This document discusses various renewable and non-renewable energy sources and electricity generation methods. Renewable sources include wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal and tidal power, while non-renewable sources are fossil fuels and nuclear power. Each method is described in terms of its energy transformation process and relative advantages and disadvantages in terms of sustainability, environmental impact and limitations.

1. Energy Resources and
Electricity Generation

2. Renewable and non-renewable
energy sources
A renewable energy resource is one that will
not run out.
Renewable energy sources do not produce
radioactive waste, greenhouse gases or acid rain.
Examples include wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal,
solar and geothermal.
Fossil fuels such as coal. gas and oil as well as
uranium are non-renewable energy sources.

3. Wind power
Wind is used to rotate a
turbine (the blades) which
turns an electrical
generator.
A wind farm
Energy changes:
kinetic
to electrical

4. ADVANTAGES
• Renewable energy source
• No greenhouse gases
• No acid rain
• No radioactive waste
• Inexpensive to build
• Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
• Unreliable – needs wind!
• Best used in places where
they will often be regarded
as unsightly
• Many turbines are needed
to produce the same
energy of a small thermal
power station
• Noise
• Danger to wildlife
TRIPLE ONLY

5. Hydroelectric power
Falling water is used to
drive a turbine which
rotates an electrical
generator.
Energy changes:
gravitational potential
to kinetic
to electrical

6. Hydroelectric power station

7. ADVANTAGES
•Renewable
•No greenhouse gases
•No acid rain
•No radioactive waste
•Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
•Very limited locations
•Wildlife affected
•Expensive to build
TRIPLE ONLY
The Hoover Dam near Las Vegas

8. Wave power
Waves can be used to
drive an electrical
generator.
Energy changes:
kinetic
to electrical

9. ADVANTAGES
• Renewable
• No greenhouse gases
• No acid rain
• No radioactive waste
• No land needed
• Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
• Unreliable
• Can only be used in areas
with suitable waves
• Prone to storm damage
• Many needed to produce
the same energy of a small
thermal power station
• Danger to shipping
TRIPLE ONLY

10. Tidal power
Moving water caused by
the tides is used to drive a
turbine directly which
rotates an electrical
generator.
Energy changes:
gravitational potential
to kinetic
to electrical
Tidal power station at
La Rance, Brittany

11. Tidal power station

12. ADVANTAGES
•Renewable
•No greenhouse gases
•No acid rain
•No radioactive waste
•Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
•Very limited locations
•Wildlife affected
•Expensive to build
TRIPLE ONLY
Proposed Severn Estuary Tidal
Power Scheme

13. Geothermal energy
In some volcanic areas hot
water and steam rise to the
surface. The steam can be
tapped and used to drive
turbines. This is known as
geothermal energy.
Energy changes:
thermal (heat)
to kinetic
to electrical

14. ADVANTAGES
•Renewable
•No greenhouse gases
•No acid rain
•No radioactive waste
•Short start up time
DISADVANTAGES
•Very limited locations
•Expensive to build
TRIPLE ONLY

15. Solar heating
Heat energy from the Sun
is focussed onto pipes
containing water. The
water boils producing
steam. The steam is then
used to drive turbines
which turn electrical
generators.
Energy changes:
thermal
to kinetic
to electrical

16. ADVANTAGES
•Renewable
•No greenhouse gases
•No acid rain
•No radioactive waste
DISADVANTAGES
•Sunshine needed and
so best in desert
regions
•Can only be used
during the day
•A large amount of land
is needed to produce a
significant amount of
energy
TRIPLE ONLY

17. Solar cells
Electricity produced
directly from the Sun’s
radiation.
Energy changes:
light
to electrical

18. ADVANTAGES
• Renewable
• No greenhouse gases
• No acid rain
• No radioactive waste
• Instant start up time
DISADVANTAGES
• Unreliable in the UK! –
sunshine is needed for
solar cells
• Can only be used during
the day
• Only 10% of solar energy
is converted into electricity
by solar cells
• Many cells needed to
produce a significant
amount of energy
TRIPLE ONLY

19. Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels include coal, oil and
natural gas.
They have been formed in the
ground from dead vegetation and
tiny creatures by a process that
has taken millions of years.
When burnt the heat energy
produced is used to produce
steam. The steam is then used to
drive turbines which turn
electrical generators.
Energy changes:
thermal
to kinetic
to electrical

20. Coal-fired power station

21. Problems with fossil fuels
Burning coal, gas and oil produces carbon
dioxide. This is a greenhouse gas which
causes global warming.
Fossil fuel burning can also produce sulfur
dioxide gas. This can dissolve in water and
produce acid rain which causes damage to
forests and buildings. Modern power stations
remove most sulfur dioxide producing
compounds before burning.
Fossil fuels are not renewable. They are
running out. Estimates vary between 50 to
200 years to when we will need to find
alternative sources of energy.
An effect of
acid rain
TRIPLE ONLY

22. ADVANTAGES
•Concentrated energy
source
•Reliable energy source
•Can be built anywhere
•No radioactive waste
DISADVANTAGES
•Non-renewable
•Produces greenhouse
gases and contributes
to global warming
•Produces acid rain
TRIPLE ONLY

23. Nuclear power
Nuclear power stations use a
certain type of uranium to produce
heat energy.
This heat energy is used to
produce steam. The steam is then
used to drive turbines which turn
electrical generators.
Energy changes:
nuclear
to thermal
to kinetic
to electrical
uranium fuel rods

24. A nuclear reactor

25. ADVANTAGES
•Concentrated energy
source
•Reliable energy source
•Can be built anywhere
•No greenhouse gases
•No acid rain
DISADVANTAGES
•Non-renewable
•Radioactive waste
•Expensive to build
•Technology is related
to that needed to make
atomic bombs
TRIPLE ONLY