4.5 - 4.

8 RENEWABLE AND NON

RENEWABLE ENERGY
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

1.7.2 Energy resources Supplement

Core • Understand that the Sun is the source
• Describe how electricity or other of energy for all our energy resources
useful forms of energy may be obtained except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
from: • Show an understanding that energy is
– chemical energy stored in fuel released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
– water, including the energy stored in
waves, in tides, and in water behind
hydroelectric dams • Recall and use the equation:
– geothermal resources efficiency = useful energy output
– nuclear fission energy input ×
– heat and light from the Sun (solar 100%
cells and panels) • efficiency = useful power output
– wind Power input × 100%
• Give advantages and disadvantages of
each method in terms of renewability,
cost, reliability, scale and environmental
impact
• Show a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).
How is electricity generated?

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar

Tidal
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Fossil Fuels Solar

Tidal
 Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES

1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas

2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will all ‘run out’ one day.
• They all damage the environment
• They currently provide most of our
energy.
 Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

RENEWABLE SOURCES

1. Wind 2. Waves 3.
NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES
Tides
4. Hydroelectric 5. Biofuels
1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas
6. Geothermal 7. Solar (from Sun)
2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will never run out.
• They will all ‘run out’ one day.
• They do much less damage to the
• They all damage the environment
environment.
• They currently provide most of our
• They don’t provide much energy and can
energy.
be unreliable if they depend on the
weather.
 Generating electricity

3 stages:
Boiler

Turbine

Generator
 Generating electricity

• In the boiler fuel

burns to heat water.
The water turns
into steam.
• Fuels used may be
coal, oil or gas.
 Generating electricity

• Steam travels along

pipes and makes
the turbine spin.
 Generating electricity

• The turbine turns a

generator.
• Inside the generator
there is a magnet
inside a coil of wire.
• As the magnet
spins, electricity is
generated.
Let’s just repeat the basics:-

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
Energy
source
The generator
converts the
movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: fuels are readily available, they

Fossil fuels
are relatively cheap, and are not reliant upon
the weather.
Disadvantages: highly polluting, contributing
to global warming and climate change. Burning
fossil fuels can produce acid rain. Oil spillages
cause serious damage to the environment.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrybridge_power_stations

The generator
In a fossil fuel power station coal, oil or converts the
natural gas burn, releasing heat energy which
is used to turn water into steam. movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: relatively quick and natural

Biofuels
sources of energy and are considered to be
carbon neutral (do not release additional
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
Disadvantages: natural habitats may be
cleared to make way for biofuel crops, and
some food crops may be lost.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine
http://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/agriculture-biofuel-
production

Biofuels are renewable energy sources. They

can be solids (eg. Straw, woodchip), liquids
The generator
(eg. Ethanol) or gases (eg. Methane biogas
from sludge digesters). converts the
They are burnt to turn water into steam, movement of the
which drives the turbine and producing turbine (kinetic
electricity in the generator.
energy) into
electricity.
 Nuclear energy

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

Nuclear fission, involving the splitting of

atoms of a nuclear fuel (eg. Uranium) releases
a lot of heat energy. The generator
Water is used as a coolant to take away this
converts the
heat energy, which is used to produce steam
to drive a turbine which then turns the movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The main disadvantage of a nuclear power energy) into
station is that radioactive waste is produced.
electricity.
This can be very dangerous and difficult to
dispose of.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,

Wave Power
minimal running costs. Can be very useful on
small islands.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, fairly unreliable as waves disappear
when the wind drops, initial costs can be very
high, environmental impact.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/Q&A/KS3/energy/Sources/Q5.html

The generator
As waves come in to the shore they provide converts the
up and down motion which can be used to
directly drive a turbine which is linked to a
movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The waves force the air through the turbine, energy) into
causing it to spin. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,

Tidal Power
minimal running costs. Tides are reliable, and
barrages are excellent for storing energy.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, initial costs can be very high,
environmental impact. Height of the tide is
variable, so energy output varies.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-ii/fission-and-
fusion/tidal-power.php

