⚡ Energy and the Environment
1. The Need for Energy and its Growth
• Growing Demand: The demand for energy is increasing worldwide due to:
• Increasing population size.
• Increasing industrialisation and urbanisation.
• Improvements in standards of living and expectations.
• Industrial Demand: Manufacturing requires large quantities of energy
(e.g., for iron and steel production).
• Domestic Demand: Driven by the desire for luxury items (appliances,
cars, mobiles) and the need for a reliable electricity source. It's also affected
by climate (heating/cooling).
2. Types of Energy Sources
Energy sources are broadly classified into two categories:
A. Non-Renewable Energy Sources (Finite Supply)
• Definition: Resources that exist in a finite form and cannot be
replaced once used up.
• Examples:
• Fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)
• Nuclear power (using uranium)
B. Renewable Energy Sources (Sustainable)
• Definition: Resources that can be replenished and, therefore, can be
used over and over again.
• Examples:
• Biofuels (bioethanol, biogas, wood)
• Geothermal power
• Hydroelectric power
• Tidal power
• Wave power
• Solar power
• Wind power
3. Key Energy Sources in Detail
🌟 Fossil Fuels (Non-Renewable)
• Formation: Formed from the decay of plants and animals over millions of
years under great pressure and heat.
• Advantages:
• Plentiful supply in some locations.
• Extraction provides jobs.
• Existing technology is widely available.
• Disadvantages:
• Produces carbon dioxide and toxic gases when burnt (major impact on
climate change).
• Extraction causes damage to local areas.
• Limited supply; prices rise as supplies deplete.
☢️ Nuclear Power (Non-Renewable)
• Advantages: Does not produce carbon dioxide during operation.
• Disadvantages:
• Risk of radiation leakage (impacts human health).
• Waste products cannot be recycled and remain radioactive for centuries.
• Limited supply of uranium.
🌱 Biofuels (Renewable)
• Definition: Fuels from plant crops (like sugarcane) or the breakdown of
organic waste (biogas).
• Advantages:
• A renewable source.
• Grows more plants which absorb carbon dioxide ($CO_2$).
• Potentially a plentiful supply.
• Disadvantages:
• Carbon dioxide and other toxic gases are produced when burnt.
• A lot of land is needed to grow crops, potentially competing with food
crops.
• Potential removal of natural ecosystems to grow crops.
• Crops require water and fertiliser/pesticides, impacting local ecology
and water security.
4. General Advantages and Disadvantages of Energy Use
Factor Description
Economic The supply of energy is expensive. Reliance on local fuel (like gas)
provides an advantage. However, if fuel is in high demand, a country may struggle
to afford imports.
Social Energy supply provides jobs and infrastructure development (roads,
healthcare, education). A stable supply can improve living standards.
Environmental Energy extraction and use have significant impacts:
* Pollution: Oil spills, gas production of toxic gases, and carbon dioxide
leading to climate change.
* Ecosystem Damage: Extraction disturbs habitats (e.g., deep-sea drilling).
Renewable sources like hydroelectric power can damage river ecosystems.
* Visual Impact: Large solar farms or wind turbines can change the landscape.
5. Transport and Energy
• Global Supply Chains: Efficient production requires transporting
products across the globe.
• High Energy Cost: Transportation, especially using fossil fuels,
consumes significant energy.
• Fossil Fuel Dominance: Despite the energy cost of transport, products
moved by sea/air using fossil fuels remain attractive to customers and are often
cheaper than locally produced goods.
6. Climate and Energy Demand
• Temperature Impact: Energy demand is affected by local climate. Areas
with more extreme seasons (very hot or very cold) require more energy for heating
and air conditioning.
• Climate Change Effect: Climate change is leading to more extreme
weather events (e.g., prolonged heatwaves or intense cold spells), increasing the
demand for electricity for temperature regulation.
