P3 Energy Resources - AQA Trilogy Physics

Biofuels

Biofuels

• any fuel taken from living or recently living organisms e.g. animal waste, ethanol and waste vegetable oil and plants

• renewable source of energy

• carbon-neutral

Nuclear Power

• takes energy from atoms

• uranium or plutonium is used as a fuel

• PROS : no greenhouse gases, much more energy is released per kilogram from uranium or plutonium than from fossil fuels

• CONS : used fuel rods contain radioactive waste which has to be stored for centuries, could be dangerous if an explosion released radioactive material

Wind Power

• a wind turbine is an electricity generator on top of a tall hill

• renewable

• unreliable because when there is little to no wind they don’t generate electricity

• could be noisy

Wave Power

• waves generate electricity by turning a floating generator

• renewable

• lots of cables and buildings are needed along the coast to connect the wave generators to the electricity grid - can spoil coastlines

• tidal flow patterns can change - affects habitats of marine life and birds

Hydroelectric Power

• rainwater collected in a reservoir flows downhill, the flowing water drives turbines

• renewable

• need large reservoirs of water which can affect plant and animal life

Tidal Power

• tidal power stations trap water from each high tide behind a barrage and then releases it to the sea through turbines

• renewable

• barrages affect river estuaries and habitats

Solar Panels

• solar cells use the sun’s energy to generate electricity directly

• renewable

• useful when only small amounts of electricity is needed or in remote places

• very expensive to buy but cost nothing to run

• lots are needed to generate enough power and can be unreliable in cloudy places

Solar Heating Panels

• use the sun’s energy to heat water directly

• renewable

• a solar panel tower uses thousands or mirrors to reflect sunlight onto a big water tank

Geothermal Energy

• energy releases by radioactive substances deep within the earth

• the energy from these radioactive substances heats surrounding rock

• renewable

Pros of Renewable Energy Sources

• will never run out

• don’t produce greenhouse gases or acid rain

• can be used where connection to the National Grid is uneconomical

Cons of Renewable Energy Sources

• aren’t currently able to meet the worlds demand

• some can be unreliable or can’t be used all the time