Energy and the Environment

Fossil Fuel Formation

 Fossil fuels: carbon-based fuels formed millions of years ago from

the decay of living matter.

 Coal: formed from plants.

 Oil and natural gas: formed from sea creatures.

 Formation of coal:

o Huge forests grew millions of years ago, covering most of the

Earth.

o The vegetation died and formed peat.

o The peat was compressed between layers of sediments to

form lignite (low-grade coal).

o Further compression formed coal.

Formation of oil and natural gas:

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  Small animals and plants die and fall to the bottom of the sea.

 Sediments cover their remains.

 As the sediments start forming layers, they start to change into

sandstone as the temperature and pressure increase.

 The heat and pressure turn the remains into crude oil and natural

gas.

 They separate and rise through the sandstone, filling in the pores.

 The rock above the oil and gas is impervious (non-porous).

 So, they get trapped underneath it.

Energy Resources and the Generation of

Electricity
The demand for energy is increasing worldwide due to:

 Increasing population size.

 Increasing industrialisation and urbanisation.

 Improvements in standards of living and expectations.

Types of Energy Sources:

Non-renewable Renewable
Limited Can be used over and over again
Take millions of years to get Can be replenished in a short
replenished period of time

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 Non-renewable Renewable
Fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural
Geothermal power
gas)
Nuclear power (using uranium) Hydro-electric power
Tidal power
Wave power
Wind power
Solar power
Biofuels e.g. bioethanol, biogas
and wood
 Nuclear fuels last for centuries and are a good replacement for fossil

fuels, but the source material (uranium) is limited.

 Biofuels may become limited, but it can be renewed by replacing

the cut-down trees with new ones to obtain bioethanol and wood.

o Biogas can be obtained by recycling waste products.

 How energy sources are used to generate electricity:

 Turbine: a machine, often containing fins, that is made to revolve

by gas, steam or air (it is connected to a generator).

 Generator: a machine that converts mechanical energy into

electrical energy.

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Fossil fuels and Biofuels:

 These produce a massive amount of energy during combustion that

is used to heat water and convert it into steam, which thereby

drives the turbines.

 Nuclear power:

o Uranium, a radioactive element, releases huge amounts of

energy when nuclear fission (splitting of the atom) occurs.

o This energy is used to heat the water, produce steam, and

rotate the turbines.

 Geothermal power:

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 o Cold water is pumped under pressure into a layer of hot rocks.

o The rocks heat the water.

o The hot water returns to the surface under pressure and heats

the second supply of water using a heat exchanger.

o The steam produced in the second supply moves the turbine,

generating electricity.

 Wind power:

o Wind turbines have shafts (blades) that rotate due to wind.

o Gearbox maximises the rotation of the shaft.

o Brakes slow down or stop the rotor in very windy conditions,

preventing damage to the blade.

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 o As the turbine rotates, the generator produces electricity.

 Solar power:

o Uses photovoltaic cells that produce a small electric charge

when exposed to light.

o A bank of cells organised into solar panels produce a

significant amount of electricity.

 Tidal power:

o Uses the natural rise and fall in the level of water in an area.

o When the levels drop, water is held back by a tidal barrage (a

small dam that releases water back through a turbine).

o Wave power:

o Also uses turbine and generator.

o Uses the smaller differences in water levels that are caused by

wind.

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  Hydro-electric power:

o Uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir.

o Water is released from the reservoir that flows through the

turbine, rotating it.

o The turbine then activates a generator that generates

electricity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of:

 Fossil fuels:

Advantages Disadvantages
Carbon dioxide and toxic gases are
Plentiful supply; released when burnt contributes to
global warming;
Provides job opportunities
Damages local area;
(mining and processing);
The technology used is well-
known and the methods of Limited supply (non-renewable).
extraction are well-practised.
 Biofuels:

Advantages Disadvantages
Renewable source; Carbon dioxide and toxic gases are

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 Advantages Disadvantages
released when burnt;

Growing more plants uses Lot of land needed.

carbon dioxide; Shortage of land for agriculture ‫؞‬
Plentiful supply. Removal of natural ecosystems ‫؞‬

Energy Demand
Domestic demand:

 Created by affordability, availability and social status.

 Most of the purchases that are considered as necessities now

increase the demand for energy supplies, notably electricity.