The generator
Tidal barrages are big dams built across river converts the
estuaries. As the tide comes in it fills the
estuary – the water is released so that the
movement of the
turbines are turned at a controlled speed. turbine (kinetic
The source of the energy is the gravity of energy) into
the Sun and the Moon. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Immediate response to
Hydroelectric Power increased demand, and fairly reliable.
Disadvantages: flooding a valley has a big
impact on the environment, with much loss of
habitats. Initial costs are high. Adversely
affected during times of drought.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/06/global_energy/
html/hydrowind.stm

The generator
Hydroelectric power usually involves flooding converts the
a valley to form a reservoir behind a big dam.
As water is released from the reservoir it
movement of the
falls through the dam and turns the turbines, turbine (kinetic
which then spin the generators which in turn energy) into
produce electricity. electricity.
 Geothermal Energy Advantages: free, renewable energy source.
No real environmental problems.
Disadvantages: cost of drilling down several
km to the hot rocks.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://polizeros.com/2010/09/02/geothermal-power-gaining-
attention/

The generator
Used where hot rocks lie quite near to the converts the
surface. Cold water is pumped in pipes down
to the hot rocks, and returns as steam to
movement of the
drive the turbines. Unfortunately there are turbine (kinetic
very few places where this is an economic energy) into
option. electricity.
 Solar cells
Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: initially very expensive, and a
developing technology. Only produce
electricity in daytime.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://etap.com/renewable-energy/photovoltaic-101.htm

The generator
Solar cells generate electricity directly from converts the
sunlight. Solar cells are usually used to
provide electricity on a relatively small scale,
movement of the
such as for individual houses. Solar cell turbine (kinetic
‘farms’ are being developed, but connecting to energy) into
the National Grid can be expensive. electricity.
 Solar panels
Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: Only heats water in daytime.
Not used to produce electricity.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22430

The generator
Solar panels use the Sun’s thermal radiation converts the
to warm up water for the house. A blackened
layer behind the pipes helps the absorption of
movement of the
the radiant energy and the warming of the turbine (kinetic
water flowing through the pipes. energy) into
electricity.
 Wind Power
Advantages: no pollution. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: can be considered an eyesore,
and there is some noise pollution. No power is
produced when the wind drops.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

http://www.newhomewindpower.com/wind-power-generators.html

The generator
Wind turbines are put up in exposed places, converts the
such as hilltops and around the coast. Each
wind turbine has its own generator, so
movement of the
electricity is generated directly. turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
The Sun as the ultimate source of energy

The Sun radiates Tidal

energy because of
nuclear fusion Tides are created by the
reactions deep gravitational pull of the
inside. Moon on the Earth’s oceans.

Solar cells
Radioactive atoms
release energy
Solar panels
Energy in plants Weather systems
Nuclear

Solar panels Wind Geothermal

Solar panels Waves

Hydroelectric
 Thermal power stations
A thermal power station
generates electricity by using
the heat produced by the
burning a fossil fuel such as
coal, gas, oil or by the fission
of uranium.

Over 90% of our electricity is

produced by these type of
power stations.
 Thermal power station block diagram

BOILER TURBINES GENERATOR

BOILER
Fuel is burnt to turn water into high pressure steam.
TURBINE
High pressure steam turns a turbine (like a windmill)
GENERATOR
The turbine rotates the coils of a generator to produce
electricity.
Coal-fired power station
A nuclear reactor
 Comparison of uranium and fossil fuels
uranium coal, gas, oil
Energy
released per 1 000 000 kWh 100 kWh
kg of fuel
radioactive waste that
Waste needs to be stored for
non-radioactive
many years waste

Greenhouse Yes, mostly

gases None
carbon dioxide
Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:
Most of our electricity is produced by __________
thermal power
stations. These use the _______
heat produced by burning _____
fuels
or the fission of __________
uranium to generate electricity.
The heat produced is used to change ________
water into high
pressure steam. This steam is used to turn a _________
turbine
which in turn _________
rotates an electrical generator.
Over _______
90% of our electricity is generated by using thermal
power stations.
WORD SELECTION:
rotates fuels heat 90% uranium
turbine water thermal
 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.
 Wind power
Wind is used to drive a
turbine directly which
rotates an electrical
generator.

