3.3 Energy Resources

1
Human Population, Carrying Capacity, and Resource
Use

• 3.3 Energy Resources

2
Assessment Statements

• 3.3.1 Outline the range of energy resources
  available to society.
• 3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
  of two contrasting energy sources.
• 3.3.3 Discuss the factors that affect the choice
  of energy sources adopted by different societies.

3
3.3.1 Outline the range of energy resources
available to society.

• Energy can be generated from both renewable and
  non-renewable resources.
• Renewable resources are sustainable, because
  there is no depletion of natural capital. These
  include
• Wind
• Solar
• Hydroelectric
• Geothermal
• Biomass
• Tidal Schemes
• Wastes

4
3.3.1 Outline the range of energy resources
available to society.

• Non-renewable resources are not sustainable,
  because there is a depletion of natural capital.
  These include
• Oil
• Coal
• Natural Gas
• Nuclear

5
3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Fossil Fuels (Oil, Coal, Natural Gas)
• Advantages
• Relatively cheap and plentiful
• Technology for their use, safe extraction, and
  controlling the pollution released by them
  exists.
• No other energy source is close to replacing the
  amount of energy generated by them
• Oil can travel via pipeline.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Fossil Fuels (Oil, Coal, Natural Gas)
• Disadvantages
• Most important contributor to global warming
• Implies liquidation of a limited stock of a
  resource
• Will become increasingly difficult and dangerous
  to extract
• Oil spills are very damaging and expensive to
  clean up
• Open-cast mining clears habitat causing
  environmental damage
• Coal is not easily transportable over long
  distances.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Nuclear Power
• Advantages
• Does not emit CO2, so does not contribute to
  climate change.
• Technology is readily available.
• Large amount of energy is generated.
• Very efficient 1 kg of Uranium contains 20000
  times more energy than 1 kg of coal.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Nuclear Power
• Disadvantages
• Produces radioactive waste which can be dangerous
  for tens of thousands of years.
• Never completely reliable, and could be terrorist
  targets.
• Uranium is scarce, supply will last another 30-60
  years.
• Time frame to build a plant is 20-30 years.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Hydroelectric
• Advantages
• Reliable form of energy generation
• Dams create large artificial lakes which can be
  used for leisure and irrigation purposes
• Relatively cheap to run

10
3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Hydroelectric
• Disadvantages
• Vast areas may be flooded causing loss of
  habitats, farming, and displacement of people.
• Dams may restrict the flow of sediments affecting
  ecosystems and farms downstream.
• May lead to increased erosion rates
• Cost of building a dam is high.
• Dams may eventually silt-up and be useless.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Tidal Power
• Advantages
• Reliability More predictable than solar or wind
• Low maintenance cost
• Efficiency Up to 80 efficient at tide to
  electric power
• Barrages and small dams for it can protect
  coastal cities from dangerous tides.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Tidal Power
• Disadvantages
• Good tidal range required to generate sufficient
  energy
• Right shape of coastline to channel water through
  turbines
• Expensive to set up
• Can interfere with navigation
• Can impact wildlife

13
3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Solar Energy
• Advantages
• Passive solar energy (plus insulation) is much
  cheaper for heating homes than fossil fuels
• Low maintenance cost
• Solar cells can last a lifetime
• Creates no pollution

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Solar Energy
• Disadvantages
• Very expensive for generating electricity
• Limited in northern countries during winter
  months
• Photovoltaic cells take up a lot of space to meet
  energy needs

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Wind Power
• Advantages
• Although tall, they only take a small plot of
  land
• Useful for getting electricity in remote areas
• Come in a wide range of sizes
• Doesnt produce pollutants

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Wind Power
• Disadvantages
• Not reliable as the strength of the wind varies
• Very noisy
• Pollution created in their production
• Requires a lot of turbines to generate large
  amounts of electricity

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Biomass/Biofuel
• Advantages
• May be less expensive than fossil fuels
• Can come from a wide range of resources
• Can be produced locally thereby increasing jobs
  in the area

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Biofuel/Biomass
• Disadvantages
• Produce emissions when burned
• Require large amounts of land to grow
• Land use may push out food crops or natural
  ecosystem

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Wastes
• Advantages
• Readily available
• Does not deplete natural capital
• Gives useful purpose to waste that would have to
  be disposed of in some other way.

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Wastes
• Disadvantages
• Burning produces emissions
• Facilities are expensive to construct
• Technology is very new

21
3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Geothermal
• Advantages
• 3 to 5 times more effective than electrical
  heating systems
• Few moving parts which make them very reliable
• Various arrangements allow for flexibility in
  installation

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3.3.2 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of two contrasting energy sources.

• Geothermal
• Disadvantages
• Installation is expensive
• Installation causes a fair amount of disturbance
  to the local area
• Pump requires electricity to run which normally
  comes from fossil fuels

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3.3.3 Discuss the factors that affect the choice
of energy sources adopted by different societies.

• Historical basis due to large oil, coal, and gas
  reserves in certain countries.
• Oil is high in MEDC due to cars.
• Biomass is high in LEDC due to use for cooking.
• Fossil fuels are more prevalent due to lack of
  trust of nuclear power, cheaper, and lack of
  technology for renewable sources.

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3.3.3 Discuss the factors that affect the choice
of energy sources adopted by different societies.

• Culture and tradition in MEDCs favor
  non-renewables.
• Renewables limited by available sites and local
  political issues.
• Changing awareness of implications of fossil
  fuels and decreasing ease of access has led to
  shift in attitude towards renewable resources
  with an increased demand for them.