Energy I -

Energy Resources
Learning Objectives:
• State a range of electrical energy resources.
• Describe the energy transfers involved in electrical generation.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of energy resources for
electrical production.
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
• Describe how electricity or other
useful forms of energy may be obtained Supplement
from: • Understand that the Sun is the source
– chemical energy stored in fuel of energy for all our energy resources
– water, including the energy stored in except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
waves, in tides, and in water behind • Show an understanding that energy is
hydroelectric dams released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
– geothermal resources
– nuclear fission
– heat and light from the Sun (solar
cells and panels)
– wind
• Give advantages and disadvantages of
each method in terms of renewability,
cost, reliability, scale and environmental
impact
• Show a qualitative understanding of
efficiency
Electricity
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).
How is electricity generated?

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Solar

Tidal
How is electricity generated?
Wind

Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity

Fossil Fuels Solar

Tidal
 Types of sources
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES

1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas

2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will all ‘run out’ one day.
• They all damage the environment
• They currently provide most of our
energy.
 Types of sources
Electricity is known as a
secondary energy source
because it is produced using
primary energy sources (eg.
Coal, nuclear fuel, wind
power).

RENEWABLE SOURCES

NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES 1. Wind 2. Waves 3. Tides

4. Hydroelectric 5. Biofuels
1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas 6. Geothermal 7. Solar (from Sun)
2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
• They will never run out.
• They will all ‘run out’ one day. • They do much less damage to the
• They all damage the environment environment.
• They currently provide most of our • They don’t provide much energy and can
energy. be unreliable if they depend on the
weather.
 Stages of a Power Plant

3 stages:
Boiler

Turbine

Generator
 The Boiler
• In the boiler fuel
burns to heat
water. The water
turns into steam.
• Fuels used may be
coal, oil or gas.
 The Turbines

• Steam travels along

pipes and makes
the turbine spin.

turbine in power
station
 The Generator

• The turbine turns a

generator.
• Inside the generator
there is a magnet
inside a coil of wire.
• As the magnet
spins, electricity is
generated.
Let’s just repeat the basics:-

The steam (KE)

turns a turbine
Energy
source
(Chemical) The generator
converts the
movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: fuels are readily available, they
are relatively cheap, and are not reliant upon
Fossil fuels the weather.
Disadvantages: highly polluting, contributing
to global warming and climate change. Burning
fossil fuels can produce acid rain. Oil spillages
cause serious damage to the environment.

The steam (KE)

turns a turbine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrybridge_power_stations

The generator
In a fossil fuel power station coal, oil or converts the
natural gas burn, releasing heat energy which
is used to turn water into steam. movement of the
turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: relatively quick and natural
sources of energy and are considered to be
Biofuels carbon neutral (do not release additional
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
Disadvantages: natural habitats may be
cleared to make way for biofuel crops, and
some food crops may be lost.

The steam (KE)

turns a turbine

http://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/agriculture-biofuel-pro
duction

Biofuels are renewable energy sources. They

can be solids (eg. Straw, woodchip), liquids
The generator
(eg. Ethanol) or gases (eg. Methane biogas
from sludge digesters). converts the
They are burnt to turn water into steam, movement of the
which drives the turbine and producing turbine (kinetic
electricity in the generator.
energy) into
electricity.
 Nuclear energy

The steam (KE)

turns a turbine

Nuclear fission, involving the splitting of

atoms of a nuclear fuel (eg. Uranium) releases
a lot of heat energy. The generator
Water is used as a coolant to take away this
converts the
heat energy, which is used to produce steam
to drive a turbine which then turns the movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The main disadvantage of a nuclear power energy) into
station is that radioactive waste is produced.
electricity.
This can be very dangerous and difficult to
dispose of.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Can be very useful on
Wave Power small islands.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, fairly unreliable as waves disappear
when the wind drops, initial costs can be very
high, environmental impact.

The air (KE) turns

a turbine

http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/Q&A/KS3/energy/Sources/Q5.html

The generator
As waves come in to the shore they provide converts the
up and down motion which can be used to
directly drive a turbine which is linked to a
movement of the
generator. turbine (kinetic
The waves force the air through the turbine, energy) into
causing it to spin. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Tides are reliable, and
Tidal Power barrages are excellent for storing energy.
Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, initial costs can be very high,
environmental impact. Height of the tide is
variable, so energy output varies.

The water (KE)

turns a turbine

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-ii/fission-and-f
usion/tidal-power.php

The generator
Tidal barrages are big dams built across river converts the
estuaries. As the tide comes in it fills the
estuary – the water is released so that the
movement of the
turbines are turned at a controlled speed. turbine (kinetic
The source of the energy is the gravity of energy) into
the Sun and the Moon. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Immediate response to
Hydroelectric Power increased demand, and fairly reliable.
Disadvantages: flooding a valley has a big
impact on the environment, with much loss of
habitats. Initial costs are high. Adversely
affected during times of drought.

The water
(GPE -> KE) turns
a turbine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/06/global_energy/ht
ml/hydrowind.stm

The generator
Hydroelectric power usually involves flooding converts the
a valley to form a reservoir behind a big dam.
As water is released from the reservoir it
movement of the
falls through the dam and turns the turbines, turbine (kinetic
which then spin the generators which in turn energy) into
produce electricity. electricity.
 Advantages: free, renewable energy source.
Geothermal Energy No real environmental problems.
Disadvantages: cost of drilling down several
km to the hot rocks.

The hot water

(Heat -> KE) turns
a turbine

http://polizeros.com/2010/09/02/geothermal-power-gaining-attenti
on/

The generator
Used where hot rocks lie quite near to the converts the
surface. Cold water is pumped in pipes down
to the hot rocks, and returns as steam to
movement of the
drive the turbines. Unfortunately there are turbine (kinetic
very few places where this is an economic energy) into
option. electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
Solar cells source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: initially very expensive, and a
developing technology. Only produce
electricity in daytime.

The sun light

(Light -> Electricity)
produces electricity

http://etap.com/renewable-energy/photovoltaic-101.htm

Solar cells generate electricity directly from

sunlight. Solar cells are usually used to
provide electricity on a relatively small scale,
such as for individual houses. Solar cell
‘farms’ are being developed, but connecting to
the National Grid can be expensive.
 Advantages: no pollution, a very reliable
Solar panels source in sunny countries. Energy is free, and
running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: Only heats water in daytime.
Not used to produce electricity.

The sun light

(Light -> Heat)
produces heat.

http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22430

Solar panels use the Sun’s thermal radiation

to warm up water for the house. A blackened
layer behind the pipes helps the absorption of
the radiant energy and the warming of the
water flowing through the pipes.
 Advantages: no pollution. Energy is free, and
Wind Power running costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: can be considered an eyesore,
and there is some noise pollution. No power is
produced when the wind drops.

The wind (KE)

turns a turbine

http://www.newhomewindpower.com/wind-power-generators.html

The generator
Wind turbines are put up in exposed places, converts the
such as hilltops and around the coast. Each
wind turbine has its own generator, so
movement of the
electricity is generated directly. turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
The Sun as the ultimate source of energy

The Sun radiates Tidal

energy because of
nuclear fusion Tides are created by the
reactions deep gravitational pull of the
inside. Moon on the Earth’s oceans.

Solar cells
Radioactive atoms
release energy
Solar panels
Energy in plants Weather systems
Nuclear

Wind Geothermal
Chemical

Waves
Coal, Oil, Gas
Hydroelectric