Comparing Energy Resources Flashcards

All 8 cards in this deck

Which energy resources are mainly used for transport?

Oil (petrol and diesel) and bio-fuels; some vehicles use electricity.

Which energy resources are commonly used for heating homes?

Gas, oil, bio-fuel (wood), electricity, geothermal and solar (solar heating panels).

What is meant by a reliable energy resource?

One that can supply energy whenever it is needed, without depending on conditions such as weather.

Why is solar power an unreliable energy resource?

Output depends on light intensity, so it varies with the weather, time of day and season, and gives nothing at night.

Why are the tides more reliable than wind?

Tides occur predictably twice a day whatever the weather, whereas wind turbines stop when the wind is too weak or too strong.

True or false? Fossil fuel and nuclear power stations are reliable because they can supply energy whenever it is needed.

True. Their fuel is stored and burned/used on demand, though they still shut down for maintenance.

What are the steps to find a percentage increase from a graph or table of energy use?

e.g. gas-fired generation rises from 3200 to 10 000 units

1. Find the increase: $10\,000 - 3200 = 6800$
2. Divide by the original value: $6800 \div 3200$
3. Multiply by 100: percentage increase $= 212.5\%$

What are the steps to use data to decide whether an energy resource can meet a peak in electricity demand?

e.g. demand rises by 3000 MW for 12 hours; a hydroelectric station supplies 1500 MW for a maximum of 5 hours

1. Compare the power outputs: 1500 MW is less than the 3000 MW needed.
2. Compare the times: 5 hours is less than the 12 hours needed.
3. Decide: the hydroelectric station is not suitable, so a resource that can supply more power for longer (e.g. gas) is more suitable.