Exploitation of Peat Peat is exploited in 4

Exploitation of Peat • Peat is exploited in 4 phases.

Cutting Turf: For about 1, 000 years turf has been cut by hand in Ireland using a peat spade called a Sleán.

Commercial Turf Cutting: • Bord na Mona, the company which exploits peat in Ireland uses many large machines. • 1. A Grader: A machine like a bulldozer used to level the surface of bog. • 2. A Miller: A machine used to scrape peat from the surface of the bog.

What is peat used for? • • • Q. Peat is mainly used for…? Q. Why is it convenient for Ireland to use peat to generate electricity? Q. What else is peat used for?

Sources of Electricity in Ireland • • • Q. What % of Ireland’s electricity was made from peat in 1978? Q. What % of Ireland’s electricity was made from peat in 2002? Q. List two forms of electricity production which have increased since 1978.

The Importance of Peat • Bord na Mona is the name of the company which exploits peat in Ireland. • Peat is very important to our economy. - Bord na Mona employs 2000 people. Many of these jobs are in regions where job creation is difficult. Peat is used to generate electricity. Peat is exported to other EU countries. -

Renewable Energy Sources • We know that oil is a non-renewable resource. So are most of the other ways we get energy. Coal, peat, gas etc. • Therefore, we need to both conserve energy and also to try to make more use of renewable energy sources. There are many different types of renewable energy sources. • Q. Can you name any renewable energy sources? • Examples include; • • • 1. Hydroelectricity 2. Solar power 3. Geothermal energy 4. Tidal energy 5. Wind Energy • Q. Which of these renewable energy sources could we make use of in Ireland?

Renewable Energy Sources

Hydroelectric Power (HEP) • Hydroelectric Power is created using the power of falling water. A dam is built across a river to trap the water. When part of the dam is opened the water rushes in. The water is used to turn a turbine which creates electricity

Hydroelectric Power (HEP)

Hydroelectric Power (HEP)

Hydroelectric Power (HEP)

Solar Energy • Solar energy uses the power of the sun to create electricity. • Heat and light from the sun are captured by solar cells. • The cells convert the heat and light to electricity.

Solar Energy

Solar Power

Geothermal Energy • Geothermal energy works by pumping water down deep into the earth’s crust. • The water is then heated by hot rocks in the earth’s crust. • The heated water is pumped back to the surface where it can be used to heat homes. • The hot water can also be converted to steam which is used to turn turbines to create electricity.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy

Tidal Energy • Tidal energy uses the power of the rising and falling tides to turn turbines. This creates electricity.

Tidal Power

Tidal Power

Wind Energy • Wind power is becoming a very popular source of renewable energy. • Wind power has been used for a long time. The Dutch built windmills to pump out the water when they were creating their Polders. • Modern wind turbines are very big. They are usually grouped together in what is known as a wind farm.

Wind Energy • Wind farms are increasingly being built out at sea. This is because it is a windy location and it prevents visual pollution on the landscape. • Smaller wind turbines are also available. They can be put on top of your house or school to generate renewable energy.

Wind Power • • • Q. Using evidence from the graph, explain how we know wind power is becoming more popular. Q. Why do you think wind power is becoming more popular? Q. ‘Ireland is an ideal place for wind farms’. Discuss.

Fishing – Over Exploitation of a Resource • • • Fish are renewable resources. If we catch a fish and eat it, other fish will be born to replace it. However, in many parts of the world too many fish have been caught. The number of fish has gone down a lot. Q. People have always caught fish to eat. Why do you think that the problem of over fishing has arisen only recently?

How do People Fish?

How do People Fish?

How do People Fish?

Most fish are caught in the continental shelf. This means they are caught around the coast of the continents.

Ireland’s Fishing Ports • Ireland has many fishing ports. • Fishing is extremely important to many of these small fishing villages. • Fishing has been carried out in these areas for generations.

Over Fishing • • Over fishing has occurred because fishermen are using large fishing nets to catch huge numbers of fish. They are also using what are called Factory Ships which can stay at sea for long periods. They use high tech radar and sonar to find the fish.

Types of Fish and where they are caught

Sustainable Exploitation of Fish • • Many types of fish are now endangered because of over fishing. Governments and the EU are trying to limit the amount of fish being caught. • They have taken the following steps; • • • 1. Made conservation zones around some countries. 2. Excluded foreign fishing boats from fishing in Irish waters. 3. Reduce the number of fishing boats. 4. Introduced yearly quotas for fish catches. 5. Banned the fishing of some endangered species. 6. Made the fishing season shorter for some types of fish. Q. Do you think these steps are a positive thing? Why? Q. Many people are against the quotas. Explain why it may be difficult for some people to accept these changes.

The Irish Box • The Irish Box was a rich fishing ground. • In 2003 it was made smaller when a Conservation Zone was made. • Strict quotas have been implemented in this zone to help fish stocks to recover.

Fish Farms • Fish farming is becoming more and more popular. Salmon are grown in many fish farms around the coast of Ireland. Q. What has happened to the value of farmed fish since 1998? Q. Why do you think fish farming is becoming more popular?

Farming • Farming is an example of a primary economic activity. There are many different types of farming which produce different types of produce. Examples include; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Dairy farming Cereal farming (Tillage) Market gardening Beef farming Mixed farming

Work on the Farm

Percentage of People Working in Farming

How do People Farm?

How do People Farm?

How do People Farm?

How do People Farm?