Energy Resources

There are two ways that we generate electricity: through renewable and non-renewable resources. Each of
the ways of generating electricity has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out. The main non-renewable resources are fossil
fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and nuclear.

Energy Main uses Environmental impacts, ethics, reliability, and other

source information

Coal Electricity generation, Reliable output. Abundant and inexpensive. Burning produces
heating and some greenhouse gases (CO2) and contributes to acid rain (SO2).
transport. Mining is dangerous and causes environmental damage.

Oil Transport and heating. Reliable output. Provides a compact source of energy for
transport. Burning produces greenhouse gases (CO2) and
contributes to acid rain (SO2). Serious environmental damage if
spilt. Drilling is dangerous and causes environmental damage.

Gas Electricity generation, Reliable output. Power stations can be turned on and off
heating and some quickly depending on demand. Burning produces greenhouse
transport. gases (CO2) but not SO2.

Nuclear Electricity generation and Produces radioactive waste but no other emissions. Reliable
some military transport output. Fuel is very energy dense so low transport costs and
emissions. Costly to build and decommission but very low
operating costs.

In fossil fuel power plants, the fuel is burnt to heat water in a boiler. This water then turns into highly
pressurised steam that turns the blades on a turbine which then turns a generator. This generator then
produces electrical energy which is distributed to houses via the National Grid (a network of cables and
transformers). Label the diagram below.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. This causes global warming which is an increase in the
temperature of Earth. This happens because carbon dioxide reflects infra-red radiation back towards Earth
and traps it.

Renewable energy resources will never run out or can be regenerated. Examples of renewable energy
resources include biofuel, wind, hydro-electric power, geothermal, tidal energy, solar energy, and water
wave. All renewable resources have the advantage that they will not run out.

Energy source Main uses Environmental impacts, ethics, reliability, and other
information

Biofuel Transport and Large areas of land are needed for growing fuel crops. This can
electricity generation. be at the expense of food crops in poorer nations. Still
produces CO2, but less than fossil fuels. Can be produced
anywhere.

Wind Electricity generation. Unreliable as it only provides energy while there is wind.
Turbines can be noisy/dangerous to birds. Some people think
they ruin the appearance of the countryside. No pollution. The
“fuel” is free so very low operating costs.

Hydro-electric Electricity generation. Requires large areas of land to be flooded, altering ecosystems,
and displacing the people that live there. Reliable and can be
used to store energy at times of low demand to be released
when demand goes up.

Geothermal Electricity generation Only available in a limited number of places where hot rocks
and heating. can be found close to the surface (e.g. Iceland). High build
costs. Very reliable and has a small land footprint and effect on
wildlife.

Tidal Electricity generation. Have a high initial set-up cost and can only be built in certain
locations. Can alter habitats/cause problems for shipping.
Reliable and once built has a long lifespan.

Solar Electricity generation Depends on light intensity, so no power produced at night.

and some heating. High build costs (although getting cheaper as technology
improves) and takes up space. The “fuel” is free and available
world-wide. Silent and easy to maintain.

Water waves Electricity generation. Output depends on waves, so can be unreliable. High costs
compared to power output.
Basic:
1. What is the definition of a renewable energy resource?
2. What is the definition of a non-renewable energy resource?
3. Give four examples of non-renewable energy.
4. What are the three fossil fuels?
5. Give four examples of renewable energy resources.
6. Give a disadvantage of:
a) Burning a fossil fuel.
b) Wind power
c) Solar power
d) Hydro-electric power
e) Nuclear power.

Medium:
7. a) The bar graph shows the proportions of electricity generated in Spain from different energy sources in
2019. Calculate the percentage of electricity generated using fossil fuels.
b) Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Why is adding carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere harmful to the environment?

8.
a) The Spanish government signed the Paris Climate Agreement in April 2016. The agreement commits
Spain to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Explain which energy
resources in the graph should be used to meet Spain’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.
b) On average, there is enough wind in Spain each year to supply all of Spain’s electricity needs. Explain
why Spain may still need power stations that use fuel to generate electricity.
c) All European countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016. In the future, some European
countries will only allow electric vehicles. Suggest how this is likely to affect methods of electricity
generation in these countries.

Hard:
9. Shale gas is natural gas trapped in rocks. Shale gas can be extracted by a process called fracking. There is
some evidence that fracking causes minor earthquakes. Burning shale gas adds carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere. Describe the advantages of
nuclear power compared with the use of
shale gas to generate electricity. (3)
10. Read this extract from a newspaper.
Explain one way in which the islanders
could try to ensure that a similar power
crisis does not happen in the future?
Past Exam Questions

Q1.
Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable.

(a) Coal is a non-renewable energy resource.

Name two other non-renewable energy resources. (2)

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

(b) Wind turbines are used to generate electricity.

The graph below shows how the power output of a wind turbine changes over one day.

A wind turbine does not generate electricity constantly.

For how many hours did the wind turbine generate no electricity? (1)

___________________________________________________________________

Time = ________________________________ hours

 (c) An island has a large number of wind turbines and a coal-fired power station.

The island needs to use the electricity generated by the coal-fired power station at certain
times.

Choose one reason why.

Tick one box.

Wind is a renewable energy resource.

Wind turbine power output is constant.

The power output of wind turbines is unpredictable.

The fuel cost for wind turbines is very high.

(1)

(d) A wind turbine has an average power output of 0.60 MW.

A coal-fired power station has a continuous power output of 1500 MW.

Calculate how many wind turbines would be needed to generate the same power output
as one coal-fired power station.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Number of wind turbines = ______________________

(2)

(e) It is important that scientists develop new energy resources.

Choose one reason why.

Tick one box.

All energy resources are running out.

All energy resources are used to generate electricity.

Most energy resources have negative environmental

effects.
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
Q2.
All European Union countries are expected to generate 20% of their electricity using renewable
energy sources by 2020.

The estimated cost of generating electricity in the year 2020 using different energy sources is
shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Energy source Estimated cost (in the

year 2020) in pence per
kWh

Nuclear 7.8

Solar 25.3

Tidal 18.8

Wind 10.0

France generated 542 billion kWh of electricity using nuclear power stations in 2011.
France used 478 billion kWh of electricity and sold the rest of the electricity to other countries in
2011.

(a) France may continue generating large amounts of electricity using nuclear power stations
instead of using renewable energy resources.

Suggest two reasons why.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Give two disadvantages of generating electricity using nuclear power stations.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(c) A panel of solar cells has an efficiency of 0.15.

The total power input to the panel of solar cells is 3.2 kW.

Calculate the useful power output of this panel of solar cells in kW.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Useful power output = _______________ kW

(2)

(d) Table 2 shows the manufacturing cost and efficiency of different types of panels of solar
cells.

Table 2

Type of Solar Panel Cost to manufacture

Efficiency in
a 1 m2 solar panel in
%
£

A 40.00 20

B 22.50 15

C 5.00 10

Some scientists think that having a low manufacturing cost is more important than
improving the efficiency of solar cells.

Use information from Table 2 to suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)