National and global energy resources

Renewable energy

a renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be ) replenished as it is used.

Biofuel

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation and transport

Info: large areas of land are needed for growing fuel crops. This can be at the expense of growing food crops in poorer countries.

Wind

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation

Info/ advantages and disadvantages

Does not provide a constant source for energy.

turbines can be noisy/dangerous to birds.

some people think they may ruin the appearance of the country side.

Water (hydro-electricity)

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation

Info:

Requires large areas of land to be flooded, altering ecosystems and displacing the people living there.

Geothermal

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation and heating

Info:

only available in a limited amount of places where hot rocks can be found close to the surface, e.g. Iceland.

Tidal

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation

Info:

Variations in tide effects output,

have a high initial cost set up.

can alter habitats

cause problems for shipping

Solar

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation and some heating

Info:

depends on light intensity, so no power produced at night.

high cost in relation to power output.

Water waves

Category: renewable

Main use: electricity generation

Info:

output varies on waves so unreliable

can alter habitats

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Nucleur fuel

Category: non- renewable

Main use: electricity generation and some military transport

Info:

produces radioactive waste and no other emissions.

costly to build and decommission.

reliable output.

coal

Burning produces CO2 gases and contributes to acid rain (SO2). reliable output. Category: non- renewable

Main use: electricity generation, heating and some transport

Info:

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Oil

Category: non-renewable

Main use: transport and heating

Info:

reliable output.

provides a compact source of energy transport.

produces CO2, NO2 and SO2.

serious environmental damage if spilt.

Gas

Category: non- renewable

Main use: electricity generation , heating and some transport.

Info:

reliable output

burning produces CO2 but not SO2