Impacts of Non-Renewable & Renewable Energy Resources (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Author
Bridgette BarrettExpertise
Geography Lead
Impacts of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
Non-renewable energy sources have a range of impacts on people and the environment
These impacts may have advantages or disadvantages
Impacts of Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy source | People | Environment | ||
Advantage | Disadvantage | Advantage | Disadvantage | |
Coal | Large reserves are available Cheap source of energy | The health of the miners: lung conditions Dangers of mine collapse | None | Pollution of water sources Production of CO2 Open-cast mining destroys large areas of the environment |
Oil | Jobs created | Oil leaks can be damaging to human health | None | Production of CO2 Oil spills are damaging for wildlife and plants |
Gas | Less danger from leaks as the gas dissipates | Danger of explosions | Fewer emissions than oil or coal | Release of greenhouse gases |
Uranium | Jobs created building and maintaining nuclear power stations | Expensive to build and maintain The danger of radiation leaks due to disasters or poor maintenance | Few greenhouse gas emissions | Radioactive waste, which is expensive to store |
Impacts of Renewable Energy Resources
Renewable energy sources have a range of impacts on people and the environment
These impacts may be advantages or disadvantages
Impacts of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources | People | Environment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Advantage | Disadvantage | Advantage | Disadvantage | |
Hydro-electric Power (HEP) | The creation of reservoirs may increase tourism and jobs | People may be relocated for the building of the dam and the creation of the reservoir | Few greenhouse gas emissions once built | Destruction of ecosystems and habitats when building the dam and flooding for the reservoir The building of the dam generates CO2 emissions |
Wind | Large wind farms can generate significant amounts of energy Jobs created building and maintaining turbines | Noise pollution Some people feel they are visually unattractive | Few greenhouse gas emissions once built | Can affect the migration patterns of birds Construction of the turbines generate CO2 emissions |
Solar | Jobs created making and maintaining solar panels | Using farmland, which could be used to grow crops | Few greenhouse gases once installed | Panels are made from toxic metals, which may harm the environment Construction of the panels generate CO2 emissions |
Worked Example
State one negative impact of developing wind power on the environment
(1)
Answer:
The construction of the blades and pillars generates CO2 emissions (1)
It has been reported that turbine blades can kill birds (1)
Some turbines can create noise pollution (1)
Wind farms can look intrusive/unnatural and spoil the appearance of the environment / visual pollution (1)
Exam Tip
You need to ensure that you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the different energy resources. To gain higher marks you also need to consider whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in each case.
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