Energy resources
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Outline the arguments for and against the development of nuclear power. (4)
Arguments for eg high energy density/small amount of fuel needed low fuel transport requirement named pollutant not released eg co2 small waste quantity employment opportunities high development/installation/construction cost high cost but high return limited number/planning permission problems power station aesthetics ugly power stations can have a local impact public safety named health risk environmental contamination level of public support perceived risks employment
Outline the arguments for and against the development of solar power. (4)
Arguments for;;; E.g. renewable energy (relatively) simple technology no fuel requirement no pollution (in use) no co2 released apart from during manufacturing usable in isolated areas suitable for mobile uses Argument against;; intermittent/day-night/seasonal Unreliable/affected by cloud cover Low efficiency (energy conversion by panels) few aesthetic problems Public support issues
Describe the trends in demand for electricity. (3)
Daily rise and fall/daytime peaks, night time lows; fluctuations during daytime peak (during day, meals, breaks); higher during week than at weekend; reduced/changed time of peaks Sat/Sun; differences between weekdays; eg Mon-Thu ref to values at stated time;
Suggest reasons for the difference in the trends on Monday and Sunday. (2)
baseload activity (all the time); eg industry: Al smelting, sewage treatment, water treatment, hospitals domestic: fridges, appliances on standby weekday/weekend differences;; eg less industry at weekend different meal times use of electricity for transport - electric trains/underground trams
Explain how the electricity industry can store surplus energy to help match fluctuations in demand. (5)
Pumped storage HEP; (surplus electricity used to) pump water up; two reservoirs; stored as (gravitational) potential energy; water released during periods of demand; rapid response; HEP dam kept closed; (gravitational) potential energy (stored); electricity generated when required; Hydrogen economy; (surplus electricity used for) electrolysis of water; storage of hydrogen (from electrolysis); use of (stored) hydrogen when needed; named method of using (stored) hydrogen; Fuel cell; electricity used to make fuel/converted to chemical energy; named fuel/hydrogen/methanol; electricity generated when required; named use of fuel cell;
Suggest two reasons why wind farms are not always built in the windiest areas. (2)
Named human conflicts;; eg aesthetics, noise, flicker, radio interference named wildlife conflicts;; eg bird strike/migration route, bat deaths, habitat damage designated areas access difficulty; distance to consumers; named construction problem; eg poor foundations/deep water
Explain how economic strategies have been used to encourage the use of renewable energy. (3)
NFFO/Non Fossil Fuel Obligation; price control; eg increase fossil fuel price tax relief; carbon tax; (set-up) grants/discounts/subsidies/loans/research funding; make planning process/construction easier; sell surplus electricity to the grid;
Outline the ways in which the use of wind turbines may cause damage to the natural environment. (3)
Habitat damage during material extraction/processing; habitat loss/damage for access roads/transformers/cables/infrastructure; aesthetic damage to natural environment; bird strike; bat deaths; noise disturbance of wildlife/named taxa; eg of cetaceans
Describe how oxides of nitrogen may cause the production of a secondary pollutant. (2)
Photochemical reaction/photodissociation/action of light/UV; NO2 breakdown (to NO and O); monatomic oxygen (produced); ozone (produced from O2 and O); PANs; OR NOx dissolves in water; nitric acid (produced); toxic ion/heavy metal solubility
Outline two features of ship tanker design that are intended to reduce the risk of oil pollution. (4)
Method;; eg double hull reduced risk of tank damage tank washing/bilge water storage tank waste not dumped overboard/discharged at oil terminal twin rudders/engines/fuel tanks less chance of total manoeuvrability failure ballast water; not held in oil tanks; advanced navigation; avoid collisions; inert gas system; reduce fire/explosion risk; [Alarger number of tanks] [Asmaller volume spilt]
Outline two ways in which energy density may affect the usefulness of an energy resource. (2)
Resources with high energy density more useful because: higher power output/less fuel needed; greater ease of transport; less space for storage; named use requiring high energy density, eg vehicle fuel; [A converse]
Explain how the use of hydrogen as a secondary fuel may help to increase the usefulness of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power. (3)
