P3 - Energy Resources

• Main energy resources available for use on Earth


  • Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)
  • Nuclear fuel
  • Bio-fuel
  • Wind
  • Hydro-electricity
  • Geothermal
  • Tides
  • Sun
  • Water waves
• Renewable energy resource


  One that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used
• Uses of energy resources


  • Transport
  • Electricity generation
  • Heating
• Renewable energy resources

  • They are clean, because they do not produce any pollution
  • They are cheap because their energy supplies do not have any cost
  • Will never run out, as they are being or can be replenished as it is used.
• Hydroelectric power stations and tidal and wave generators


  • They are very reliable
  • They produce large amounts of electricity
• Disadvantages of renewable energy resources

  • Expensive to set up
  • Rely heavily on the weather ( unreliable ).
• If it is not a windy day


  Wind turbines will not turn
• If it is not sunny

  Solar cells will not produce much electricity
• Renewable Energy Resources

  • Wind turbines
  • Wave generators
  • Tidal generators
  • Hydroelectric power stations
  • Geothermal energy
  • Solar power
• Fossil fuels

  • Reliable
  • Creates pollution and will eventually run out (non-renewable)
  • The combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
• Nuclear power

  • Reliable
  • Much more energy is transferred from each Kg of fuel than fossil fuel
  • Non-renewable , therefore will eventually run out
  • Produces dangerous radioactive waste that is diffucult to dispose of
  • Power stations are expensive to build and hard to decommission.
• Wind turbines

  • Renewable, can be replenished at a similar rate as its used
  • Clean and cheap to run
  • Expensive to set up and wind does not always blow (unreliable)
• Wave generators

  • Renewable, can be replenished at a similar rate as its used.
  • Reliable - doesn't depend on the weather
  • No greenhouse gases emmitted
  • Clean and cheap to run and Scotland has a lot of coastline
  • Expensive to set up
  • Need to withstand storm and lots of cable and buildings are needed, this can spoil areas of coastline. Can affect habitats
• Tidal generators

  • Clean and cheap to run and produce a lot of electricity once running
  • No greenhouse gases emitted
  • Reliable
  • Renewable, can be replenished at a similar rate as its used.
  • Very expensive to set up and could be hazardous to river estuaries and habitats
• Hydroelectric power stations

  • Clean and cheap to run
  • Reliable
  • Renewable, replenished at a similar rate as its used
  • Expensive to set up and output could be affected by drought
  • Can cause floods, scarring habitats
• Solar cells

  • Clean and cheap to run
  • Renewable, replenished at a similar rate as its used
  • Not always sunny and output does not always outweigh initial cost to set up (unreliable).
• Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth's average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels
• The combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and water vapour into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming
• Climate change


  Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns
• What is a non renewable energy resource?

  Resources that cannot be replenished at a similar rate as they are used up.

  They will eventually run out.
• Name 4 types of Biofuels.

  Ethanol , Wood , Charcoal and Biocoal
• What is a Biofuel?


  Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass
• Biofuels

  Are carbon neutral therefore they absorb the same amount of carbon they release into the atmosphere.
• In a steam generator. . . .


  Fuel heats water.

  Water turns to steam.

  Steam turns a turbine.

  The turbine turns a generator
• Why are biofuels renewable?

  The biological material can regrow.

  They are also carbon neutral.
• Biofuels are beneficial however . . .


  If we use land to grow crops for fuel, that could push up the price of food.
• Name the three main fossil fuels ?

  Coal , oil , natural gas