P2 - National and Global Energy Resources

• Non-renewable energy resource

  An energy source that will eventually run out, it is not replaced at the same rate as it is being used
• Renewable energy resource

  An energy source that will not run out, it is being replaced at the same rate as it is being used
• Main renewable and non-renewable resources available on Earth


  • Renewable: solar, tidal, wave, wind, geothermal, biofuel, hydroelectric
  • Non-renewable: coal, oil, gas, nuclear
• Advantages of using coal as an energy resource

  • Enough available to meet current demand
  • Reliable
  • Can control supply to match demand
  • Cheap to extract and use
• Disadvantages of using coal as an energy resource

  • Will eventually run out
  • Releases CO2 which contributes to climate change
  • Releases sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain
• Advantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource

  • Lots of energy released from a small mass
  • Reliable
  • Can control supply to match demand
  • Enough fuel available to meet current demand
  • No polluting gases
• Disadvantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource

  • Waste is dangerous and difficult and expensive to deal with
  • Expensive initial set up
  • Expensive to shut down and to run
• Advantages of using solar energy

  • Can be used in remote places
  • No polluting gases
  • No waste products
  • Very low running cost
• Disadvantages of using solar energy

  • Only available during hours of daylight
  • Cannot control supply
  • Initial set up expensive
  • Cannot be used on a large scale
• Advantages of using tidal power

  • No polluting gases
  • No waste products
  • Reliable
  • Can produce large amounts of electricity
  • Low running cost
  • No fuel costs
• Disadvantages of using tidal power

  • Can harm aquatic habitats
  • Initial set up expensive
  • Cannot increase supply when needed
  • Times the energy is available varies each day
  • Hazard for boats
• Advantages of using wave turbines

  • No polluting gases produced
  • No waste products
  • Low running cost
  • No fuel costs
• Disadvantages of using wave turbines

  • Unreliable
  • Dependent on weather
  • Cannot control supply
  • Initial set up expensive
  • Can harm aquatic habitats
  • Hazard for boats
  • Cannot be used on a large scale
• Disadvantages of using wind turbines

  • Unreliable
  • Dependent on weather
  • Cannot control supply
  • Take up a lot of space
  • Can produce noise pollution
• Advantages of using geothermal energy

  • No polluting gases
  • Low running cost
• Disadvantages of using geothermal energy

  • Initial set up expensive
  • Only available in a few locations
• Advantages of using biofuels

  • Can be 'carbon neutral'
  • Reliable
• Disadvantages of using biofuels

  • Expensive to produce
  • Use land/water that might be needed to grow food
• Advantages of using hydroelectric power

  • No polluting gases
  • No waste products
  • Low running cost
  • No fuel cost
  • Reliable
  • Can be controlled to meet demand
• Disadvantages of using hydroelectric power

  • Initial set up expensive
  • Dams can harm/destroy aquatic habitats