De Geo
Chapter 6
6.1
Global Warming
Our climate on Earth is changing. By burning fossil fuels – such as natural gas, oil and coal –
we are pumping tons of extra CO2 into the air. Coal and natural gas are also used to
generate electricity. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that holds heat in the atmosphere. That`s a
good thing too, because otherwise it would be ice-cold on Earth, with an average
temperature of −18°C instead of +15°C. But because humans cause extra
emissions of CO2, more greenhouse gas is entering the air and the temperature
on Earth is rising.
Less Co2 in the atmosphere
Most countries want to do something to stop climate change. First, our energy use has to be
drastically reduced. Energy conservation is possible in all aspects of daily life. Energy
conservation is also possible on the road, for example by driving electric cars, or taking the
train or bike to work more often. The biggest change is the use of new energy sources. An
energy source is something that provides power. Sustainable or renewable energy sources,
such as wind and solar energy, are totally different. Switching from using fossil (or grey)
energy sources to sustainable (or green) energy sources is called the energy transition
(transition means changing over).
From grey to green
The amount of sustainable energy produced in the Netherlands is still very low. Wind energy
is used to generate electricity. One disadvantage of wind is reliability: it is not always windy,
but we need energy all the time. Another disadvantage is that nobody wants a wind farm in
their backyard. That's why the biggest wind farms are now being developed in the North
Sea, the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. Wind farms in the sea are expensive to build, but
they produce more energy. There is a rapid rise in solar energy production. One
disadvantage of solar energy is the reliability of the sun. There is also an increase in the use
of air source heat pumps and geothermal heat. About 60% of sustainable energy in the
Netherlands is produced with biomass: burning organic material such as wood waste (Figure
5), vegetable, fruit and garden waste, paper waste, vegetable oil and cow and pig manure.
Power stations and waste incinerators use biomass to produce electricity. Biofuels are also
produced from biomass, such as biogas from garden waste. Biomass is considered a
sustainable or renewable energy source because it can never be used up and use is carbon
neutral: when burned it only releases the CO2 that the plants and trees absorbed from the
air (photosynthesis) while they were alive. But this depends on the idea that new plants and
trees will always grow to absorb that CO2 again.
Race to catch up
The Netherlands is lagging behind other European countries in the energy transition. That is
partly because those other countries have more possibilities for producing sustainable
energy, such as hydroelectricity in mountainous regions or solar energy in southern
European countries. Denmark is also a flat country, and gets approximately the same
amount of sunlight as the Netherlands. We in the Netherlands have simply not done enough
for the energy transition. The government has launched additional measures to speed up the
energy transition, such as closing coal-fired power stations and giving subsidies for heat
pumps, solar panels and electric cars.
, Terms you need to know:
Atmosphere = The air around us
Biofuels = Fuels made from biomass
Biomass = Organic materials such as vegetable oil, wood and biodegradable waste
(vegetable, fruit and garden waste).
Energy conservation = Using less energy, especially energy generated from fossil fuels
Energy source = Something that provides power
Energy transition = Switching from using fossil fuels to using sustainable energy sources
Hydroelectricity = Electricity generated by water power.
Photosynthesis = When plants and trees use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into
glucose and oxygen.
Solar energy = Electricity generated sustainably using solar panels.
Sustainable energy source/Renewable energy source = Energy source that will never run
out and does not contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Also called a renewable
energy source.
Wind energy = Energy generated sustainably using wind turbines.
Fossil fuels = Fuel (natural gas, oil and coal) formed over millions of years from plant or
animal remains.
Enhanced greenhouse effect = When the natural impact of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s
climate is magnified by a sharp increase in e.g. CO2 in the atmosphere.
Climate change = Change in climate patterns (such as higher temperatures).
Chapter 6
6.1
Global Warming
Our climate on Earth is changing. By burning fossil fuels – such as natural gas, oil and coal –
we are pumping tons of extra CO2 into the air. Coal and natural gas are also used to
generate electricity. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that holds heat in the atmosphere. That`s a
good thing too, because otherwise it would be ice-cold on Earth, with an average
temperature of −18°C instead of +15°C. But because humans cause extra
emissions of CO2, more greenhouse gas is entering the air and the temperature
on Earth is rising.
Less Co2 in the atmosphere
Most countries want to do something to stop climate change. First, our energy use has to be
drastically reduced. Energy conservation is possible in all aspects of daily life. Energy
conservation is also possible on the road, for example by driving electric cars, or taking the
train or bike to work more often. The biggest change is the use of new energy sources. An
energy source is something that provides power. Sustainable or renewable energy sources,
such as wind and solar energy, are totally different. Switching from using fossil (or grey)
energy sources to sustainable (or green) energy sources is called the energy transition
(transition means changing over).
From grey to green
The amount of sustainable energy produced in the Netherlands is still very low. Wind energy
is used to generate electricity. One disadvantage of wind is reliability: it is not always windy,
but we need energy all the time. Another disadvantage is that nobody wants a wind farm in
their backyard. That's why the biggest wind farms are now being developed in the North
Sea, the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. Wind farms in the sea are expensive to build, but
they produce more energy. There is a rapid rise in solar energy production. One
disadvantage of solar energy is the reliability of the sun. There is also an increase in the use
of air source heat pumps and geothermal heat. About 60% of sustainable energy in the
Netherlands is produced with biomass: burning organic material such as wood waste (Figure
5), vegetable, fruit and garden waste, paper waste, vegetable oil and cow and pig manure.
Power stations and waste incinerators use biomass to produce electricity. Biofuels are also
produced from biomass, such as biogas from garden waste. Biomass is considered a
sustainable or renewable energy source because it can never be used up and use is carbon
neutral: when burned it only releases the CO2 that the plants and trees absorbed from the
air (photosynthesis) while they were alive. But this depends on the idea that new plants and
trees will always grow to absorb that CO2 again.
Race to catch up
The Netherlands is lagging behind other European countries in the energy transition. That is
partly because those other countries have more possibilities for producing sustainable
energy, such as hydroelectricity in mountainous regions or solar energy in southern
European countries. Denmark is also a flat country, and gets approximately the same
amount of sunlight as the Netherlands. We in the Netherlands have simply not done enough
for the energy transition. The government has launched additional measures to speed up the
energy transition, such as closing coal-fired power stations and giving subsidies for heat
pumps, solar panels and electric cars.
, Terms you need to know:
Atmosphere = The air around us
Biofuels = Fuels made from biomass
Biomass = Organic materials such as vegetable oil, wood and biodegradable waste
(vegetable, fruit and garden waste).
Energy conservation = Using less energy, especially energy generated from fossil fuels
Energy source = Something that provides power
Energy transition = Switching from using fossil fuels to using sustainable energy sources
Hydroelectricity = Electricity generated by water power.
Photosynthesis = When plants and trees use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into
glucose and oxygen.
Solar energy = Electricity generated sustainably using solar panels.
Sustainable energy source/Renewable energy source = Energy source that will never run
out and does not contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Also called a renewable
energy source.
Wind energy = Energy generated sustainably using wind turbines.
Fossil fuels = Fuel (natural gas, oil and coal) formed over millions of years from plant or
animal remains.
Enhanced greenhouse effect = When the natural impact of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s
climate is magnified by a sharp increase in e.g. CO2 in the atmosphere.
Climate change = Change in climate patterns (such as higher temperatures).
