Energy Generation and Storage

• Power is needed for all manufacturing, whether it's heat, light or electricity
• There are several ways of generating this power which all have pros and cons attached to them
• Fossil Fuels


  Formed underground over millions of years, the three main types are coal, oils and gas. They are burnt to generate power generally by heating water to turn a turbine to power a generator
• Pros of Fossil Fuels

  • It's a cost effective way of generating power
  • There is currently enough available
  • We have resources available in this country
• Cons of Fossil Fuels


  • They will eventually run out and can't be replaced
  • They release greenhouse gases which are harmful to the environment
  • Getting the fuel out of the ground can damage the environment around it
• Nuclear Power


  Nuclear fission from uranium generates heat to power turbines in the same way as fossil fuels
• Pros of Nuclear Power

  • It's very reliable
  • Nuclear fuel (uranium) is cheap and needs less to produce power than fossil fuels
  • It produces very low levels of emissions
• Cons of Nuclear Power

  • Uranium will eventually run out
  • Power plants are expensive to build and run
  • Waste product is dangerous to dispose of
  • There is a small risk of meltdown which would be catastrophic for the environment around the power plant
• Renewable Energy


  Has infinite power, it will never run out. To help the environment renewable energy generation is being encouraged worldwide
• Types of Renewable Energy

  • Wind power
  • Solar power
  • Tidal power
  • Hydro-electric
  • Biomass boilers
• Pros of Renewable Energy

  • After set up costs the energy supply is free
  • The energy source is infinite and will never run out
• Cons of Renewable Energy

  • It costs a lot to set up
  • You are dependent on the weather for wind, solar, and hydroelectric power
  • The turbines and cells needed to generate power can be ugly and have a detrimental impact on the environment
• Batteries


  Can store energy and provide a movable source of electricity
• Types of Batteries


  • Alkaline batteries
  • Rechargeable batteries
• Alkaline Batteries


  Can't be used again once the power is used, they are hard to dispose of unless they are recycled properly. They are used in remote controls, toys, torches and clocks
• Rechargeable Batteries


  Unlike alkaline batteries these can have power put back in. They are more expensive but better for the environment as they last longer. Used in cars, mobile phones and power tools
• Exam questions often ask you to provide examples of renewable and non-renewable energy and their pros and cons