Chapter 7 – Energy Resources

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
 Electricity
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
1. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas
4. Hydroelectric 5. Biofuels
2. Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)
6. Geothermal 7. Solar (from Sun)
• They will all ‘run out’ one day.
• They are continuously regenerated/not
• There are limited reserves
used up/have everlasting supply.
 Generating electricity

3 stages:
Boiler

Turbine

Generator
 Generating electricity

1) In the boiler, thermal

energy from various energy
sources is used to heat/boil
water and turn into high
pressure steam.
– Fuels used may be fossil
fuel or nuclear fuel
 Generating electricity

2) High pressure
Steam travels along
pipes and makes the
turbine spin.
 Generating electricity

3) The turbine turns a

generator.
Generator converts
kinetic energy into
electrical energy
Let’s just repeat the basics:-

The steam (or

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

The steam 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 movement of the
which is used to turn water into steam. turbine (kinetic
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: Renewable source, no pollution,
no fuel costs, minimal running costs, safe,
Hydroelectric Power clean and fairly reliable.
Disadvantages: Reservoirs flood land that
could be used for hunting or farming, Natural
habitats are destroyed. Initial costs are
high.

The running water

turns a turbine

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

The generator
Hydroelectric power usually involves flooding converts the
a valley to form a reservoir behind a big dam.
GPE of water is converted to KE of water.
movement of the
As water is released from the reservoir it turbine (kinetic
falls through the dam and turns the turbines, energy) into
which then spin the generators which in turn electricity.
produce electricity.
 Advantages: relatively quick and natural
sources of energy, renewable source
Biofuels Disadvantages: natural habitats may be
cleared to make way for biofuel crops, and
some food crops may be lost. Cause pollution

The steam turns a

turbine
http://www.climatetechwiki.org/technology/agriculture-biofuel-
production

Biofuels are renewable energy sources.

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

The steam turns a

turbine

Nuclear fission, involving the splitting of

atoms of a nuclear fuel (eg. Uranium) releases
a lot of heat energy. The generator
This heat energy is used to produce steam to
converts the
drive a turbine which then turns the
generator. movement of the
Advantage: concentrated source of energy 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. Initial cost of building is high
 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.

The water 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
energy) into
electricity.
 Advantages: no pollution, no fuel costs,
minimal running costs. Tides are reliable
Tidal Power Disadvantages: hazard to boats, can be an
eyesore, initial costs can be very high,

The water turns a

turbine

Tides are periodic rise and fall of ocean water

due to the gravitational forces between the
earth and moon
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
energy) into
electricity.
 Geothermal Energy Advantages: free, renewable energy source.
No real environmental problems.
Disadvantages: cost of drilling down several
km to the hot rocks., economical in areas of
volcanic activity

The steam turns a

turbine

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

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 high
movement of the
pressure steam to drive the turbines. turbine (kinetic
Unfortunately there are very few places energy) into
where this is an economic option. electricity.
 Advantages: no polluting gases, clean, quiet,
Solar cells low maintenance , Energy is free, and running
costs are almost nil.
Disadvantages: initially very expensive,
intermittent supply, takes up space/land.

The steam (or

water / wind)
turns a turbine

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

The generator
Solar cells generate electricity directly from converts the
sunlight.
Solar cells convert solar energy into
movement of the
electrical energy. turbine (kinetic
Solar cells are usually used to provide energy) into
electricity on a relatively small scale, such as electricity.
for individual houses. Solar cell ‘farms’ are
being developed
 Advantages: no pollution. Energy is free, and
Wind Power running costs are almost nil(no fuel).
Disadvantages: dilute source of energy,can be
considered an eyesore, and there is some
noise pollution. No power is produced when
the wind drops(unreliable).Installation cost
high

The steam (or

water / wind)
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

Fossil fuels Wind Geothermal

Biomass Fuels Waves

Hydroelectric
 Sun is the ultimate source of energy
Hydroelectric power:
Radiant energy from the sun warms water from oceans
and other water bodies and causes it to evaporate. This
water vapor forms clouds at high altitude. Rain falls on
the ground and is trapped behind dams.
Fossil fuel :
Fossil fuels are the remains of organisms that lived
millions of years ago. These organisms have captured
sun’s energy by photosynthesis and under high pressure
converted into fossils
 Sun is the ultimate source of energy

Biomass Fuel :
E.g wood stores energy that the plant has
captured from sunlight in the process of
photosynthesis
Wind:
Winds are caused when air is heated by the Sun.
Warm air rises, cool air flows in to replace it