Renewable Energy

• RENEWABLE ENERGY

  • A source of energy which is not going to run out.
  • E.G. wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass.
• ADVANTAGES - Wind energy

  • Renewable
  • No waste or pollution
  • No fuel cost
• DISADVANTAGES - Wind energy

  • Low power output
  • Unreliable - dependent on weather
  • Considered unsightly (eyesore)
• ADVANTAGES - Solar energy

  • Renewable
  • No waste or pollution
  • No fuel cost
• DISADVANTAGES- Solar energy

  • Low power output
  • Unreliable - dependent on weather
• ADVANTAGES - Hydroelectric

  • Renewable
  • Reliable
  • Short start up time
  • No waste or pollution
  • Low running cost
• DISADVANTAGES - Hydroelectric

  • Not many suitable places for this power station
  • Myst flood a large area, affecting wildlife
  • Expensive to build
• ADVANTAGES - Geothermal

  • Renewable
  • Low running cost
  • No waste or pollution
• DISADVANTAGES- Geothermal

  • Difficult to find location
  • Dangerous - can release gases
• ADVANTAGES - Tidal energy

  • Renewable
  • No waste or pollution
  • Predictable
  • Low operating cost once built
• DISADVANTAGES - Tidal energy

  • Must flood large area, affecting wildlife
  • Only used on coasts
  • Difficult to build underwater
  • Only works when tides come in and out
  • Expensive to build
• ADVANTAGES - Wave energy

  • Renewable
  • Predictable
• DISADVANTAGES - Wave energy

  • Unreliable - waves aren't always there
  • Bad weather can cause damage
  • Cost a lot to maintain
• ADVANTAGES - Biomass energy

  • Renewable
  • Reliable
  • Carbon neutral - source plants capture as much CO2 as is produced.
• DISADVANTAGES - Biomass energy

  • Uses a lot of crops which requires a lot of land to grow
  • Expensive
• WIND ENERGY

  • Wind turns the rotor (propeller),which spins a generator (coils are spun quickly), creating electricity.
  • Kinetic energy -> Electrical energy
• SOLAR ENERGY

  • Sun shines onto solar panels, energy from sunlight is absorbed by PV cells, creating electrical charge to flow.
  • Light energy -> Electrical energy
• HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY

  • Water flows through a pipe (penstock), turns blades in a turbine, turns generator, producing electricity.
  • Kinetic energy -> Electrical
• GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

  • Boreholes are drilled into underground reservoir. Hit water is pumped/flows to the surface, producing steam which turns turbines, generating electricity.
  • Heat energy -> Electrical energy
• TIDAL ENERGY

  • Relies on flow of the tide caused by gravitational pull from the moon.
  • Tidal barrage - dam built across river or bay on coast, gates and turbines generate electricity.
  • Tidal steam generator - currents turn turbines, generating electricity.
  • Kinetic energy -> Electrical energy
• WAVE ENERGY

  • Trapping waves using bobbing buoys, generating electricity.
  • Kinetic energy -> Electrical energy
• BIOMASS ENERGY

  • Animal and plant waste is burned, producing steam which causes turbines to rotate, activating generator, generating electricity.
  • Heat energy -> Electrical energy