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Flashcards in Renewable Energy Sources Deck (13)
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1
Q

What can we do with waves, rivers and tides?

A

Transfer its kinetic energy into electrical energy.

2
Q

What does hydroelectric usually require?

A

The flooding of a valley by building a big dam.

3
Q

The rainwater that is caught and…

A

Allowed out through turbines.

No pollution.

4
Q

What is a negative about hydroelectric power?

A

Big impact on the environment due to the flooding of the valley and possible loss of habitat for some species.
Reservoirs unsightly when they dry up.

5
Q

What reduces the impact when is comes to hydroelectric power stations?

A

Putting them in remote valleys reduces impacts on humans.

6
Q

What is an advantage about hydroelectric power stations?

A

Provides an immediate response to an increased demand for electricity.
No problem with reliability only in drought.

7
Q

What are the cost for hydroelectric power stations?

A

Initial costs are high.

No fuel and minimal running costs.

8
Q

Where can it be useful to generate electricity?

A

On a small scale in remote areas.

9
Q

What happens in most large power stations?

A

Huge boilers have to be kept running all night even though demand is very low.
Surplus of electricity at night.

10
Q

It is difficult to find a way to store this spare energy for later use, give on way how?

A

Pumped storage is one of the best solutions.

11
Q

What happens during pumped storage?

A

‘Spare’ night time electricity is used to pump water up to a higher reservoir.
This then can be released quickly during periods of peak demand such as teatime each evening, to supplement the steady delivery from the big power stations.

12
Q

How is pumped storage and hydroelectric power different?

A

Pumped storage isn’t a way of generating power its a way of storing energy which has already been generated.

13
Q

What country uses a lot of hydroelectric power?

A

Norway.

99% of energy comes from it.