Energy is put into two categories.. What are they?
Conventional and Alternative
Describe conventional
well established source of energy such as oil, natural gas, coal, hyrdro and nuclear electricity
Alternative
non conventional energy source such as solar,wind and biomass energy
What is coal used primarily for?
Heating of homes,sometimes heating of other things
What are the three different types of coal
anthracite coalbituminous coallignite coal
anthrarite coal
formed under great pressureclean burninguse mainly for commercial and residential heating
bituminous
less pressure burns with smoky flameused mostly for heating and for fuel of manufacturing industries
lignite coal
formed near surface of earth where pressure of overlying sediments is relatively lowsoft and inexpensiveused almost entirely as fuel in thermal electric plants
How is coal formed
coal is formed from the remains of trees and plants that grew in swampy areas 300 to 350 years ago. Plants did not decay because of the low oxgen levels in the swampy water. Layers of sediments went on it and after many years, coal was formed (with the help of natural chemical changes)
Where is the majority of Canada's coal found
Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta
How do you recover oil
Flowing wells Non flowing wells
describe flowing wells
natural pressure forces oil and gas to surface. at surface, flow is then controlled by a series of valves call the christmas tree
non flowing wells
not enough pressure to make the oil and gas flow to the surface, electric or gasoline powered pumps must be used.
How is Electricity produced?
By a generator, all shapes and sizes
What are the three main ways to get electricity
Hydroelectric generating stationThermal electric generating stationnuclear electric generating station
Describe Hydro electric generating system
facility that generates electricity through the movement of water from a higher to a lower elevationcan be built anywhere with reliable^
Where is it maily located
Mostly in Quebec, some in Ontario and British Columbia
What are some advantages to hydroelectricity
* Doesn't produce air pollution or carbon dioxide because no burning of fossil feuls*Cheap to operate because it doesnt run by feul*runs off a renewable resource; water* reservoir can be used for recreation(if there is one)
Disadvantages
*exoensive to build*Suitable sights are often too far away from where electricty is needed; costly transmission lines must be built*Dams can cause flooding; releases dangerous chemicals from underneath the rocks(mercury)*change of water flow may damage habitat of ecolgy and animals
Describe Thermal
facility that generates electricity from the use of steam produced by heat from burning feul such as coal, oil and natural gascan be built almost anywhere
Locationm
Mostly new brunswick and Nova scotia, some in lower ontario
Advantages
cost of transmission low because plants can be built near urbanized areaplants can be built where feul is readily availableLess expensive than other types to build
Nuclear Energy
place where energy in the form of heat, is generated by splitting attoms of radioactive material(uranium) then is used to generate electricity
Where is nuclear energy found?
in our area
advantages
*transmission costs are low; built where energy is needed*operation costs are low, especially in early years*Canada has an abundant supply of uranium*do not produce air pollution or carbon dioxide
Disadvantages
* building costs are high*Radioactive material is very harmful, if leaked could harm thousands*waste products remain harmful for 100 000 years; still no solution to disposing properly*as reactors age, the become more reliable-replace or rebuild= expensive
Can Electricity be traded
YES! we import is aswell