National and Global energy resources

• What is a renewable energy resource?

  An energy source which can be replenished as it is being used up
• Give four examples of renewable energy resources 


  • wind energy
  • hydro-electricity
  • tidal energy
  • solar energy
• Give an example of a non renewable energy resource

  fossil fuels (coal oil gas)
• What are the advantages of generating power using gas rather than coal?


  • flexible generation: gas power stations have short start-up times so can be switched on/off more readily
  • lower emissions of carbon dioxide
• state two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power

  • output often determined by external factor (like wind speed), so supply is uncertain
  • generating power through other means is often more efficient and economically beneficial
• Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels

  • carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect, and causes global warming
  • sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops
• State three advantages of fossil fuels as an energy resource

  • reliable: not dependent on external factors so can generate power anytime
  • can produce large amounts of energy for a given quantity
  • still relatively abundant, so cost effective
• State three advantages of nuclear power

  • very large amounts of energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
  • doesn’t release greenhouse gases and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
  • low fuel costs
• State three disadvantages of nuclear power

  • produces nuclear waste which is harmful to humans and must be safely stored for centuries
  • non-renewable energy source
  • risk of nuclear accidents, which have fatal consequences on humans and the environment
• How does hydroelectric power produce energy?


  • rainwater collects behind a dam
  • when this water is released, it is used to turn a turbine
  • this turbine turns a generator which produces electricity
• What are some disadvantages of using biofuels?

  • when plants are burned or decay they release CO2
  • in order to grow biofuels, you need to destroy land which leads to problems because: the land could have been natural habitats, destroying land may involve burning plants growing on it, which would release CO2
  • Growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing food
• What are the advantages of tidal energy?

  • they do not produce greenhouse gases
  • they are quite reliable, as tides happen twice a day
  • they are cheap to run as tides are natural, and so are free
• What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?


  • the dam may cause flooding
  • it can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure
• What are some advantages of solar panels?


  • they don’t cause harm to the environment
  • they are a renewable resource
  • they can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible
• Give examples of social factors which may act as a deterrent for certain types of energy production

  • visual pollution
  • sound pollution
  • both these are disadvantages of wind farms