Renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar and geothermal will never run out. However, they don’t generate as much power

Wind Power-Lots of Little Wind Turbines

• Involves putting lots of wind turbines up in exposed places like on moors or round coasts

• Each turbine has a generator inside it-the rotating blades turn the generator and produces electricity

• There’s no pollution, except for when they are manufactured

• However they do spoil the view, as you need 1,500 to replace one coal-fired power station, which would effect the scenery

• They can also be very noisy, annoying people that live nearby

• They also stop working when the wind stop or if its too strong meaning its impossible to increase supply when demand is high. On average, they produce electricity 70-85% of the time.

• The initial costs are quite high, but there are no fuel costs and little maintenance costs

• Also there’s no permanent damage to the landscape, as they don’t leave a mark

Solar Cells-Expensive but No Environmental Damage

• Solar cells generate electric currents directly from sunlight. Solar cells are often the best source of energy to charge batteries in calculators and watches which don’t use much electricity.

• Solar power is often used in remote places where there’s not much choice, such as the Australian outback) and to power electric road signs and satellites

• There’s no pollution, although they use energy to produce

• In sunny countries solar power is a very reliable source, but only in daytime. However, it can also be cost-effective in cloudy countries like Britain

• Like wind, you can’t increase power output when there is high demand

• Initial costs are high but after that the energy is free and running costs almost zero

• Solar cells are used to generate electricity on a small scale

Geothermal Power-Energy in Underground Thermal Energy Stores

• This is possible in volcanic areas or where hot rocks lie quite near the surface. The source of much of this energy is the slow decay of various radioactive elements, including uranium, deep inside the Earth

• This is actually free energy that is reliable and does very little damage to the environment

• Used to generate electricity or heat buildings directly

• The main drawbacks are that there aren’t many suitable locations amd the cost of building one is high compared to the amount of energy it produces