 Example:

o Fruits and vegetables, that aren’t naturally available in the

season locally, are produced in glasshouse or in areas with a

favourable climate and are then transported.

o In both the scenarios (glasshouse operation and transport),

the energy cost is significant.

Industrial demand:

 Manufacturing requires the use of large amounts of energy

throughout the production e.g. iron and steel production.

 Advanced manufacturing techniques made the products, that were

once luxury items, cheaper.

o So, more people want to buy them.

o The demand for the product increases.

o The demand for energy (needed for production) also

increases.

Transport:

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  Manufacturers supply customers across the globe.

 This decreases production costs in countries that import, but

increases the transport costs as they require large amounts of fossil

fuels to operate.

Personal and national wealth:

 If economic conditions are good:

o Higher employment;

o More money to spend on luxury items;

o Increase in demand for the product;

o Increase in demand for energy (for production).

 If economic conditions are poor:

o Families have less money to spend on luxury items;

o Need to make savings;

o Reduce the use of fuel;

o Reduce the purchase and use of electrical items;

o Decrease in the demand for energy.

 Decline in the economy of one country can have a global

impact.

 Reduction in the economy of China meant a worldwide:

o Reduction in production of steel.

o Decrease in the amount of manufactured goods (transported

by ships).

o Decrease in the price of oil (energy source).

Climate:

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  The demand for energy with regard to climate depends on the

country.

 People living in a temperate climate are likely to experience colder

winters, so the energy demand for heating would be far higher.

o They also experience fewer hours of daylight.

o This increases the usage of electrical lighting.

 Climate change (excessive heat or cold) increased the energy

consumption (particularly in urban areas).

o Need for additional heating.

o Installation and operation of air-conditioning units.

Conservation and Management of Energy

Sources
Strategies for the efficient management of energy resources:

 Reducing consumption:

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o Reducing the amount of energy used to heat a building.

o Insulation: constructing using material with good insulation

properties prevents loss of heat.

o Loft insulation: adding an insulation layer into the roof

space.

o Underfloor insulation: adding an insulation layer on the

floor e.g. carpet.

o Cavity wall insulation: a gap between inside and outside

walls is filled with an insulating material, causing the heat to

pass through more slowly.

o Double glazing: two panes of glass with a gap in the middle

to act as an insulator.

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 o This sealed gap is usually filled with air or an inert gas e.g.

argon.

o Triple glazing can also be used, but it is too expensive.

o Electrical devices must be turned off when not in use.

o Devices can be left in ‘standby’ mode and can be accessed

rapidly.

o More energy-efficient devices must be bought.

o Developing alternative fuels for vehicles and further

development in engine technology.

o ‘Scrappage’ schemes: remove inefficient machines from

use (electrical appliances or vehicles).

 Energy from waste:

o Reusing existing materials to extract energy from them before

they are disposed.

o Anaerobic digestion: breaking down of organic matter

(waste food and vegetation) using bacteria.

o This process takes place in a sealed container and releases

methane (a flammable gas) that can be used for heating

purposes.

o The composted waste can be used as organic matter to

improve soil structure.

o Household rubbish can be incinerated (burnt) to produce heat,

that can be used to generate electricity;

Advantages Disadvantages
Waste from burning (ash) is small in Produces poisonous gases

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 Advantages Disadvantages
volume. Thus, it doesn’t take up much
during combustion.
space.
 Vegetable oils, once used, should be disposed;

 These oils can be collected and recycled into biofuels suitable for

running vehicles;

 It can be used exclusively or as an additive.

 Education:

o Benefits of the technology must be communicated to others;

o Promote new ways of thinking;

o The message must be that significant savings in energy bills

can be made over the longer term, reducing energy use;

o Energy-efficiency ratings must be provided for new products

to compare with the old ones.

o Laws passed by the government to make changes

rapidly:

o Stricter building regulations: new constructions must be

more energy efficient.

o Preventing the sales of inefficient types of electrical devices.

o Incentives to encourage the purchase of more efficient

technologies:

o Insulating older houses that are energy efficient;

o Replacing older, inefficient electrical devices;

o Scrapping older, inefficient cars, that emit more pollutants.

 Exploiting existing energy resources:

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 o The type of energy source used depends on social,

environmental and economic factors.

o The current solution is to use a renewable resource as a

primary energy source when possible and have a fossil-fuel (or

biofuel) powered station available as a backup when weather

conditions are not suitable.

o This is a reliable source for industry and households and

reduces the amount of fossil fuels used.

