1. The Changing Importance of Other Energy Sources
IB Geography I

2. 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.

3. Part 1

4. 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.

7. 20% Renewable Energy by 2020 in the EU
Video:

8. 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

9. Nuclear Power Advantages Zero emissions from greenhouse gases
Reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels

10. 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.

11. Part 2

12. What is Renewable Energy?

13. Hydroelectricity Wind Biofuels Geothermal Energy Solar Tidal
Renewable Resources
Hydroelectricity
Wind
Biofuels
Geothermal Energy
Solar
Tidal

14. Future Energy Needs
World energy consumption is expected to increase by 60% between 2000 and 2020 14

16. 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.

18. 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
Disadvantages
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.
Only a limited number of suitable rivers
Can hamper navigation up and down river
Reservoirs may force resettlement

19. Hydroelectricity
33% of all power plants in the U.S. are hydroelectric, but they only generate 6% of U.S. electricity needs 19

20. 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 20

21. Wind: Using the wind to move a wind turbine to drive a generator and create electricity.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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
Visual pollution (NIMBY - see below)
Noise pollution
Wind is unreliable
It is hard to store surplus energy

23. Wind Energy
The wind is free, commonly available and can provide clean, pollution-free energy
Today’s wind-turbines are very high tech 23

24. 24

25. Biofuels/Biomass: fossil fuel substitutes that can be made from a range of agricultural crop materials including oilseeds, wheat, corn and sugar
Advantages
Disadvantages
It is a renewable form of energy as long as people replant crops.
It is cheap and the resources can be grown locally
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

26. Geothermal Energy: the natural heat found in the Earth’s crust in the form of steam, hot water and hot rock 26

27. Geothermal Energy
The steam and/or hot water is used to create electricity or for heating 27

28. Solar Power: Using the power of the sun to either heat water or generate electricity.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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.
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

29. 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 29

30. 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 30

31. 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 31

32. Tidal: Using the motion of incoming and outgoing tide to create energy
Advantages
Disadvantages
It is a clean form of energy
It is an infinite resource, tides happen twice a day.
Ideal for island countries.
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

33. Tidal Power
You can use the flowing water between low and high tides to generate electricity, similar to hydropower 33

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.