energy resources

• The main ways in which we use the Earth’s energy resources are:

  • generating electricity

  • heating

  • transport
• Most of our energy currently comes from fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Reliable energy resources are ones that are available all the time
• Non‑renewable energy resources


  • not replaced as quickly as they are used

  • will eventually run out
• Renewable energy resources


  • can be replaced at the same rate as they are used

  • will not run out
• What is a non-renewable energy resource?

  will eventually run out, is not replaced at the same rate it is being used
• What is a renewable energy resource?

  will not run out, it is being (or can be) replaced at the same rate as which it is used
• What are the main 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
• What are the main 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
• What are the main advantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource?

  lot of energy released from a small mass, reliable, can control supply to match demand, enough fuel available to meet current demand, no polluting gases
• What are the main 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
• What are the main advantages of using solar energy?

  can be used in remote places, no polluting gases, no waste products, very low running cost
• What are the main disadvantages of using solar energy?

  unreliable, cannot control supply, initial set up expensive, cannot be used on a large scale
• What are the main advantages of using tidal power?

  no polluting gases, no waste products, reliable, can produce large amounts of electricity, low running cost, no fuel costs
• What are the main disadvantages of using tidal power?

  can harm marine habitats, initial set up expensive, cannot increase supply when needed, amount of energy varies on time of month, hazard for boats
• What are the main advantages of using wave turbines?

  no polluting gases produced, no waste products, low running cost, no fuel costs
• What are the main disadvantages of using wave turbines?

  unreliable, dependent on weather, cannot control supply, initial set up expensive, can harm marine habitats, hazard for boats, cannot be used on a large scale
• What are the main disadvantages of using wind turbines?

  unreliable, dependent on weather, cannot control supply, take up lot of space, can produce noise pollution
• What are the advantages and the disadvantages of using geothermal energy?

  advantages: no polluting gases, low running cost disadvantages: initial set up expensive, available in few locations
• What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using biofuels?

  advantages: can be ‘carbon neutral’, reliable disadvantages: expensive to produce, use land/water that might be needed to grow food
• What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using hydroelectric power?

  advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, low running cost, no fuel cost, reliable, can be controlled to meet demand disadvantages: initial set up expensive, dams can harm/ destroy marine habitats