Topic Summaries

Case study – energy supply projects

GCSE > Geography > Edexcel A > GCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Energy supply > Case study – energy supply projects
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Earth layers and earthquakes

Tectonic plate margins

Responses to tectonic hazards

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Energy supply

Shale gas extraction (fracking), USA
Key Details
  • Fracking involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals into shale rock to release natural gas
  • Fracking occurs in more than 30 states in the USA
Benefits
  • Increases domestic energy supply, reducing reliance on imports and creating jobs to boost the economy
  • Natural gas is cleaner than coal and oil
Costs
  • Risk of groundwater contamination from chemicals
  • Causes minor earthquakes
  • High water usage and environmental damage
  • Releases methane which is a highly toxic and potent greenhouse gas
  • Poorly regulated in the USA making it hard to monitor pollution and violation of safety rules
  • Banned in other countries like the UK due to its environmental impact

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