7.2 Energy sources — uses and managementIB Environmental Systems and Societies HL: Flashcards
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Distinguish renewable from non-renewable energy sources.
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- Distinguish renewable from non-renewable energy sources.
- Renewable sources are replaced at least as fast as they are used; non-renewable sources are finite stocks used faster than they form.
- Why is global energy consumption rising?
- Population growth and rising demand per person.
- Give four factors affecting a country's energy choices.
- Resources, cost, government policy, technology, public attitudes, infrastructure, political relationships.
- Why is energy storage needed with wind and solar?
- Output is intermittent, so surplus must be stored to meet demand when output falls.
- How can conservation and efficiency reduce import dependence?
- They lower demand, so less energy has to be imported.
- (HL) What is energy security?
- Access to affordable and reliable sources of energy.
- (HL) Give three ways a country can improve energy security.
- Energy-efficiency measures, decreasing reliance on imported supplies, and diversification.
- (HL) Which fossil fuels does the global economy mostly depend on?
- Coal, oil and natural gas, which are finite reserves.
- (HL) Why is nuclear power described as low-carbon?
- Fission releases no CO₂ in operation, and life-cycle emissions (about 12 g CO₂e/kWh) are low.
- (HL) Why is nuclear power non-renewable?
- It uses uranium, a finite mined resource.
- (HL) Give two limitations of nuclear power.
- Long-lived radioactive waste and accident risk; high capital cost; finite uranium.
- (HL) Why does large-scale battery storage cause emissions and tension?
- Mining, transporting, processing and construction produce emissions and pollution and cause sociopolitical tensions.
- (HL) Give an example of tension over battery materials.
- Lithium brine extraction in the Salar de Atacama competes for water with Lickanantay communities.
- (HL) What risk did Germany's reliance on Russian gas show?
- Dependence on one supplier threatens energy security when supplies are cut, as in 2022.
- What are the approximate life-cycle emissions of coal and wind?
- Coal about 820 g CO₂e/kWh; onshore wind about 11.
Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).