Environmental Impacts of Renewables Flashcards
7 cards from real REP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Impacts of Renewables flashcards as text
Which environmental concern is most commonly associated with large-scale hydropower dams?
Answer: Disruption of fish migration and aquatic ecosystems
Large dams block fish migration routes and alter downstream flow, temperature, and sediment transport, significantly disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
What is 'land use intensity' in the context of comparing renewable energy sources?
Answer: The area of land required to generate a unit of electricity
Land use intensity measures how many acres or hectares are needed per unit of energy output, allowing comparison of the footprint of different energy technologies.
Which byproduct of manufacturing crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells poses the greatest toxicity concern?
Answer: Trichlorosilane (TCS)
Trichlorosilane is a highly flammable and toxic chemical used in the Siemens process for purifying silicon, requiring careful handling and disposal.
Wind farms are often sited offshore to reduce which onshore environmental impact?
Answer: Visual impact and noise disturbance to human communities
Offshore siting removes turbines from view and reduces noise exposure for nearby residents, addressing two of the most common community objections to wind development.
What environmental benefit does geothermal energy have compared to fossil fuel power plants of equivalent capacity?
Answer: It has dramatically lower CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour
Geothermal plants emit far less CO2 per kWh than fossil fuel plants, though binary-cycle plants approach near-zero emissions while flash and dry steam plants release some geothermal gases.
Which lifecycle phase of solar PV panels is responsible for the majority of their carbon footprint?
Answer: Manufacturing and materials processing
The energy-intensive processes of purifying silicon, manufacturing cells, and producing frames account for most of a PV panel's lifetime greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the primary concern regarding rare earth elements (REEs) used in permanent magnet wind turbines?
Answer: Mining REEs creates significant environmental damage and waste
Extraction of rare earth elements like neodymium produces radioactive tailings and causes substantial land and water contamination, primarily in the countries where they are mined.