Free AP Environmental Science Tests
AP Environmental Science FRQ 3
Analyze an Environmental Problem and Propose a Solution Doing Calculations
A large corporation is looking to build a hydrogen fuel plant and wants to make what is known as “blue hydrogen” which uses natural gas to create hydrogen gas and CO2 . This method relies on pumping the created CO2 into the ground hundreds of miles away to store it and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(a) Identify and describe one drawback to using a non-renewable resource like natural gas to create a clean fuel like hydrogen?
(b) Justify the company’s belief that pumping the CO2 into the ground may sequester it there.
(c) Describe one possible environmental problem that could occur from blue hydrogen.
Green hydrogen uses water and electricity produced by renewable sources to separate oxygen and hydrogen in water via electrolysis. This process requires a source of fresh water and a source of renewable electricity and is thus more expensive than blue hydrogen. It is estimated that one kilogram of blue hydrogen costs $1.80 to produce and green hydrogen costs $4.50 per kilogram to produce.
(d) If the US uses 120,000 Kg of hydrogen fuel per year, how much more would it cost to produce it using green hydrogen instead of blue hydrogen?
Solar energy costs approximately $60 a kWh and natural gas costs approximately $80 per kWh. In order to produce 1000 Kg of hydrogen, 400 kWh of energy is needed.
(e) How much money could be saved by using solar energy to produce hydrogen fuel instead of natural gas per 1000 Kg?
(f) In 2010 the United States produced 425 billion kWh using renewable resources. In 2023 the United States produced 1000 billion kWh using renewable resources. What is the percent increase in renewable energy production from 2010 until 2023?
After you finish typing your FRQ answers, use the buttons below to review sample responses.