Removes unreliability/intermittency; higher energy density; electrolysis of water(to produce hydrogen); more useful chemical energy; application to vehicles/named use/high intensity use; many primary fuels harnessed to give one fuel for consumers; storability of hydrogen; surplus for later use/peak shaving/back up supplies
Suggest why, despite their higher embodied energy, replacing steel with aluminium and plastics may reduce the total amount of energy used by a car over its lifetime. (2)
Reduce mass/lighter; reduced energy/fuel use (for propulsion)
Outline how car manufacturers can design cars to reduce the environmental impact at the end of the vehicle’s life. (2)
Choice/amount of materials that can be recycled; reuseable parts; lower energy use (in recycling); easier separation/dismantling; identifiable materials; less waste produced; fewer toxins/pollutants; alloys (harder to recycle); biodegradable materials;
Outline how the use of solar power reduces the use of other energy inputs. (3)
Example of how other energy inputs would have been used;; eg space heating water heating lighting electrical appliances example of use of solar power;;; eg passive solar gain photothermal panel large windows south facing windows high thermal mass materials [Aphotovoltaics]
Compare the environmental impacts of the use of renewable and non-renewable energy resource. (20)
Non renewables fuel extraction fuel processing emissions solid wastes equipment manufacture renewables equipment manufacture aesthetics HEP – flooding, river changes tidal – barrages biofuels
Explain how improvements in technology have increased the amount of energy that can be provided by a named fossil fuel. (2)
Named technological improvement (for named fossil fuel); how more energy is made available; eg coal gasification/liquifaction access deep/thin/shattered seams secondary oil recovery maintain/increase pressure tertiary oil recovery solvents/steam/detergents/bacteria reduce oil viscosity deviation/snakehead drilling access small fields deep drilling access more reservoirs fracking increase gas flow named exploratory technique increase proven reserves
Explain how improvements in technology have increased the amount of energy that can be provided by solar power. (2)
heliostats track sun to increase energy harnessed parabolic reflectors increase light intensity/focus light insulation of photothermal panels reduce heat loss sun pipe/light tube/light pipe/light tunnel/light well light to interior rooms improved storage/secondary fuel solve intermittency problem
Explain how improvements in technology have increased the amount of energy that can be provided by wind power. (2)
blade tip fins reduce turbulence energy losses blades fit tightly to nacelle reduced wind loss through gap direct drive/to gearbox reduced energy loss/friction stronger blades stress problems solved longer blades doubling length increases energy harnessed four-fold lighter blades generate at lower wind speeds vertical axis wind from any direction/more efficient at lower wind speed/more suitable locations helical blades more even rotation improved storage/secondary fuel solve intermittency problem
Raised areas, such as hills, are often the best sites for locating wind turbines. Apart from land use issues, explain why it can be difficult to decide which is the best site on a hill for harnessing wind power. (4)
Short term) velocity fluctuations; seasonal fluctuations;long term fluctuations; wind direction (changes); difficulty making measurements at turbine height; friction with ground/vegetation; turbulence (caused by ground); soil stability/erosion/unsuitable geology; access difficulties;
Although windows can be a significant cause of heat loss, careful design can use windows as a method of gaining energy. Suggest how building design can use windows to gain energy. (2)
South facing/facing the Sun; large(r)/angled windows;
Suggest how making lighter turbines may reduce environmental damage. (2)
Less energy use/pollution/habitat damage/material used; reason; eg extraction processing (raw materials) manufacture transport installation disposal at end of life
Suggest why wind power is particularly suitable for electricity generation in remote areas.(2)
Small scale generation/simple installation possible; (small enough for) easy transport; no fuel inputs; low maintenance; energy transport infrastructure not present; less energy loss in long distance transport; fewer people that may object/affected; less interference with radio/radar/microwave links;
Suggest how the half-life of iodine 131 may make it a greater risk to public health than plutonium 239. (1)
More energy/radiation released/absorbed/ionising events/free radicals per unit time