Energy Resources & Energy Transfers · 0 question types
Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)
This topic accounts for approximately 9% of your exam marks.
W = Fd, P = W/t and comparisons of renewable vs non-renewable energy sources tested regularly.
| Resource | Renewable | Reliable | Main advantages | Main disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuels | No | Yes | Large, steady output; output can be ramped to match demand; well-established technology | Burn produces carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas → global warming) and sulfur dioxide (contributes to acid rain); finite reserves |
| Nuclear | No | Yes | Very large output from a small mass of fuel; no CO₂ at the power station | Produces long-lived radioactive waste that must be stored safely for thousands of years; very expensive and slow to build; cannot quickly respond to demand changes; rare but serious accident risk |
| Biofuels | Yes | Yes | CO₂ released on burning is roughly balanced by CO₂ absorbed when the plant grew (near-carbon-neutral) | Crops grown for fuel compete with food crops for land and water |
| Wind | Yes | No | No fuel cost; no greenhouse gases in operation; cheap to install and maintain | Stops generating when the wind drops; can be seen as visually intrusive; can affect bird populations |
| Hydroelectric | Yes | Yes | Large output; output can be increased on demand by opening more gates; no greenhouse gases in operation | Building a reservoir floods a large area, destroying habitats and displacing people; few new sites left in the UK |
| Tidal | Yes | Yes (predictable) | Tides are perfectly predictable months in advance; no fuel | Few suitable estuaries; tidal barrages disturb shipping and damage estuarine wildlife |
| Wave | Yes | No | No fuel; no greenhouse gases | Output varies with the sea state; ocean devices are expensive to install and survive in harsh conditions |
| Geothermal | Yes | Yes | Steady year-round output; no fuel | Limited to volcanically active regions or sites with very deep boreholes; can release trapped greenhouse gases such as methane |
| Solar (PV) | Yes | No | No moving parts; ideal for remote or off-grid locations; cheap and quick to install on existing roofs | Generates nothing at night and far less in cloudy weather; each cell produces only a small amount of power |
| Solar (heating) | Yes | No | Cheap supplementary hot water; no greenhouse gases | Produces heat, not electricity; less effective in winter sunlight |