energy resources

• non-renewable energy resource


  a substance which is not renewable with the speed at which it is consumed. it is finite
• renewable energy source

  a natural substance which is renewable with the speed at which it is consumed
• 5 types of non-renewable energy sources

  1. fossil
  2. coal
  3. oil
  4. gas
  5. nuclear
• 5 types of renewable energy sources

  1. solar
  2. hydro
  3. geothermal,
  4. wind
  5. wave power
• bio fuels


  any type of fuel which is taken from a living or recently living organism
• wind turbine


  electric generator driven by wind. wind forces the blades to spin which produces energy
• wave generator


  a generator which uses the motion of waves to produce energy
• advantages of nuclear power


  1. no greenhouse gas emissions
  2. more energy produced per kg of uranium
  3. reliable
• disadvantages of nuclear power

  1. uses fuel rods which contain radioactive waste
  2. non-renewable
  3. explosion in reactor can have long term effect, finite
• advantages of fossil fuels

  1. cheap
  2. found anywhere
  3. can produce large amounts of energy
• disadvantages of fossil fuels

  1. non-renewable
  2. finite
  3. greenhouse emissions
  4. takes a long time to replenish
• advantages of renewable energy

  1. infinite
  2. environmentally friendly
  3. doesn't emit greenhouse gases
• disadvantages of renewable energy

  1. expensive
  2. not reliable
  3. limited to certain areas
• carbon neutral


  a biofuel which takes in as much carbon dioxide as it releases when burned
• national grid


  the network of cables and transformers which transports energy from the power station to the consumer
• reactor core


  the thick steel vessel used to contain fuel rods, control rods and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor