Pre-release

• How is coal or natural gas used to produce electricity?

  1. burned to produce heat
  2. heat boils water
  3. creates steam
  4. turns a turbine
  5. produces electricity
• In 2020, 40% of the UK's total energy mix was oil. What was most of this used for?

  Transport
• The barrage would produce more electricity than there is demand. What are the pros and cons of this?

  Pros:

  • would provide enough energy if demand were to increase in the future
  • would reduce reliance on electricity imports

  Cons:

  • If less energy is needed than what the barrage provides, then is it worth building as it overcompensates
• What are the reasons FOR building the tidal barrage in Morecambe Bay?

  • multi-use project (transport and energy)
  • clean renewable energy for 100 years
  • 13,000 jobs
  • energy generated for up to 2 million homes
  • will reduce M6 traffic
  • boost to local economy
  • protection against storm damage
• What are the reasons AGAINST building the tidal barrage?

  • £10 bn cost
  • complex engineering
  • takes 25 years to build
  • expensive maintenance
  • area has Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
  • has Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB)
• How does the barrage fit in with the energy trilemma?

  Environmental sustainability:

  -> renewable energy

  Energy security:

  -> the tide is reliable and predictable so reliable energy

  Affordability:

  -> not affordable but same cost as nuclear power station and lasts longer (is it worth the cost?)
• What are the advantages of natural gas as an energy source?

  • meets demand
  • efficient
  • lower in CO2 emissions than coal
• What are the disadvantages of natural gas as an energy source?

  • needs good infrastructure (pipelines/ships)
  • fossil fuel
  • poor energy security e.g if imported from Russia supplies could be cut
• What are the advantages of coal as an energy source?

  • cheap
  • efficient
  • easy
• What are the disadvantages of coal as an energy source?

  • produces CO2
• What are the advantages of wind as an energy source?

  • renewable
• What are the disadvantages of wind as an energy source?

  • unreliable as it is dependent on the weather being windy
• What are the advantages of nuclear as an energy source?

  • very efficient
  • not burning fossil fuels (no CO2)
• What are the disadvantages of nuclear as an energy source?

  • expensive
  • produces radioactive waste
  • potential for nuclear disasters e.g Chernobyl
  • takes a long time to build