Which power stations are non-renewable?
- Coal
- Oil
- Gas
- Nuclear
Why are fossil fuel power stations bad for the environment?
- Burning fossil fuels generates carbon dioxide (CO2) - this contributes to global warming as it is a greenhouse gas
- Coal (particularly) emits sulphur dioxide (SO2) which causes acid rain
Which 2 fuels are are used in nuclear fission power stations?
Uranium and plutonium
What is a biofuel?
Any fuel that comes from a biological source eg.:
- burning wood to heat water
- burning biogas to heat water or generate elecricity
Which 2 renewable sources can be used to drive turbines directly?
Wind and water
Water can be in the form of:
- waves
- tidal
- hydroelectric
How can solar energy be used?
- to heat water directly
- to generate electricty using solar cells
What is geothermal energy?
In some volcanic areas hot water and steam rise to
the surface. The steam can be tapped and used to
drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy.
What are the advanatges and disadvantages of coal-fired power stations?
Advantages
- reliable energy source
- cheap to run
Disadvantages
- CO2 produced which adds to global warming
- SO2 produced which adds to acid rain
What are the advantages and disadvantges of oil power stations?
Advantages
- reliable energy source
- cheap to run
Disadvantages
- CO2 produced which adds to global warming
What are the advantages and disadvantages of gas-fired power stations?
Advantages
- reliable energy source
- cheap to run
Disadvantages
- CO2 produced which adds to global warming
What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power stations?
Advantages
- Highest energy per kg of fuel
Disadvantages
- Slow start-up time
- Dangers of a large scale accident affecting many people
- Radioactive waste is highly toxic and difficult to dispose of
What are the disadvantages of wave power?
Advantages
- Renewable energy source
- Free (once built)
Disadvantages
- Spoils the scenary (visual pollution)
- Noise pollution
- An unreliable source of energy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tidal power?
Advantages
- renewable source of energy
Disadvantages
- Spoils the scenary (visual pollution)
- Destroys wildlife habitats
- An reliable source of energy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal power?
Advantages
- Renewable source of energy
Disadvantages
- Can only be used in volcanic parts of the world (Iceland & New Zealand)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power?
Advantages
- Fast start up time
- Renewable
Disadvantages
- Natural habitats need to be flooded to construct the dam
- Visual pollution
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?
Advantages
- Biofuels are sustainable
- Some are “carbon neutral”
Disadavantages
- CO2 produced when burning wood which adds to global warming
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
Advantages
- Renewable source of energy
- Free (once built)
Disadvantages
- Expensive to produce solar cells
- Can be unreliable in less sunny regions
