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Energy Challenges and Dilemmas

Environmental problems of energy extraction, transport and use

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3 Section B

Overview

Scale of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, deepwater Horizon disaster and environmental cost of tar sand extraction.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Numbers

State the scale of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

Key term

Why is coal the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel?

Key term

What causes acid rain, and which fuel is chiefly responsible?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    State the scale of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

    Model answer

    Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached about 37 gigatonnes in 2023. Combustion of coal, oil and gas accounts for the great majority of that total.

  2. 2

    Why is coal the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel?

    Model answer

    Coal contains the highest proportion of carbon relative to hydrogen. Combustion therefore releases more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than oil or gas.

  3. 3

    What causes acid rain, and which fuel is chiefly responsible?

    Model answer

    Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from coal combustion dissolve in cloud droplets to form acids. Deposition acidifies lakes and soils and damages coniferous forest.

  4. 4

    How is sulphur dioxide removed from power station emissions?

    Model answer

    Flue-gas desulphurisation passes the exhaust through a limestone slurry that absorbs sulphur dioxide. Gypsum is produced as a by-product.

  5. 5

    Why is methane leakage from gas production significant?

    Model answer

    Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. Leaks from wells, pipelines and compressors can offset much of the advantage gas holds over coal.

  6. 6

    Describe the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

    Model answer

    The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 and eleven workers died. Around 4.9 million barrels escaped over 87 days before the well was sealed.

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