Energy Resources

• Non renewable energy sources

  • Coal
  • Oil
  • Gas
  • Nuclear
• Non renewable energy

  • They will all run out one day
  • The all do damage to the environment
  • They are reliable
• Renewable energy sources

  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Water waves
  • Hydro electricity
  • Bio-fuel
  • Tidal
  • Geothermal
• Renewable Energy

  • Will never run out
  • Damage the environment less than non renewable energy
  • They can be unreliable
• Wind power

  • Wind turbines have a generator which rotates producing electricity
• Wind power advantages

  • There is no pollution
  • There are no fuel costs and minimal running costs
  • No permanent damage to the landscape
• Wind power disadvantages

  • They spoil the view and scenery
  • They are very noisy
  • They only produce energy 70-85% of the time because they are unreliable
  • Initial costs are high
  • Can effect migrating birds
• Solar power advantages

  • No pollution
  • In sunny places it is a reliable source of energy in the daytime
  • No running costs
  • Can generate electricity on a small scale
• Solar power disadvantages

  • Cannot increase power output when there is extra demand
  • Initial costs are high
• Geothermal power

  • Uses energy from underground thermal energy stores
  • Only possible in volcanic areas where hot rocks are near to the surface
  • Cold water is pumped down and the steam rises and turns a turbine
• Geothermal power advantages

  • Reliable
  • Few environmental problems
• Geothermal power disadvantages

  • There are not may places that are suitable
  • The cost of building is high compared to the amount of energy it produces
• Hydro electric power

  • Transfers energy from the kinetic store of falling water
  • Usually requires the flooding of a valley by building a big dam
  • A controlled amount of water flows through the turbine and spins a generator
• Hydro electric power advantages

  • No pollution
  • Reliable
  • No fuel costs and minimal running costs
• Hydro electric power disadvantages

  • Flooding valleys leads to rotting vegetation which releases methane and carbon dioxide
  • Look unsightly
  • Loss of habitat
  • Initial costs are high
• Wave power

  • Lots of small wave powered turbines are needed around the coast
  • Water wave moves in and air is forced out of the space into a turbine which spins a generator
• Wave power advantages

  • No pollution
  • No fuel and minimal running costs
• Wave power disadvantages

  • Disturb the seabed which destroys habitats
  • Spoil the view
  • Hazard to boats
  • Initial costs are high
• Tidal power

  • Tidal barrages are built across river estuaries
  • When the tide comes in the estuary is filled and the water is allowed back out at a controlled speed
• Tidal power advantages

  • No pollution
  • Reliable
  • Produces a lot of energy
  • No fuel costs and minimal running costs
• Tidal power disadvantages

  • Alter habitats
  • Initial costs are high
  • Prevent free access from boats
• Bio-fuel power

  • Created from plant products or animal dung
  • They can be solid, liquid or gas
  • They are burnt to produce electricity
• Bio-fuel power advantages

  • Carbon neutral
  • Fairly reliable
• Biofuel power disadvantages

  • The cost to refining bio-fuels is high
  • Large areas of forest are cleared to grow crops for bio-fuel destroying habitats