Learning Goals:• I can name the different sources of
renewable and non-renewable energy production and how power is generated.
• I can assess some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of energy production.
Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources
Types of Resources
Non-renewable resources: Cannot be replaced once it is used up.
Renewable resources: Can be re-used or replaced.
Generating Large Amounts of Energy
Using a generator: They transform kinetic energy into an electric current. Magnets inside a generator are rotated by a turbine, a
machine that uses the flow of a fluid (water) to turn a shaft.
The magnets spinning pulls electrons away from their atoms and creates a flowing current.
Current is sent through transmission lines to cities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Vb6hlLQSg
The Million-Dollar Answer
Water (Hydro)
Heat (Fossil fuels,
biomass, nuclear, geother
mal)
Solar Wind Tidal
Hydroelectricity
Harnessing the power of flowing water. Dam built to hold water ADVANTAGE: Inexpensive to produce electricity,
Clean DISADVANTAGE: Environmental, expensive to build.
Fossil Fuels
Burn Fossil Fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). ADVANTAGE: Stations can adjust quickly to
changes in demands. Cheap* DISADVANTAGE: GLOBAL WARMING!
*Depends on cost of fuel
Biomass
Organic material made up of plant and animal waste.
Two options: Burn the waste Collect the methane from
decomposing organisms and then burn as a fuel.
ADVANTAGE: Uses compost
DISADVANTAGE: Still adds CO2 to the atmosphere
Nuclear
Atoms of uranium are split in a chain reaction. Produces an ENORMOUS amount of energy.
1kg of uranium = 50 000kg of coal ADVANTAGE: Lots of energy per $, No CO2
DISADVANTAGE: Waste must be stored for thousands of years.
Geothermal
Water is heated by hot rock deep in the Earth’s crust. Rises to surface as hot water and steam.
ADVANTAGE: Natural, no CO2
DISADVANTAGE: $ to dig and harness the energy.
Wind
Turbines use the energy of moving air to spin their blades, which are connected to a generator.
ADVANTAGE: No greenhouse gases. DISADVANTAGE: Wind isn’t constant, impact
on animals?
Tidal
Uses the energy of the gravitational pull of the moon (when tides move in or out).
ADVANTAGE: Natural, no CO2. DISADVANTAGE: Could harm wildlife, still
very new.
Solar
Solar Panel uses solar cells to convert the sun’s rays directly into electricity.
ADVANTAGE: Works for smaller appliances and remote areas; clean energy.
DISADVANTAGE: Costly and not very efficient per solar cell.
Solar Thermal
Mirrors focus sunlight onto a liquid that is heated and used to turn water into steam to drive the turbines.