Resources

Fossil fuels are finite and so continued use will mean that supplies will eventually become exhausted.

All fossil fuel burning contributes to global warming and acid rain.

Since oil and gas are used by so many countries, yet supplied by only a few, they are subject to sudden price changes and are vulnerable to political pressures and military attacks.

Oil spills are a risk when transporting oil by ship or via pipelines.

Deep mining for coal can be dangerous and has resulted in many deaths.

Rotor blades can be damaged in strong and turbulent winds.

It takes 30 wind farms to generate the same amount of electricity as one coal-fired power station.

The setting up costs for wind farms are therefore more expensive than for traditional fossil fuel power stations.

Some people consider the wind farms to be visually unattractive and noisy.

•walking, cycling, or using public transport rather than fossil-fuel powered cars

•reducing the number of aircraft journeys taken (especially short-haul flights)

•using smaller more energy-efficient cars

•switching off lights, power sockets, phone chargers and TVs when not in use

•using energy-efficient light-bulbs and rechargeable batteries

•insulating house rooves, blocking drafts, and using double-glazing and more efficient heating systems

•considering introducing solar panels, or switching to an electricity supplier that supplies green electricity

	Energy Resources
	What are energy resources?
	A resource is anything that is of use to people. Geographers use the term to refer to the natural resources found on earth. They can be either renewable or non renewable
	The Sun
	The Sun is the original source of most energy resources. Plants store the Sun’s energy through photosynthesis. Animals then eat the plants.
	Types of non-renewable energy
	There are two main categories of non-renewable energy
	Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas These are called fossil fuels because they have been formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric animals and plants. Fossil fuels provide around 66% of the world's electrical power and 95% of the world's total energy demands (including heating, transport, electricity generation and other uses).
	Minerals – uranium used in the nuclear power industry. Nuclear power provides about 11% of the world’s energy needs.

	Formation of coal
	300 million years ago, plants photosynthesized and stored the Sun’s energy. Dead plants fell into swampy water and the mud stopped them from rotting away. Over the years, the mud piled up and squashed the plants. After millions of years under this pressure, the mud becomes rock and the plants become coal. There is still a great deal of coal and this resource will last the longest. However, it also creates the most pollution when burnt.

	Formation of oil
	Oil is also biological in origin. Millions of years ago tiny animals lived in the sea. Like now, their ecosystem was dependent upon heat and light from the Sun and photosynthesis by plants. When they died they fell into mud and sand at the bottom of the sea but they did not rot away. Over millions of years, they got buried deeper by the mud and sand. The temperature and pressure (caused by the weight of the sediments and deep burial) changed the mud and sand into rock and the dead animals into crude oil and natural gas.

	Disadvantages of using fossil fuels
	Fossil fuels are finite and so continued use will mean that supplies will eventually become exhausted. All fossil fuel burning contributes to global warming and acid rain. Since oil and gas are used by so many countries, yet supplied by only a few, they are subject to sudden price changes and are vulnerable to political pressures and military attacks. Oil spills are a risk when transporting oil by ship or via pipelines. Deep mining for coal can be dangerous and has resulted in many deaths.
	Nuclear power stations
	Nuclear energy is made from the mineral uranium. These power stations are often located by the coast or on estuaries where there is water for cooling.

	What is renewable energy?
	Renewable energy is sustainable energy sources that will not run out since they can be regenerated. Some renewable resources are self-generating if left to nature, e.g. trees. However, they must not be used carelessly otherwise their existence is threatened. Some renewable resources are continuous and can be used over and over again, e.g. wind and solar power.
	What are the disadvantages of wind power?
	Rotor blades can be damaged in strong and turbulent winds. It takes 30 wind farms to generate the same amount of electricity as one coal-fired power station. The setting up costs for wind farms are therefore more expensive than for traditional fossil fuel power stations. Some people consider the wind farms to be visually unattractive and noisy.

	Important location factors for wind farms
	Wind farms are now also built offshore. Two are already operating and there are plans for thirteen more.

