GEOGRAPHY IGCSE: ENERGY - FOSSIL FUELS
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The document discusses energy sources, emphasizing the unsustainability of fossil fuels and the importance of renewable energy. It highlights the targets set by the UK and the EU for increasing renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, alongside specific examples of renewable projects, particularly wind farms in the UK and New Zealand. The Tararua wind farm in New Zealand is noted for its capacity and significance in the country's renewable energy landscape.
GEOGRAPHY IGCSE: ENERGY - FOSSIL FUELS
- 1. IGCSE GEOGRAPHY 39. ENERGY FOSSIL FUELS. CASE STUDY: NEW ZEALAND WIND FARMS, TARARUA
- 2. All life on earth is sustained by energy from the sun. Plants and animals can store energy and some of this energy remains with them when they die. It is the remains of these ancient animals and plants that make up fossil fuels.
- 3. Fossil fuels are non-renewable because they will run out one day. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases and relying on them for energy generation is unsustainable. Hence the need to find more renewable, sustainable ways of generating energy. Renewable or infinite energy resources are sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again.
- 4. Some resources can be thought of as both renewable and non- renewable. Wood can be used for fuel and is renewable if trees are replanted. Biomass, which is material from living things, can be renewable if plants are replanted.
- 7. Estimates from international organisations suggest that if the world's demand for energy from fossil fuels continues at the present rate that oil and gas reserves may run out within some of our lifetimes. Coal is expected to last longer.
- 9. Renewable energy sources quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again. For this reason they are sometimes called infinite energy resources.
- 12. Make sure you know what types of energy are renewable and non-renewable. It is important to remember that biomass and wood are only renewable if the trees and crops are replanted. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that bio means renewable - it doesn't!
- 13. The UK government wants to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. It also wants to increase the amount of energy which comes from renewable sources. By 2020 European Union targets state that 20% of energy must come from renewable sources. Each member state of the EU may have a different target, as 20% is an average figure for the EU. The UK has a target of 15% of its energy consumption being sourced from renewable energy. (In 2009 only 3% of energy came from renewable sources in the UK). Sweden has a target of nearly 50% whereas Malta has a target of 10%.
- 14. The EU also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. There are two ways the energy use can change in the UK: • Reducing the demand for energy • Increasing the supply of renewable energy
- 15. The demand for energy in the UK varies. This is because of: • Economic factors: For example during the recession energy demand did not increase as predicted • Seasonal factors: For example the demand for domestic energy over winter is greater than over the summer. • Temporal factors: For example at night there is surplus energy on the national grid because demand is lower
- 16. Regulations have forced vehicles to become more energy- efficient and give off less atmospheric pollution. The government has also continued to increase fuel and road taxes. Even so, the use of transport is rising so fast that the amount of CO2 given off by transport vehicles continues to rise. There are also incentives to save energy – for example grants are available to help make a home more energy efficient.
- 17. Wind UK power companies are now investing hundreds of millions of pounds in renewable power. The greatest amount of renewable energy in the UK comes from wind generation. In 2010 the world’s largest offshore wind farm was opened in Thanet, on the Thames estuary.
- 19. Wind UK power companies are now investing hundreds of millions of pounds in renewable power. The greatest amount of renewable energy in the UK comes from wind generation. In 2010 the world’s largest offshore wind farm was opened in Thanet, on the Thames estuary. Many wind farms have been set up, particularly in Scotland and Wales. However some plans for large wind farms have been blocked by planners.
- 20. New Zealand has 19 wind farms either operating or under construction. These wind farms currently have a combined installed capacity of 690 megawatts. They supply about 5% of New Zealand’s annual electricity generation, which is about the same amount of electricity as 300,000 kiwi homes use in a year. There is currently 2,500 MW of wind generation consented in New Zealand and developers are exploring sites throughout New Zealand for new wind farms.
- 22. Tararua Wind Farm is a wind farm owned and operated by Tilt Renewables. It is located on 700 hectares of farm land on the Tararua Ranges of New Zealand. It has become New Zealand's largest capacity wind farm, with a total capacity of 160 megawatts. The wind farm was first commissioned in 1999 and has been upgraded twice since. The most recent addition was commissioned in September 2007. The wind farm consists of 134 turbines of two different types: each turbine is mounted on a 40-metre-high steel lattice tower.