Numbers
CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930
Fossil Fuels
Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change
Macrogeneration
Microgeneration
Energy From Wind
Topic overviewHorizontal and vertical axis wind turbinesKinetic energy, wind power and the Betz limitPower curves, rated output and energy lossesSwept area, blade length and turbine massAir density, hub height and turbine sitingPower control, yawing and survival speedChoosing a location for a commercial wind farm
Energy From the Sun
Topic overviewSolar radiation, tracking and concentrating solar powerFlat plate and evacuated tube collectorsSizing a domestic solar thermal systemPhotovoltaic cells and semiconductor wafersTypes of photovoltaic module comparedPlanning regulations and solar incentivesPassive solar design in new and existing buildings
Energy From Biomass
Energy Storage
Plastics for the Future
Topic overviewCrude oil as a fuel and a feedstockRefinery gases and the making of polymersPersistent plastic waste and the Great Pacific Garbage PatchToxic gases from incinerating plasticsBiodegradable, photodegradable and compostable plasticsTesting photodegradable plastic against polytheneBio-derived polyethylene and a sustainable plastics future
Renewable Energy Investigations
Sustainable Development
Waste Management
Waste to Energy Technologies
Land Contamination and Remediation
Topic overviewContaminated land, risk and traditional remediationBioremediation principles and bioreactor systemsMicro-organisms that degrade named pollutantsBioremediation benefits and genetically engineered microbesPhytoremediation of metals and other elementsPhytoextraction with Indian mustard and alpine pennycressBiohydrometallurgy and phytomining of ores
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Transport System Challenges
Energy Performance of Buildings
Emerging Technologies
Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities
The Code for Sustainable Homes
Topic overviewPurpose, levels and assessment of the CodeEnergy, carbon dioxide and water categoriesMaterials, surface water run-off and waste categoriesPollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology categoriesMeasuring the performance of an existing buildingPerformance profiles, improvements and evaluation
Emerging Technologies
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- A2 1
What Emerging Technologies covers
Emerging Technologies is examined in Unit A2 1, Building and Managing a Sustainable Future, a written examination. It covers tidal stream and tidal barrage power, wave energy converters, environmental impacts of wave and tidal energy, smart materials and smart systems, carbon capture and storage and geo-engineering, direct air capture and bio-photovoltaics.
Where it is assessed
A2 1
Building and Managing a Sustainable Future — a written examination.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Tidal stream and tidal barrage powerWhy wave and tidal energy matter for Northern Ireland, the predictability of tides, SeaGen in Strangford Lough, tidal stream generators, tidal barrages and the Rance station, tidal lagoons, and tidal range against tidal stream energy.Open →
- Wave energy convertersPoint absorbers, attenuators and Pelamis, oscillating water columns and overtopping devices, surviving storms, the predictability of wave output, Atlantic coasts, and offshore against shoreline siting.Open →
- Environmental impacts of wave and tidal energyEffects on marine life and habitats, toxic pollution, visual and noise impacts, conflicts with other sea users, monitoring SeaGen at Strangford Lough, grid connection, corrosion, consent processes and reducing impacts.Open →
- Smart materials and smart systemsSmart materials and smart glass, smart systems in transport, waste management, engineering and buildings, smart grids and smart meters, their environmental and economic benefits and drawbacks, and their role in renewable generation.Open →
- Carbon capture and storageThe three phases of carbon capture and storage, post-combustion, pre-combustion and oxy-fuel capture, pipeline and ship transport, geological and sub-seabed storage, costs and controversy, utilisation, heavy industry and leak monitoring.Open →
- Geo-engineering, direct air capture and bio-photovoltaicsGeo-engineering methods, their potential and risks, solar radiation management and afforestation, direct air capture, and how bio-photovoltaic cells generate electricity, their limits and uses in remote places.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is a smart system, and how are smart systems used in transport?
Key term
What is a wave energy converter?
Key term
How do marine energy devices affect marine life and habitats?
Key term
What is carbon capture and storage?
Key term
What is geo-engineering?
Key term
Why is energy from waves and tides a priority for Northern Ireland?
Process
How does a point absorber work?
Key term
How can marine energy devices cause toxic pollution?
Key term
What is a smart material?
Key term
How could carbon capture reduce emissions from fossil fuel power plants?
Key term
Give two examples of proposed geo-engineering methods.
Key term
Why is tidal energy more predictable than wind or solar energy?
Process
How does an attenuator work?
Key term
What visual and noise impacts can wave and tidal devices have?
Key term
What is smart glass?
Key term
What are the three phases of carbon capture and storage?
Evaluation
What are the potential advantages of geo-engineering?
Take Emerging Technologies further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Tidal barrage vs Tidal stream generator
Tidal barrage: a dam across an estuary with turbines in its sluices. Tidal stream generator: an underwater rotor turned by fast-flowing currents in open water.
Point absorber vs Attenuator
Point absorber: a compact floating buoy that rises and falls with passing waves. Attenuator: a long jointed device lying along the direction of the swell.
Smart material vs Smart system
Smart material: a substance whose properties change reversibly in response to a stimulus. Smart system: a network of sensors, processing and automatic control that responds to conditions.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why is energy from waves and tides a priority for Northern Ireland?
Model answer
Northern Ireland is surrounded by sea with strong tidal flows, such as those in Strangford Lough. Marine energy could cut the region's reliance on imported fossil fuels.
- 2
Why is tidal energy more predictable than wind or solar energy?
Model answer
Tides are driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, so their timing can be forecast years ahead. Wind and sunshine vary with the weather.
- 3
What is a tidal stream generator?
Model answer
A tidal stream generator is an underwater turbine turned by fast-flowing tidal currents. The turbine drives a generator, much like a wind turbine under water.
- 4
What was SeaGen?
Model answer
SeaGen was a tidal stream generator installed in the narrows of Strangford Lough in 2008. SeaGen was the world's first commercial-scale tidal stream turbine and was later decommissioned.
- 5
How did SeaGen's design allow maintenance?
Model answer
SeaGen's twin rotors were mounted on a crossbeam that could be raised above the water. Engineers could reach the rotors without divers.
- 6
What is a tidal barrage?
Model answer
A tidal barrage is a dam built across an estuary with turbines in sluices. Water held behind the barrage flows through the turbines as the tide falls.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Emerging Technologies revision questions
- What does Emerging Technologies cover in CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology?
- 6 subtopics: tidal stream and tidal barrage power, wave energy converters, environmental impacts of wave and tidal energy, smart materials and smart systems, carbon capture and storage and geo-engineering, direct air capture and bio-photovoltaics. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Emerging Technologies organised?
- By the CCEA 3930 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Emerging Technologies, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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