Renewable energy sources
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Flip to reveal answersDefine renewable energy and give two examples from Unit 7.
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All 15 Flashcards — Renewable energy sources
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Question
Define renewable energy and give two examples from Unit 7.
Answer
Renewable energy is energy from sources that are naturally replenished on human timescales. Examples include solar power and wind power.
💡 Hint
Definition + 2 examples.
Question
Classify solar and wind as intermittent or baseload sources.
Answer
Solar and wind are intermittent sources because their output varies with sunlight and wind speed.
💡 Hint
Intermittent = variable output.
Question
Explain how hydroelectric power generates electricity.
Answer
Hydroelectric power uses flowing or falling water to spin turbines, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy, usually in a dam or run-of-river system.
💡 Hint
Water flow → turbine → electricity.
Question
Give one environmental disadvantage of large hydroelectric dams.
Answer
Large dams can flood habitats, block fish migration, and displace communities; reservoirs can also produce methane from decomposing organic matter.
💡 Hint
Think habitat + migration + displacement.
Question
What is the key difference between photovoltaic (PV) solar and concentrated solar power (CSP)?
Answer
PV converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors, while CSP uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight to heat a fluid and generate electricity via turbines.
💡 Hint
PV = direct electricity, CSP = heat then turbine.
Question
Name three renewable energy sources and one key limitation for each.
Answer
Solar: intermittent; Wind: intermittent; Hydro: ecosystem disruption and site limits; Geothermal: location-limited; Biomass: sustainability and air pollution concerns (any three with a correct limitation).
💡 Hint
Source + limitation pairing.
Question
Why is geothermal energy considered a reliable (baseload) source in suitable locations?
Answer
Because heat from Earth’s interior is continuously available, allowing steady electricity generation or direct heating independent of daily weather conditions.
💡 Hint
Continuous heat supply.
Question
State one advantage and one disadvantage of solar power.
Answer
Advantage: no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and widely available. Disadvantage: intermittent supply (no sun at night) so storage or backup is needed.
💡 Hint
1 pro + 1 con.
Question
Which renewables are commonly considered baseload (more reliable) in the summary?
Answer
Hydro (with reservoirs), geothermal, and biomass are commonly considered more reliable/baseload compared with solar and wind.
💡 Hint
Baseload trio: hydro, geothermal, biomass.
Question
State one advantage and one disadvantage of wind power.
Answer
Advantage: low emissions during operation and relatively cheap. Disadvantage: intermittent output and potential impacts such as visual/noise concerns or bird/bat mortality.
💡 Hint
1 pro + 1 con.
Question
Give one reason hydro power can be controversial despite being renewable.
Answer
Large hydro can flood habitats, disrupt river ecosystems, block fish migration, and displace communities, so its environmental and social costs can be high.
💡 Hint
Renewable but high local impacts.
Question
State one limitation of geothermal power.
Answer
Geothermal power is location-limited to regions with accessible heat (often near tectonic boundaries) and can have issues such as gas release (e.g., H2S) or induced seismicity.
💡 Hint
Location-limited is key.
Question
Why is biomass not automatically carbon-neutral?
Answer
Biomass is only carbon-neutral if new plant growth absorbs as much CO2 as is released when the biomass is burned; if biomass causes deforestation or regrowth is slow, net emissions can be high.
💡 Hint
Neutral only with regrowth balance.
Question
Why do solar and wind often require energy storage or backup power?
Answer
Because solar and wind are intermittent: solar output depends on sunlight and wind output depends on wind speed, so supply does not always match demand without storage or backup generation.
💡 Hint
Intermittency → mismatch with demand.
Question
What is a common exam-style way to evaluate energy sources?
Answer
Compare energy sources using consistent criteria such as greenhouse gas emissions, reliability, cost, land use, water use, and impacts on biodiversity.
💡 Hint
Use consistent criteria.
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Topic 7.2 hub
Energy sources—uses and management
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