energy resources

• non-renewable energy resources will...


  run out one day
• non-renewable energy source


  a source of energy that cannot be replaced as quickly as it is used
• non-renewable energy resources are ... fuels

  fossil and nuclear
• where do fossil fuels form?

  underground
• how long do fossil fuels take to form?

  millions of years
• the three main fossil fuels are...

  coal, oil, natural gas
• fossil fuels damage the ... but are ...

  environment, reliable
• renewable energy resources will...

  never run out
• renewable energy resource


  an energy resource that is replaced as fast as, or faster than, it is used
• renewable energy resources examples

  the sun, wind, water waves, hydro-electricity, bio-fuel, tides, geothermal
• most renewable energy resources ... the environment, however not to as great of an extent as non-renewables

  damage
• renewable energy resources don't provide as much...

  energy as non-renewables
• why are renewable energy resources unreliable?

  because they depend on the weather
• energy resources can be used for...

  transport
• how are non-renewable energy resources used for transport?

  - petrol and diesel powered vehicles (including most cars) use fuel created from oil

  - coal is used in some older steam trains to boil water and produce steam
• how are renewable energy resources used for transport?

  vehicles that run on pure bio-fuels or a mix of biofuel and petrol or diesel (only the bio-fuel part is renewable though)
• how are non-renewable energy resources uses for heating?

  - natural gas is the most widely used fuel for heating homes in the UK. the gas is used to heat water, which is then pumped into radiators throughout the homes

  - coal is commonly burnt in fireplaces

  - electric heaters (sometimes called storage heaters) which use electricity generated from non-renewable energy resources
• how are renewable energy resources uses for heating?

  - a geothermal (or ground source) heat pump used geothermal energy resources to heat buildings

  - solar water heaters work by using the sun to heat water which is then pumped into radiators in the building

  - burning bio-fuel or using electricity generated from renewable resources can also be used for heating
• wind power


  power obtained by harnessing the energy of the wind with the use of a windmill to drive an electric geerator
• wind power advantages


  - high net energy yield

  - widely available

  - low electricity cost

  - little or no direct emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants

  - easy to build and expand

  - no fuel costs or minimal running costs

  - no permanent damage to the landscape
• wind power disadvantages


  - they spoil the view

  - very noisy

  - unreliable as they depend on the weather

  - initial costs are quite high
• solar cells


  used to convert solar energy into electrical energy, generating electricity directly from sunlight
• solar cells advantages


  - little or no direct emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants

  - easy to install, move around, and expand as needed

  - competitive cost for newer cells

  - no pollution (quite a lot during manufacture though)

  - energy is free and running costs are almost nil
• solar cells disadvantages


  - only produce relatively small amounts of energy

  - unreliable as it depends on the weather (but can still be cost-effective in cloudy countries)

  - high initial costs
• geothermal power


  a form of power obtained from steam or hot water coming from within the earth's interior
• geothermal power advantages


  - fee energy

  - reliable as it does not depend on the weather

  - does very little damage to the environment
• geothermal power disadvantages


  - not many suitable locations for power plants

  - cost of building a power plant is high compared to the amount of energy that it produces
• hydro-electric power


  electricity generated from the kinetic store of falling water
• hydro-electric power advantages


  - no pollution

  - can provide an immediate response to an increased demand for electricity

  - reliable as it does not rely on the weather

  - no fuel costs and minimal running costs
• hydro-electric power disadvantages


  - big environmental impact from the valley flooding (rotting vegetation releases methane and CO2)

  - loss of habitat for some species

  - initial costs are high
• wave power


  Is electrical power produced from ocean waves that is used to turn an electrical generator
• wave power advantages


  - no pollution produced

  - no fuels costs

  - minimal running costs
• wave power disadvantages


  - disturbs the seabed and habitats of marine animals

  - spoils the view

  - hazard to boats

  - unreliable as waves tend to die out when the wind drops

  - high initial costs
• tide power


  power generated by the movements of tides by building a tidal barrage
• what are tidal barrages?

  big dams built across river estuaries, with turbines in them - as the tide comes in it fills up the estuary, the water is then allowed out through the turbines at a controlled speed
• tide power advantages


  - no pollution

  - reliable as they happen twice a day and their heights are predictable

  - no fuel costs and minimal running costs
• tide power disadvantages


  - prevents free access by boats

  - spoils the view

  - alter the habitat of the nearby wildlife

  - high initial costs

  - height of tide is variable, so lower tides will provide significantly less energy

  - do not work when the water level is the same either side of the barrage (happens four times a day)
• bio-fuel


  a fuel derived directly from living matter/plants which can be solid, liquid or gas and burnt to produce electricity
• bio-fuel advantages


  - carbon neutral as plants are being planted

  - reliable as crops can be grown all year round and do not take much time
• bio-fuel disadvantages


  - they cannot be produced immediately

  - cost to refine bio fuels is very high

  - deforestation and species losing their habitats to make room for the bio fuels

  - decay and burning of this vegetation results in CO2 and methane emission