renewable and non-renewable energy resources

advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)

advantages:

• high energy density (lots of energy produced from a small amount)

• reliable

• cheaper than most renewable energy sources

• easy to obtain

• most of our current infrastructure runs on fossil fuels

disadvantages:

• finite - will eventually run out

• causes global warming - traps heat in the atmosphere as it produces greenhouse gases

• causes pollution

advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

advantages:

• high energy density

• low carbon emissions (doesn’t contribute to global warming)

• reliable

disadvantages:

• nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands of years

• potenital for catastrophic accidents (eg. Chernobyl)

• high costs - building and decomissioning a nuclear power plant is extremely expensive

• finite - will run out

advantages and disadvantages of solar cells

advantages:

• renewable and inexhaustible

• non-polluting

• low maintenance

• cost effective in the long term

disadvantages:

• dependent on weather

• high installation cost

• not very useful in cold countries

• can’t produce energy at night

• low efficiency

advantages and disadvantages of solar heating

advantages:

• renewable

• non-polluting

• reduced energy bills as there are no fuel costs

• low maintenance

disadvantages:

• weather and season dependent

• need space to install

• doesn’t work at night

advantages and disadvantages of water (tide, wave, hydroelectrical)

advantages:

• renewable as they use water

• no fuel costs

• no polluting gases are produced

• reliable

disadvantages:

• difficult to make machines big enough to produce large amounts of electricity

• tidal barrages destroy natural habitats of birds and fish

• hydroelectric dams can flood power stations

• the vegetation underwater relases methane, a greenhouse gas

advantages and disadvantages of wind

advantages:

• renewable

• no fuel costs

• no polluting gases

disadvantages:

• noise pollution

• not much space on land - has to be moved to the sea, meaning fumes are released into the sea during construction

• obstructs ships

• installation costs can be high

• weather dependent

advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy

advantages:

• constantly available, unlike other renewable energy

• requires little space as most parts are underground

• no polluting gases produced

disadvantages:

• high cost to install

• most parts of the world dont have areas where geothermal energy can be used (volcanic regions, tectonic plates)