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Subject: Junior Certificate Geography Teacher: Mr Lenehan Week: Week 9 Lesson: Energy Sources

9.0 Learning Intentions

• That our world provides us with natural energy sources.

• What renewable and non-renewable resources are.

• That these energy resources impact on our environment, economy and our society.

• That over-using fossil fuels is not sustainable.

1.5. Explain how the processes of erosion, deposition and transportation shape our fluvial, marine and

glacial landscapes

9.1 Specification

9.2 Chief Examiner’s Report

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9.3 Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources

Non-renewable energy is energy that will

eventually run out.

Examples include fossil fuels such as: oil, coal,

gas and peat.

Fossil fuels are made from the fossils of dead

plants and animals.

80% of the world’s energy comes from fossil

fuels and 91% of Irelands energy comes from

fossil fuels.

Oil

Advantages

• It is very efficient.

• It is easy to transport.

• It produces great heat.

• It does not give off much smoke

Disadvantages

• It is expensive.

• We have to import it.

• It must be transported by sea.

• Oil leaks can cause environmental disasters.

Where do we get our oil?

Most oil reserves are in the Middle East in countries

such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and the United

Arab Emirates.

Where do we get our oil?

Oil prices are controlled by OPEC (Organisation of

the Petroleum Exporting Countries).

In the past, conflict in these regions has caused oil

prices to increase.

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10% of Irelands energy comes from coal. It is

mainly used to heat homes.

The ESB runs a coal powered station in

Moneypoint Co. Clare. Peat is found in bogs and is made from decayed

plant litter.

Peat used to be a very important energy source in

Ireland but is being phased out. 5.5% of our energy

comes from peat.

Coal and Peat

Oil in Ireland Ireland has oil reserves, but these have not been

exploited.

1. The location of the oil reserves makes it

difficult to reach.

2. The oil is thought to be poor quality.

Gas in Ireland Around 27% of Irelands energy comes from natural

gas, its used for cooking and heating homes.

Ireland sources gas from both at home and abroad from

Scotland.

Irish gas fields include the Corrib and Kinsale head

gas fields.

Case Study: Corrib gas field The Corrib gas field is located off the coast of Co.

Mayo.

Shell constructed an onshore processing plant and a

pipeline from the offshore plant to the onshore

processing plant.

This created controversy as locals were afraid it would

create pollution and damage the local fishing industry.

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Corrib gas field: Positive socio-

economic impacts The project is worth €4.4 million to the Irish economy.

It will provide 60% of Irelands gas needs.

It provided 1200 construction jobs and currently Shell

employ 175 in the locality.

Shell has contributed to the local community. i.e.

€450,000 donation to Belmullet GAA club.

Shell have provided scholarships to local secondary

school students to help them progress to college.

Negative socio-economic impacts Locals have safety concern’s, gas is highly flammable

and could explode.

Locals have environmental concerns such as damaging the

local drinking water supply at Carrowmore Lake as

well as waste material damaging local marine life in

Broadhaven Bay.

Locals fear the release of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur

will damage the local environment.

People are also concerned about the visual impact of the

Bellanaboy terminal.

9.4 Revision activity

Q 1. List 3 renewable and 3 non-renewable energy sources.

Q 2. Explain one disadvantage for Ireland in not having its own oil reserves.

Q 3. Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using oil.

Q 4. List 3 countries where oil can be found.

Video link to non-renewable energy sources:

https://youtu.be/zaXBVYr9Ij0

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Renewable energy sources

Renewable energy resources are sources that we can

use over and over again.

Examples include: Hydroelectric power, wind

energy, solar energy and biomass energy.

Hydro electric power Hydroelectric power is the creation of electricity by

the power of moving water.

A dam is built across a river. As water passes through

the dam it turns a turbine which generates

electricity.

HEP is the largest source of renewable energy.

Example Three Gorges dam in China.

Wind energy The force of wind can be used to turn turbines which then

generates electricity.

Sometimes a large number of turbines are placed together, this

is called a wind farm.