A wind farm
 Wind power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable energy source • Unreliable – needs wind!
• No greenhouse gases • Best used in places where
• No acid rain they will often be regarded as
• No radioactive waste unsightly
• Inexpensive to build • Many turbines are needed to
produce the same energy of
• Short start up time
a small thermal power
station
• Noise
• Danger to wildlife
 Wave power
Waves can be used to
drive an electrical
generator.
 Wave power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable • Unreliable
• No greenhouse gases • Can only be used in areas
• No acid rain with suitable waves
• No radioactive waste • Prone to storm damage
• No land needed • Many needed to produce the
• Short start up time same energy of a small
thermal power station
• Danger to shipping
 Hydroelectric power
Falling water is used to
drive a turbine directly
which rotates an electrical
generator.

The Hoover Dam near Las Vegas

Hydroelectric power station
 Hydroelectric power versus thermal power stations

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable • Can only be used in
• Can produce as much mountainous areas
energy as a thermal • A large amount of
power station land needs to be
• No greenhouse gases flooded
• No acid rain • Expensive to build
• No radioactive waste
• Short start up time
 Tidal power
Moving water caused by the
tides is used to drive a turbine
directly which rotates an
electrical generator.

Proposed Severn Estuary Tidal Tidal power station at

Power Scheme La Rance, Brittany
Tidal power station
 Tidal power versus thermal power stations

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable • Very limited locations
• No greenhouse gases • Wildlife affected
• No acid rain • Expensive to build
• No radioactive waste
• Short start up time
 Solar power (cells)
Electricity can be
produced directly from
the Sun’s radiation using
solar cells.
 Solar power (panels)
Solar panels are used to heat
water saving electricity or
gas use.
 Solar power versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable • Unreliable in the UK! –
• No greenhouse gases sunshine is needed for solar
• No acid rain cells
• No radioactive waste • Can only be used during the
day
• Short start up time
• Only 10% of solar energy is
converted into electricity by
solar cells
• Many cells needed to
produce the same energy of
a small thermal power
station
 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.
 Geothermal versus thermal power stations
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Renewable • Very limited locations
• No greenhouse gases • Expensive to build
• No acid rain
• No radioactive waste
• Short start up time
Electricity generation pie-chart
Most of our electricity
is generated by
burning fossil fuels
(74% according to the
pie chart opposite)
Nearly 20% is nuclear
Less than 5% is
currently generated
using renewable
sources.
 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.
An effect of
Fossil fuels are not renewable. They are
acid rain
running out. Estimates vary between 50 to
200 years to when we will need to find
alternative sources of energy.
 Problems with nuclear power stations
Nuclear fuel (uranium) does not produce
greenhouse gases and it generates
10000 times more energy per kilogram
than fossil fuels.
However:
Nuclear waste is radioactive and may
have to be stored safely for thousands of
years.
Although safe in normal operation,
accidents can release radioactive
material over a large area. The area
around Chernobyl in Ukraine has been
closed off since 1986.
The destroyed Chernobyl
nuclear reactor
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

1.7.2 Energy resources Supplement

Core • Understand that the Sun is the source
• Describe how electricity or other of energy for all our energy resources
useful forms of energy may be obtained except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
from: • Show an understanding that energy is
– chemical energy stored in fuel released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
– water, including the energy stored in
waves, in tides, and in water behind
hydroelectric dams • Recall and use the equation:
– geothermal resources efficiency = useful energy output
– nuclear fission energy input ×
– heat and light from the Sun (solar 100%
cells and panels) • efficiency = useful power output
– wind Power input × 100%
• Give advantages and disadvantages of
each method in terms of renewability,
cost, reliability, scale and environmental
impact
• Show a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
4.5 - 4.8 RENEWABLE AND NON
RENEWABLE ENERGY