of non-renewable energy resources
fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and nuclear (uranium fuel)
Describe three disadvantages of hydroelectric dams
large dams are expensive to build, the best places to build dams tend to be far from where people live, destroys forests and wildlife habitat, forced migration
State one reason fossil fuels are important
the are the main source of energy around the world, they are very energy dense fuels
Why are fossil fuels problematic?
they cause environmental problems at every stage- from mining, to transportation to use
Suggest why has the transition to renewables from fossil fuels been so slow? (give 2 reasons)
have used them for a long time, easy to use, infrastructure already in place, cheap!
Explain why, with at least two examples, nuclear power is only used in some countries.
Expensive to build nuclear power plants, requires a highly skilled workforce, some countries have other abundant energy resources, anti-nuclear sentiment