003 - New Technologies
Geographic Knowledge and Understanding
New technology and sustainable development in extreme environments, including greater use of solar power and desalination.
Concepts
The future possibility for using new technologies to aid the management of extreme environments and their communities are massive. The power that new technologies will play in sustainable development will depend upon necessity and the will of the population.
Aims
To be able to discuss possible futures where new technology and sustainable development play a greater role in extreme environments.
To be able to describe, explain and evaluate the expansion of solar power in Morocco.
To be able to describe, explain and evaluate the expansion of desalination in the United Arab Emirates.
Key Terminology
Desalinisation
Solar revolution
Off-grid solar energy
Define the key terms above by using the 'Useful Links' below.
Useful Links
Activity One - Detailed Example - Solar Power
Where people get their energy from is increasingly becoming a debatable topic. What may work for one country may not work for another due to the physical characteristics of that area. As many of you have been to Morocco it would be good to focus on how they have adapted to the increase in demand for electricity by harnessing their access to the sun. Solar power is increasingly being developed and used in and around desert regions and even China has gotten in on the act by building the biggest solar farm in the world. There is a solar power plant located outside Ouarzazate which covers 2,400 hectares and it is one of the biggest in the world. It is expected to produce 580 MW of energy which should produce enough electricity for 600,000 inhabitants (a population double the size as Geneva). Goal number 7 of the SDGs promotes affordable and clean energy so you could also link this section of the course to Resources in Paper 2.
The group is now going to be divided into two to create a detailed example of solar energy development within Morocco and desalinisation/waste water also in Morocco. Use Google Drawing to present your findings. You will need to include the following points and you can use the 'Useful Resources' box to do this:
Location - where, why there, etc
Key facts about the solar plant - size, production of MW
Development of the solar plant - investors, change in investment and why, different stages of development, etc.
Impact - positive and negative - SEEP
Useful Resources
Totalenergies
Noor Ouarzazate
Climate Investment Funds
Morocco Lighting up the sky
Activity Two - Detailed Example - Desalination and use of Waste Water
Along with the need for different forms of energy, we are approaching a world in which there is an increasing demand for water. There is a rise of middle-classes and people on the planet in general and because of this, they consume more water, whether it is actual or virtual. According to The Time magazine, there are currently 1.2 billion people living in areas that suffer from water scarcity and this number is expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2025. Coupled with the impact of climate change access to safe, clean drinking water is a growing problem. Don't forget that access to clean water and sanitation is Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals. One solution to provide water for the growing amount of people living near or in hot, arid areas is a movement towards implementing salinisation plants. We are going to be focusing on Morocco and how they are using and developing their desalinisation plants and use of waster water to become water secure.
The group is now going to be divided into two to create a detailed example of solar energy development within Morocco and desalinisation/waster water also in Morocco. Use Google Drawing to present your findings in. You will need to include the following points and you can use the 'Useful Resources' box to do this:
Location - where, why there etc
Key facts about the desalinisation plants and waste water plants.
Development of the desalinisation plants (futures) - investors, different stages of development, etc.
Impact - positive and negative - SEEP
Useful Resources - Morocco
The New Africa Channel
Inside Africa's Largest Sea Water Desalinisation Plant - Morocco
Option to focus on the UAE
BL
Jabal Ali Power and Desalinisation
Aljazeera
Gulf Salinisation Plants Harming the Sea
Exam Style Question
Explain how a developing (new) technology has future potential in the management of the needs of communities within an extreme environment. [1 + 3 marks]
This lesson was development in collaboration with Richard Allaway from geographyalltheway. For more resources please visit www.geographyalltheway.com