	What is hydroelectric power?
	Hydroelectric electricity is the most popular type of renewable energy. In some countries, it represents most of the energy produced. HEP provides over 70% of Brazil’s electricity. Hydroelectric energy is produced from fast-flowing water such as waterfalls, or by an artificial dam.
	Three Gorges Dam project in China
	The Three Gorges Dam project is the largest undertaking by the Chinese since they built the Great Wall. When it is finally completed in 2009 it will be the largest hydroelectric scheme in the world, generating thousands of megawatts of electricity to meet the demands of China’s growth. It will create a reservoir that will span 410 miles and make the Yangtze the longest navigable river in the world.

	Tidal energy
	Energy is generated by the tidal rise and fall. The tides come in and pass through holes in a dam wall. The water is then trapped in a river estuary. The flow of the tides back and forth through the barrage drives the turbines and produces electricity. Tidal energy is generated at La Rance in western France.

	Wave energy
	The island of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland has had a Limpet (land-installed marine-powered energy transformer) constructed, which should provide a reliable electricity supply for the 3,400 residents. A 25-metre notch has been cut into Islay’s southwest-facing cliffs at Portnahaven, into which a wave chamber has been inserted. The waves rise and fall in this wave chamber, compressing the air and so driving the turbines which power the generators.

	Solar energy
	Photovoltaic cells are made of the abundant element silicon. They have low maintenance costs although they are expensive to install. Photovoltaic cells are silent.

	Geothermal energy
	Geothermal energy is obtained from heated rocks and molten magma under the Earth’s surface.

	Effects of acid rain
	Some of the problems attributed to acid rain include: Trees lose some of the protection in their leaves, leaving them more at risk from frost and diseases. Tree roots may also become stunted, so they can't take up as many nutrients. Soils lose some of their nutrients. Increasing acid levels may cause problems for aquatic animals and plants. Some fish may have trouble breathing for example. Acid rain may dissolve the stonework and mortar of buildings causing structural problems of buildings.
	How can Acid Rain be Managed ?


	Global Warming
	Energy generation from fossil fuels also produces a build-up of gases - principally carbon dioxide and methane - which is thought to be a major cause of global warming. The greenhouse effect When fossil fuels are burnt - by industry, in power stations and in vehicles and planes - the gases enter the atmosphere. Although these gasses have always been present in the world's atmosphere, their concentration is gradually increasing as more and more fossil fuels are burnt. Scientists believe that the build-up of these so-called greenhouse gases in the atmosphere acts like a blanket or greenhouse around the planet; heat is trapped inside the earth's atmosphere. This is the greenhouse effect, and the resulting increase in global temperatures is called global warming.

	Chlorofluorocarbons
	Another group of greenhouse gases includes the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs for short). CFCs have been responsible for depleting the ozone layer as they attack and destroy ozone molecules.. The ozone layer is a high level layer of gas in the stratosphere. The ozone helps to keep out harmful ultra-violet rays which cause sun-burn on human skin and damage plants. CFCs have been used in aerosols, such as hairspray cans, fridges and in making foam plastics. The resulting ozone holes let harmful ultra-violet radiation in and adding to the problems of the Greenhouse effect and global warming. CFCs were banned in many countries in the mid-1990s after it was found that they were breaking up the earth's ozone. Scientists say the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica could disappear within 50 years.

	Weather changes due to Global Warming
	Global warming could melt the world's ice caps and glaciers, leading to an increase in sea levels. Some scientists estimate that over the next hundred years sea levels could rise by between 10cm and 90cm - making many coastal areas around the world uninhabitable. Global warming could also affect the weather patterns, leading to more droughts, flooding and extreme weather, such as hurricanes.
	Sustainable energy resources
	To meet increasing global demand for energy, while reducing the risk of causing either damage to the environment or contributing to global warming, it is important that countries find new types of energy, develop and expand existing sources that are more sustainable than fossil fuels. MEDCs start to switch from fossil fuels to alternative sources LEDCs start to use more energy they are encouraged to develop more sustainable sources of energy
	Energy efficiency
	We can all help by making changes to our lifestyles and our houses - for example by •walking, cycling, or using public transport rather than fossil-fuel powered cars •reducing the number of aircraft journeys taken (especially short-haul flights) •using smaller more energy-efficient cars •switching off lights, power sockets, phone chargers and TVs when not in use recycling and reusing plastics and oil-based products •using energy-efficient light-bulbs and rechargeable batteries •insulating house rooves, blocking drafts, and using double-glazing and more efficient heating systems •considering introducing solar panels, or switching to an electricity supplier that supplies green electricity