ENERGY
Where does our Energycome from?
Where does our energy comefrom for…?
•Electric light
•Mobile phones
•Power for your mp3
•TV
•Hot Water
Energy for these things come fromEnergy Resources, that are convertedinto energy that we can easily use.
Electricity is the main form of energythat we use and can power or chargewhat we need energy for.
To generate electricity…
1.You need an energy source, e.g. coal
2.This is burnt to produce heat or steam
3.The heat or steam then drives a turbine
4.The turbine then can drive a generator
5.The generator then produces electricity
6.The electricity is then transported incables to where it is needed
Energy Resources can bedivided into 2 categories:
1.Non-Renewable Resources
For example – coal, oil, gas, uranium or lignite
Once used these resources CANNOT be used again
2. Renewable Resources
For example – wind, water or solar
These resources can be used over and over again
Non-Renewable Resources:COAL
What is it?
•Formed underground from decaying plant material
How much left in the world?
•About 200 years
Advantages?
•Plenty left
•Mining is getting more efficient
Disadvantages?
•Pollution: CO2 emissions (linked to global warming), SO2(linked to acid rain)
•Heavy & bulky to transport
Non-Renewable Resources:OIL
What is it?
•Formed underground from decaying animal and plantmaterial
How much left in the world?
•About 40 years!
Advantages?
•Quite easy to transport
•Efficient in producing energy
•Less pollution than coal
Disadvantages?
•Not much left
•Pollution: air and danger of water pollution through spills
Non-Renewable Resources:NATURAL GAS
What is it?
•Formed underground from decaying animal and plantmaterial
How much left in the world?
•About 60 years
Advantages?
•Clean, least polluting of all non-renewables
•Easy to transport
Disadvantages?
•Some air pollution
•Danger of explosions
Non-Renewable Resources:NUCLEAR
What is it?
•Uses uranium, naturally found in some rocks
How much left in the world?
•Not known
Advantages?
•Not much waste and few CO2 emissions released, aswell as, few other greenhouse gases
Disadvantages?
•High cost to build and close down power stations.
•Waste is radioactive. Problem with getting rid of wastesafely
Why is the term, FOSSILFUEL used for coal, oil, gas andlignite?
Renewable Resources: WIND
What is it? It the movement of air fromhigh to low pressure
How much left? Endless
Advantages? No pollution
Disadvantages? Winds change all the
time, not predictable
Renewable Resources:SOLAR
What is it? Energy from the sun
How much left? Endless
Advantages? No pollution, can be usedin remote areas
Disadvantages? Can be expensive,needs sunlight
At night it doesn’t work
Renewable Resources:BIO-ENERGY
What is it? Biomass and Biogas –
•fermented animal or plant waste
•vegetation from sustainable sources
How much left? Endless
Advantages? Good availability
Disadvantages? Can be expensive to set up
Renewable Resources:HYDRO
What is it? Movement of water drives aturbine
How much left? Endless
Advantages? No CO2 emissions, can controlflooding and provide a good water supply toan area
Disadvantages? Large areas maybe flooded.Visual and water pollution
Renewable Resources:GEOTHERMAL
What is it? Heat from the ground – oftenused to heat water
How much left? A lot
Advantages? No CO2 emissions
Disadvantages? Expensive and can only beused in certain parts of the world
Renewable Resources:WATER & TIDAL
What is it? Movement of sea drives turbines
How much left? Endless
Advantages? Can produce a lot of electricity,no CO2 emissions
Disadvantages? Not many suitable sites
Where does our Energy comefrom?
•From renewable and non-renewableenergy sources
•Renewable energy sources are nowincreasingly being used
•Renewable energy: The future ofenergy, today!