Energy Resources

Resources- means or referring to the features of the environment which are needed and used
mostly it is the natural resources.

Natural resources are subdivided into two:

1) Non- renewable resources; which can be said that are finite, non-sustainable.
2) Renewable resources; which are said to be infinite, sustainable

Sustainable- means self- generating, if left to the nature.

Examples:

NON-RENEWABLE RENEWABLE RESOURCES

 Fossil fuel, oil, natural gases, minerals,  Wind, waves, water, soil, solar power,
iron ore and nuclear power trees or forests

Why is the damage for energy resources increasing?

1) It is because of the rapid population growth, which increases the demand for natural
resources e.g. oil, water, and soil
2) It’s the economic development, increases the uses of mineral and power e.g. Thermal power
and solar power
3) It’s the increasing wealth- more countries are now mining mire minerals
4) It’s also because of technology advancements.

Types of energy resources (power stations).

A. Non- renewable resources;

1. The nuclear power station, located at koeberg/valindaba in south Africa

Processes
Great quantities of heat are released when the nucleus of a uranium atom split into
fragments unlike thermal power, where heat is produced by burning coal. In nuclear power
station heat is released by burning uranium and plutonium in a reactor to generate
electricity.

Locational Factors
 It must be located away from populated areas
 Should have large space
 Must be located on a flat land
 Must be located where the is plenty water supply which is used for steaming and
cooling
 Must be located on strong geological for no risks for any earthquakes.
 Its need a link to a major electricity transmitter

Why consider nuclear power?

 When there is lack of coal or oil

  The wish of not to depend on politically unstable countries
 Due to the high costs of coal and oil, which is increasing rapidly
 It’s because after construction costs its cheaper.
 It’s a clean source of energy.

Advantages

 It is a clean source of energy

 Produces fewer greenhouse gases
 Running costs are low
 Waste can be stored

Disadvantages

 Radiation leaks lead to accidents

 Power station is expensive to construct and takes a long time.
 It is expansive to dismantle the power station.
 The difficultness of dispose of waste, since they are radio -active waste and can be
radio- active for many more years.
2. Thermal power station/coal

Process

Coal is crushed into fine powder and then blown into a furnace. The furnace heats the
water in the boiler and steam is produced. The steam rotates in a series of turbines,
which are linked to generator at high speed. The generators produces electricity.

Locational factors

 It must be located near the supply of coal.

 Must be located near the good supply of water
 There must be railway lines
 It must be located on a flat land
 Must be in a large are of land
 There must be a transmission grid.

Advantages

 There are large reserves to last over years.

 Improved technology has allowed deeper mining with fewer workers

Disadvantages

 Burning coal causes air pollination which leads to global warming

 Opencasts mining temporarily harms the environment.
 Coal is heavy and bulky to transport
3. The oil and Gas

Oil and gas is the main source of energy in the industrialised.

Advantages

 They are easy to transport and distribute, through pipes and tanks
 Less harmful to the environment
  Gas is cheaper and cleaner than oil

Disadvantages

 Small reserve to last only 50-70 years

 Difficult to discover new fields
 Spillages of oil and gas leaks may lead to fire explosion.
 Burning gas and gas cause pollution and acid rain.
 Prices are vulnerable to political, economic and military pressure.

Oil production in Nigeria, Port Harcourt

The drilling oil in Nigeria came as result of the discovery of oil reserves in Port Harcourt. The area is a
lowland making it easy to develop structures. Oil is drilled to supply the large demand from large
domestic market and international market. When discovery was made the area had no transport
network but later they developed an excellent railway transport.

B. RENEWABLE SOURCE
1)
Hydro-electric power

Process

Falling water is used to turn on the turbines which generate electricity. The amount of
energy extracted from the water depends on the volume and the difference in the height
between the source and the water’s out-flow. It is best to construct a dam on a large river
that has a large drop in elevation. Near the bottom of the dam wall there is the water intake.
Gravity causes the water to fall through the penstock inside the dam. At the end of the
penstock, then there is a turbine propeller, which is turning by moving water. The shaft from
the turbine goes into the generator, which produces the power. The power lines are
connected to the generators.

