4.7 ENERGY
RESOURC
ES
By- Ali Bakshi
TYPES OF
ENERGY
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
FOSSIL FUELSCoal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels: they formed from the
remains of plants and tiny sea creatures that lived millions of years ago.
They are a very concentrated source of energy. Petrol, diesel, and jet
fuel are all extracted from crude oil
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
Nuclear fuelsMost contain uranium. 1 kg of nuclear fuel stores as much energy as 55 tonnes of
coal. In nuclear power stations, the energy is released by fission, a process in which
the nuclei of uranium atoms are split. Problems High safety standards are needed.
The waste from nuclear fuel is very dangerous and stays radioactive for thousands
of years. Nuclear Power stations are expensive to build, and expensive to
decommission
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
TYPES OF
ENERGY
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
HYDROELECTRIC
TIDAL
A river fills a lake behind a dam. Water flowing down from the lake turns generators.
Problems- Expensive to build. Few areas of the world are suitable. Flooding land and
building a dam causes environmental damage.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
W
C
TIDAL
WIND
WAVE
Similar to hydroelectric energy, but a lake fills when the tide comes in and
empties when it goes out.
Problems- As for hydroelectric energy.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
L
WIND
WAVE
GEOTHERM
Generators are driven by wind turbines ('windmills').
Problems- Large, remote, windy sites are needed. Winds are variable. The wind
turbines are noisy and can spoil the landscape.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
D
WAVE
GEOTHERMAL
Generators are driven by the up-and-down motion of
waves at sea.
Problems- Difficult to build - few devices have been successful.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
S
GEOTHERMAL
SOLAR
BIO
'Geothermal' means heat from the Earth. Water is pumped down to hot rocks deep
underground and rises as steam. In areas of volcanic activity, the steam comes
naturally from hot springs.
Problems- Deep drilling is difficult and expensive.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
AL
SOLAR
BIOFUELS
Solar panels are made from materials that can deliver an electric current when they
absorb the energy in light.
Problems Variable amounts of sunshine in some countries. Solar cells are
expensive, and must be large to deliver useful amounts of power. A cell area of
around 10 m2 is needed to power an electric kettle.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
BIOFUELS
These are fuels made from plant or animal matter. They include wood, alcohol from
sugar cane, and methane gas from rotting waste.
Problems Huge areas of land are needed to grow plants.
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
TYPES OF
ENERGY
NONRENEWABLE
RESOURCES
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES
Geothermal
Energy
Weather
system
Wave energy
Nuclear Energy
Solar Cells
Nucleus of
Atom
Hydroelectric
energy
Wind energy
Sun
Solar Panels
Biofuels from
plants
The tides
Energy in
plants
Tidal energy
Biofuels form
waste
Fossil Fuels
Battery