 Transport policies:

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 o Regulations regarding the quality of exhaust gases from

vehicles;

o Check on the fuel efficiency;

o Restrictions on where vehicles may go;

o Taxation on fuels;

o Surcharges for travelling to certain places at peak times;

o Improving public transport so it is easier and cheaper than

using cars;

o Improving routes for cyclists and pedestrians;

o Encouraging car-sharing;

o Restricting when cars can be used e.g. odd even rule in Delhi;

o Providing incentives to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and for

vehicles using cleaner technology.

 Development of new resources:

 Fracking: obtaining oil or gas from shale rock by splitting them

open using water, sand and chemicals.

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  A vertical hole (2-3 km deep) is drilled to reach the fuel-rich rocks

(shale rocks).

 Water, sand and chemicals are pumped down into the shale rock

layer.

 This causes the rock to fracture, releasing oil and natural gas, which

are forced back to the surface and collected.

 Purpose of the three components:

o Water: easy to handle (in high pressure).

o Chemicals: stop the blockage of pipes.

o Sand: keeps the cracks in the rock open.

Advantages Disadvantages
Access to more oil and
Risk of toxins entering the water table;
gas;

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 Advantages Disadvantages
Less pollution than Chemicals are toxic and may affect local
burning coal; residents;
The need to import Uses a lot of water; may cause water
reduces; scarcity;
Noise pollution;
Provide many jobs locally. Natural areas damaged;
May cause additional Earth tremors.

Impact of Oil Pollution

Main causes of marine oil spills:

 Offshore oil extraction: leakage from the rigs.

 Oil pipelines: leaks in the oil pipework.

 Shipping: risk of collision or damage to oil tankers.

 Effects of an oil spill:

Organism or
Impact of oil
habitat
Oil floats on the surface of the water and blocks the
Phytoplankton sunlight from entering. The phytoplankton can’t
photosynthesise, so they die.
Fish Shortage of food; reduction in phytoplankton.
Oil floating on the surface prevents gas exchange.
Fish become short of oxygen and die; Direct contact
of the fish with oil affects their gills.
Birds Shortage of food as fish and other creatures die;
May consume oil when eating fish (toxic);
When hunting for food, feathers get covered with
oil, affecting their ability to fly.
Mammals Food sources are depleted;
Mammals may also swallow oil while feeding (toxic);
Coating of oil will affect their skin.
Complete devastation of the reef due to lack of
Reefs
oxygen (species die);

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 Organism or
Impact of oil
habitat
Areas may be covered in oil.
Beaches Oil (washed by tides) coats rocks;
Organisms in shallow water and rock pools may die
due to toxic effects of the oil;
Animal food sources and tourism are affected.

Management of Oil Pollution

Reducing oil spills in marine environments:

 MARPOL (Marine Pollution): International Convention for the

Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

 Regulations of the MARPOL:

o Supervise the transport of oil at sea;

o All tankers must be certificated to show they have appropriate

systems in use;

o Else, it can result in a heavy fine or the ship may not be

permitted to leave port.

 Tanker design:

o Oil spill can be caused by damage to the hull (a hole in the

hull of the boat causes its contents to leak).

o Increase in the number of compartments within the

hull of the ship: if one of the compartment’s damaged, the

contents of the whole ship aren’t lost.

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 o Double-hulled tankers: if the outer layer’s damaged, the

contents are still secure by the inner plate.

o Though double-hulled tankers cost more than single-hulled,

the risks of oil spill are far less.

 Minimising the impact of oil spills:

o Floating booms: a floating barrier is used to surround the oil

slick, preventing it from spreading.

o This process works well when the spill covers a relatively small

area and the sea is calm.

o Detergent sprays: detergents help break down the oil slick

into smaller droplets, that eventually degrade, and disperse it.

o They are effective on smaller spills, but cause damage to the

coral reefs themselves as they’re not tolerant to detergents.

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o Skimmers: clean the water using a material that oil easily

attaches to.

o The skimmer drags oil off the seawater surface, that is then

scrapped off into a container.

o This system is used when oil slick is contained within a boom

and the sea is calm.

o When the oil reaches beaches, it can only be removed by

hand (difficult and time-consuming).

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