P3: Energy resources

Non renewable Renewable

Energy resources which run out on one day while being used. They do a lot of damage to the environment, however they are very reliable and are burnt to provide energy

Coal Oil Natural gas Nuclear fuel

Energy resources which are unlimited, they never ever run out while being used. They do not damage the environment as much as non renewable resources, however they are not all available depending on the weather conditions and are unreliable

Solar Wind Waves Tidal Geothermal Hydroelectricity Biofuels

Transport Fuel Heat Biofuel vehicles Steam production Petrol and diesel powered vehicles

Natural gas. Its widely used in the UK and we use the gas to heat water which is pumped into radiators throughout our home Coal is burnt in fireplaces

• The fossil fuel has chemical potential energy • Fossil fuels are burnt in the boiler and chemical potential energy is transferred as thermal energy • In the boiler, thermal energy from the burning fuel heats water to make steam • The steam has thermal and kinetic energy • The steam transfers the kinetic energy to a steam turbine • The steam turbine turns. It is connected to a generator which converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. This goes on to power our homes • After passing through the turbine, waste steam is cooled back down into water and is recycled back into the boiler

Coal and natural gas generate electricity by combustion. Uranium nuclear fission (nuclear power) utilises the heat for boiling water and rotating steam turbines.

They produce a maximum power of 92%.

Fossil fuel power plants burn coal or oil to create heat which is used to generate steam to drive turbines, generating electricity.

When nuclear power originates from the splitting of uranium atoms. Then heat is generated to produce steam used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Nuclear power plants don’t burn fuel or produce greenhouse gas emissions

No fuel costs Minimal running costs They produce electricity 70 to 85% of the time There is no pollution

It is noisy Can spoil view or scenery Impossible to increase supply with the extra demand Depending on the conditions, it many not always work High initial costs If theres no windy conditions, the wind turbines will stop

No pollution In sunny conditions, it is a reliable source of power Cost effective Energy is free after initial costs Good source of energy for changing batteries in calculators and watches Don’t use much electricity

Used in remote places Very expensive High initial costs Generate electricity on a small scale Only works in daytime Power output cannot be increased with high demand

Brilliant, free energy Heats buildings directly Generates electricity easily

Not a lot of places to do this High costs for power plants

No pollution Rainwater can pass out, so doesn’t affect hydroelectricity Placed in remote valleys to reduce human impact Good reliability Provides an immediate response to increased demand for electricity Useful way to generate electricity on a small scale in remote areas No fuel costs Minimal running costs

Flooding valleys rots vegetation and releases carbon dioxide and methane, can create loss of habitat for some species Reservoirs look unsightly when dried up High initial costs

No fuel costs No running costs Useful on small islands No pollution

Fairly unreliable Waves die out when wind drops Unlikely to provide energy on a large scale High initial costs Disturbance of habitats of marine animals

No pollution Water is allowed out through turbines at a controlled speed Reliable in a sense they happen twice a day, with no fail and near a predicted height No fuel or minimal running costs Generates a significant amount of energy

Moderately high initial costs Don’t work when the water level is the same on the other side of the barrage, and due to tides, it happens four times a day Prevents free access by boats Spoils the view Ruins habitats for animals