Describe and compare renewable and non-renewable energy resources, their uses, reliability, environmental impacts, and usage trends.
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GCSE Physics Revision
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GCSE Physics revision
National and global energy resources
National and global energy resources
Your specification
AQA student objectives
Learning pathway
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Apply the scientific explanation of national and global energy resources to a relevant example.
Analyse a new situation involving national and global energy resources and explain the scientific reasoning.
Revision summary
Key knowledge
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A Brief History of Energy Use
- For most of human history, wood was the primary energy source used for warmth and cooking.
- Over the past 200 years, the world has shifted dramatically towards non-renewable energy resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy.
- In the last 50 years, there has been a significant rise in renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal energy.
Energy Use in Transport
- Transport ā including cars, trains, planes, and ships ā is one of the UK's major areas of energy consumption.
- Road vehicles primarily rely on petrol and diesel, whilst aeroplanes use kerosene, all of which are derived from oil and are therefore fossil fuels.
- Trains were historically powered by coal, helping to drive the Industrial Revolution in Britain, but most now run on electricity.
- There has been a growing use of biofuels (made from renewable sources such as plants) and electric vehicles as cleaner alternatives in transport.
Energy Use in the Home (Domestic)
- Domestic energy use refers to household activities such as cooking and heating.
- Natural gas is the UK's main source of domestic heating; it is burned to heat water, which is then pumped through radiators to warm rooms.
- Coal is another non-renewable source that can be burned in fireplaces for heat.
- Renewable heating options include solar water heaters, which use the Sun's energy to heat water, and biofuels, which can be burned similarly to coal.
Electricity: Renewable or Non-Renewable?
- Electricity itself is neither renewable nor non-renewable ā its classification depends entirely on the energy resource used to generate it.
- In the UK, approximately 60% of electricity is generated from fossil fuels, with non renewables making up nearly 80% of the total electricity mix.
- This means the vast majority of UK electricity currently comes from non-renewable resources, highlighting the need for a transition to cleaner energy sources.
Defining Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
- Renewable energy resources are those that can be replenished naturally and will not run out, such as wind and solar power.
- Non-renewable energy resources cannot be replaced once used, meaning they will eventually run out the more we consume them.
Types of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
- The four non-renewable energy resources are coal, oil, gas, and nuclear energy.
- Coal, oil, and gas are collectively known as fossil fuels, as they formed over millions of years from ancient organic matter.
- Nuclear energy is non-renewable because it relies on uranium, a finite resource extracted from the Earth.
Types of Renewable Energy Resources
- There are seven renewable energy resources to know: wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, tidal, biofuel, and waves.
- All seven renewable energy resources can be used to generate electricity.
- Solar and geothermal energy can also be used for heating purposes in addition to generating electricity.
Uses of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
- Coal, oil, gas, and nuclear energy are all used to generate electricity.
- Oil is the primary non-renewable resource used for transport, with gas also used occasionally.
- Coal, oil, and gas can all be used for heating, with gas central heating being a very common example.
Solar Energy: Cells vs Panels
- Solar cells transfer light energy directly into electricity, making them useful for generating electrical power.
- Solar panels absorb infrared radiation from the Sun to heat water, rather than generating electricity directly.
- It is important to distinguish between solar cells (electricity) and solar panels (heating) when discussing solar energy.
Pollution from Non-Renewable Energy Resources
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change.
- Burning coal and oil also releases sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain.
- Nuclear energy does not produce polluting gases, but it does generate radioactive waste that must be disposed of very carefully to protect both humans and the environment.
Reliability of Renewable Energy Resources
- Hydroelectric power is highly reliable as dams are built on rivers and are kept topped up by rainfall, providing a consistent water supply.
- Solar cells have low reliability because they cannot generate electricity at night or on cloudy days, and produce less energy in winter.
- Wind turbines have low reliability because they only generate electricity when there is sufficient wind, so they must be built in consistently windy locations.
Geothermal and Tidal Energy
- Geothermal energy works by pumping water down to hot rocks below the Earth's surface, turning it to steam which drives turbines to generate electricity.
- Geothermal energy has very high reliability where it is available, but hot rocks are only found in certain locations around the world, such as Iceland.
- Tidal energy is highly reliable because tides occur consistently every day, generating electricity as water flows in and out through turbines.
Wave Energy
- Wave energy uses the up-and-down motion of ocean waves to move structures that generate electricity.
- Wave energy has low reliability because waves depend on wind and weather conditions, meaning electricity is only generated when waves are present.
- Unlike tidal energy, wave energy cannot be counted on as a consistent source of power due to its dependence on variable weather.
Evaluating Energy Resources: Key Considerations
- When evaluating energy resources, it is important to consider their reliability, environmental impact, and the range of uses they support (electricity, heating, and transport).
- Non-renewable resources are generally more reliable but cause significant environmental damage through pollution and the production of radioactive waste.
- Renewable resources are more environmentally friendly but many suffer from low reliability due to their dependence on weather and natural conditions.