The Changing Importance of
Other Energy Sources
IB Geography I
Objective
• To examine the changing importance of other
energy sources.
• Answer the following IB Exam Question
through discussion and analysis in small
groups:
– Examine the changing importance of three energy
alternatives to fossil fuels.
Part 1
Traditional Sources of Energy: Fossil
Fuels
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Coal
• Bell Ringer: Use the graphs on the next slides
to describe the patterns and trends in energy
consumption in the US. Use specific data
from the graph to support your answer.
20% Renewable Energy by 2020 in
the EU
• Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cysaOnlv
_E
Nuclear Power
• No other energy source creates such heated
discussion!
• Main concerns:
– Power plant accidents, which could release
radiation into air, land, sea (Chernobyl in the
Ukraine!)
– Radioactive waste storage/disposal
– Terrorist use of nuclear fuel for weapons
– Possible increase in cancer near nuclear plants
Nuclear Power
• Advantages
– Zero emissions from greenhouse gases
– Reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels
Fast-breeder Reactor:
• A few countries have
developed this technology
• A nuclear reactor that is
efficient at manufacturing
plutonium fuel
• Greatly increases energy
production
• BUT…. Can be very dangerous
if it gets into the wrong hands!
Plutonium is the key
ingredient for nuclear
weapons.
Part 2
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable Resources
• Hydroelectricity
• Wind
• Biofuels
• Geothermal Energy
• Solar
• Tidal
Future Energy Needs
World energy consumption is expected to increase by 60% between 2000 and 2020
Trends In Renewable Energy Sources
• Renewable energy is rapidly growing.
• In 2006, wind development grew by 20%.
• In 2006, solar development grew by 40%.
• Renewable energy will become increasingly
important as the world attempts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to slow down global
warming.
Hydroelectric Power: Using the power of falling water
in rivers to drive generators. At the moment dams have
to be built to create HEP power.
Advantages
• It is a clean form of energy
• It is infinite as long as rivers
are managed properly.
• The built dam can also
prevent flooding.
• The reservoir behind the
dam can be a store of water.
Disadvantages
• Only a limited number of
suitable rivers
• Can hamper navigation up
and down river
• Reservoirs may force
resettlement
Hydroelectricity
33% of all power plants in the U.S. are hydroelectric, but
they only generate 6% of U.S. electricity needs
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is a very clean, pollution-free, renewable
energy source
The water is not consumed, but rather simply passes the
generating equipment, and since several dams may occur
along the same river, the water can be reused and reused
Wind: Using the wind to move a wind turbine to
drive a generator and create electricity.
Advantages
• It is a clean form of energy
• It is an infinite resource
• It can be used on a local
scale e.g. in your back
garden
• Technology is proven
Disadvantages
• Visual pollution (NIMBY see below)
• Noise pollution
• Wind is unreliable
• It is hard to store surplus
energy
Wind Energy
The wind is free, commonly available and can provide
clean, pollution-free energy
Today’s wind-turbines are very high tech
Biofuels/Biomass: fossil fuel substitutes that can be
made from a range of agricultural crop materials
including oilseeds, wheat, corn and sugar
Advantages
• It is a renewable form of
energy as long as people
replant crops.
• It is cheap and the
resources can be grown
locally
Disadvantages
• It can still release
greenhouse gases.
• Areas can be deforested to
grow crops for energy
generation.
• If crops are used for energy
production it can lead to an
increase in food prices
Geothermal Energy: the natural heat found in
the Earth’s crust in the form of steam, hot water
and hot rock
Geothermal Energy
The steam and/or hot water is used to create electricity or for
heating
Solar Power: Using the power of the sun to
either heat water or generate electricity.
Advantages
• It is a clean form of energy
• It is a infinite resource
• Panels can be used locally
e.g. on top of someone’s
house
• It can be used to heat water
and generate electricity.
Disadvantages
• It is expensive to make solar
panels
• The sun does not shine all
the time
• They can't be used at night
• It is hard store surplus
energy
• Supply does not always
equal demand
Solar Energy
The Sun is free (nobody owns or controls it)
In principle, the amount of solar energy that reaches the
Earth’s surface could provide for all human energy needs
forever
Solar Energy
The distribution of solar energy over the continental U.S.
in watts per square meter
The desert regions of the southwest U.S. receive the
most sunlight
Solar Electricity
A major limitation is cost, which greatly exceeds the cost of
producing electricity using fossil fuels or nuclear power
The best solar cells are only 20% efficient and only provide 50
watts of electricity per square meter of cell size
Tidal: Using the motion of incoming
and outgoing tide to create energy
Advantages
• It is a clean form of energy
• It is an infinite resource,
tides happen twice a day.
• Ideal for island countries.
Disadvantages
• It can block important shipping
routes
• May interfere with some
animals e.g. sea otters and
seals
• Limited number of sites
• Useless for landlocked
countries
• High start up costs
• may be damaged by tropical
storms
Tidal Power
You can use the flowing
water between low and
high tides to generate
electricity, similar to
hydropower
The Reasons for Variations in Energy
Supply
Physical
Economic
Political
•Deposits of fossil fuels
are only found in a
limited number of
locations
•Wind power needs
high average wind
speeds throughout the
year
•Solar power needs a
large number of days a
year with strong
sunlight.
•The most accessible,
low cost energy sources
are developed first
•In poor countries,
foreign direct,
investment is often
essential for
development of energy
sources
•Countries wanting to
develop nuclear
electricity require
permission from the
International Atomic
Energy Agency.
• Legislation regarding
emissions from power
stations will favor less
pollutant material.
Renewables Small Group Discussion Activity
• In groups of 3, you will answer the following IB Exam
Question:
• Examine the changing importance of three energy
alternatives to fossil fuels.
• Prep Work in Groups:
• Unpack the question. What does “changing importance” mean?
What does “Examine” mean?
• Decide as a group which 3 renewables you want to focus on.
(You may pick from: hydroelectric, biofuel, wind, tidal, solar, or
geothermal)
• Get resources/articles for those renewables from me.
• Assign each group member to read/annotate and prepare for
discussing 1 of the 3 assigned renewables.
Individual Work in Preparation for
Small Group Discussion
• Read and Annotate your assigned evidence for
your renewable energy source.
• Use the Essay Planning Tool “Paragraph
Planner” to research and structure your
findings on your assigned renewable energy
source.
Small Group Discussions
• On Tuesday, each group will come together, prepared with their annotated
evidence, and completed “paragraph planner”
• As a group, you will spend approximately 3 minutes completing the
“Introduction” part of the Essay Planning Tool together.
• As a group you will spend approximately 15 minutes discussing each
renewable with the following protocol:
– Owner of renewable presents findings from evidence and paragraph
planner (4 min)
– Other 2 group members ask clarifying questions (2 min)
– Whole group discusses and incorporates that renewable into Essay
Planning Tool, making sure they address the question. (9 min)
• As a group you will spend approximately 3 minutes completing the
“Conclusion” Part of the Essay Planning Tool together.