It is a very clean source of energy but needs a constant

supply of wind so windfarm locations must be chosen

carefully.

Solar energy Solar energy is created by using heat and light from the sun.

Solar cells and solar panels capture the heat and the light and

convert it to electricity. Many modern homes in Ireland have

solar panels.

9.4 Renewable energy sources

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Renewable energy: Geothermal

energy Geothermal energy uses heat from volcanic activity

to generate electricity.

Water is pumped deep into the earth’s crust and gets

heated up by the magma in the rock.

It is then pumped back to the surface where it

evaporates and gives off steam which spins a turbine

and generates electricity.

Biomass Biomass energy is when energy is produced from

organic material such as manure, sewage and other

crops.

Biomass energy is often used to generate electricity

on farms.

Ireland and renewable energy Ireland has excellent potential and resources for the

production of renewable energy.

Both the Irish government and private companies are

committed to getting Irelands energy from more

sustainable resources.

Hydroelectric power and wind energy are Irelands two

most common forms of renewable energy sources.

Video link to renewable energy sources:

https://youtu.be/1kUE0BZtTRc

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Case study: Poulaphouca dam Co.

Wicklow In 1937, work began on a dam on the river Liffey in

Co. Wicklow

Positive effects: The reservoir supplies over

400 million litres of water a day to the Dublin area.

People use the reservoir for water-based activities such

as fishing.

The reservoir attracts wildlife, and in 2010 the area

around Blessington Lakes was designated a wild bird

conservation area.

The HEP station is used to generate clean, renewable

energy.

Wind energy Ireland has many wind farms. Ireland is ideal as we get

lots of wind due to the strong winds from the

Atlantic Ocean.

Most of Irelands wind farms are located in rural

upland areas, especially in the west. This is to prevent

visual pollution.

Galway wind park has 58 wind turbines and provides

energy for over 140,000 homes.

20% of our electricity is produced by wind. Wind

energy employs more than 3,400 people nationally.

Negative effects 100 families had to be relocated to make room for the

reservoir.

Over 2,000 hectares of farmland were flooded by the

reservoir.

The ‘head of water’ – how far the waterfalls entering

the dam, was too small to generate enough electricity.

This required the construction of a second dam, called

Golden Falls, 3 kilometres downstream, costing the

state more money.

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Environmental consequences of energy

production: Acid Rain

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky –

Rain, sleet, snow and hailstones.

How is it formed?

It is formed when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are

released into the atmosphere. These combine with water

vapour in the atmosphere.

Condensation then occurs – this is when water vapour is

turned back into water droplets that fall as rain.

Effects of Acid rain Acid rain damages and stuns the growth of trees.

Acid rain makes soils acidic, causes leaching and makes

them infertile.

Acid rain damages lakes, killing marine life and leaving

behind dead lakes.

Acid rain damages buildings and monuments, especially

those made of limestone.

Solutions to acid rain Make cars more energy efficient, place higher

taxes on cars that are not energy efficient.

Increase the amount of public transport that is

available to people and encourage them to use it.

Use cleaner fuels like natural gas instead of coal.

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9.5 Homework correction

9.6 Homework Task

Environmental consequences of energy production: Smog When we burn fossil fuels, the air pollution can mix with sunlight and heat to form smog. Smog looks like fog but it is caused by smoke. Today can be seen in densely populated industrial cities in China and India. In 1952, 4000 Londoners were killed due to the smog from factories.

Q 1. Convectional rainfall: This is when warm air rises because it is less dense. As it rises it cools and condenses to form

clouds which produce rain. It is common all year round in hot regions and during the summer in Ireland.

Q 2. Cumulus clouds

Q 3. Stratus clouds: Below 2,000 metres

Cumulus clouds: Below 5,000 metres

Cirrus clouds: Above 8,000 metres

Q 1. What are renewable energy sources? Give 3 examples of renewable energy sources.

Q 2. Explain how acid rain is formed and a consequence of acid rain.

Q 3. Explain one solution to acid rain.