In Swaziland hydro-electric power produced at the following stations:

Edwaleni power station, Luphohlo, Maguduza and Maguga. (locate these power station in
the map of swaziland)

Advantages of H.E.P.

 H.E.P. is clean
 Dams control floods
 Dams provide water where there is a shortages of water
 Running costs are very low

Disadvantages of H.E.P

 Valuable lowlands which are usually the best farmlands are flooded.
 Landscape features, including historical sites may be lost.
 The flora and fauna of the area around the reservoir may change
 All reservoirs eventually fill with sediments.

Location factors

 Area must have heavy rain falls

  Where the valley is deep
 The area should have a narrow valley/ gorge
 There must a permanent supply of water.
 There must a granite rock (igneous) help to form the dam. (a dam should be
constructed using rocks that are not porous)
 There should be steep slopes to increase the flow of the water

Benefits of H.E.P

 Provides new job opportunities.

 Provides fishing opportunities
 It provides water for domestic and irrigation
 Provides electric power.
 It encourages tourism.
 Water can provide transport and recreational activities.
 Controls floods, in a form of the dam.

2) GEOTHERMAL POWER STATION

Geothermal- means heat from earth. The heat is stored in magma. In some areas of known heated
rock, cold water is artificially pumped downwards through boreholes before returning to the surface
as steam, under natural conditions. Moreover, rain water seeps downward through cracks and
cavities. When it comes into contact with heated rock, it is warmed and rises to the surface where it
is ejected and rises to the surface where it is ejected as geysers, hot springs or steam. The steam in
both cases is taken up by pipes to turn turbines and produce electricity.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Pollution free  High construction cost
 Renewable/infinite  Volcanic eruption and emission of
sulphuric gases.

C. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

i. Wind power

Wind turbines are erected in areas with high and regular wind speed. Such as coast line or
uploads.

Advantages
 It is safe and clean
 Minimal effects on local ecosystem
 Strong winds are common in
winter when power is needed most
Disadvantages
 Wind does not blow all the time
 High construction cost
 Wind panels are noisy and can
interrupt radio and TV reception.

ii. Biomass

Fermenting dung gives off methane gas which can be used instead of firewood.
 Advantages Disadvantages
 Cheaper to produce  Dung cannot be used as fertilizers
 Can be used into power cars  Methane is a greenhouse gas.

iii. Solar energy

Solar- sun can be used to produce power through the use of solar panels and photo volt cells.

Advantages Disadvantages
 Cheap  Less power when cloudy
 Pollution free
 Safe
 Limit-less supply

iv. Fuel wood

In many rural areas in developing countries trees are removed faster because among other
uses trees are used for shelter, food, fuel, and shade. However, with the increasing
population, demand for wood and trees is escalating.

Advantages Disadvantages
 Cheaper compare to other sources  It produces smoke- greenhouse
 It is readily available in other areas gases

Effects of deforestation

 Cutting trees contributes to soil erosion because tree roots hold the soil particles together.
 Tress act as carbon sinks, they take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Cutting trees
increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
 Cutting trees may cause desertification.
 It causes an imbalance in the ecosystem.

Energy conservation

Energy conservation is the practise of reducing the quantity of energy used.

At home

 Building homes that require less heating in winter.

 Using better insulation
 Using energy savers bulbs and appliances.
 Switching of solar panels and wind power

Transport
  Using public transport
 Use cars that consume less (smart cars)
 Fly less

Commercial and industrial

 Use less air conditioners and lights

 Educate workers on energy saving methods.

Benefits

 It will deal with the rise in energy cost

 Reduce the need for new power plants or import
 Reduces climate change
 Facilitate establishment of renewable resources.