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What do renewable and non-renewable mean? Energy resources can be classified into two groups. Renewable Non-renewable

Renewable energy resources can be replaced or regenerated and will never run out (at least not for a very long time). Examples: wind and solar.
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Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out once used they cannot be used again. Examples: coal and oil.
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Spot the energy resources

How many different energy resources are part of this scene?

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Non-renewable or renewable?

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What are fossil fuels?

Industrial societies need a lot of energy and, at the moment, rely on fossil fuels as the main source of this energy. Coal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. They are carbon-based materials that formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Fossil fuels are so useful because they contain stored chemical energy, which is converted into large amounts of useful heat energy when the fuels are burned. The total amount of fossil fuels available is limited and so they are classed as non-renewable energy resources.
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How do fossil fuels produce electricity?

Power stations that are fuelled by coal and oil, operate on the same basic principle. The fuel is burned and the heat produced is used to boil water. This creates high-pressure, superheated steam, which is then used to turn a turbine. The turbine turns a generator and so generates electricity. The cooling towers cool the steam, which condenses as water and can then be recycled in the power station.

Natural-gas-fired power stations do not use steam. The natural gas is burnt and the hot gases produced are used directly to turn the turbine.
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What happens in a coal/oil power station?

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Energy changes in a coal/oil power station

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Stages in a coal power station activity

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What waste do fossil fuels produce?

Burning fossil fuels creates waste products that can act as pollutants and have harmful environmental effects.

Carbon dioxide This greenhouse gas is the main waste product of burning fossil fuels. Increased levels of carbon dioxide due to human activities are thought to be connected with global warming.
Sulfur dioxide and nitric oxides These gaseous pollutants contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. Ash This waste solid is disposed of in landfill sites. What can be done to reduce the problems caused by burning fossil fuels?
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What is the greenhouse effect?

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Should we use nuclear power?

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What is nuclear fuel?

Nuclear fuel is used to generate electricity but, unlike fossil fuels, it does not burn. In a nuclear fuel, such as uranium, reactions take place that split the atoms and release huge amounts of heat energy. This is called nuclear fission. In a nuclear power station, the heat released from nuclear fission reactions is used to change water into steam. As in other types of power station, the steam then turns a turbine, which turns a generator and produces electricity. Nuclear power stations do not release any greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or gases which cause acid rain.
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What happens in nuclear power station?

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What waste does nuclear power produce?

Nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. The used nuclear fuel contains some uranium, which can be separated from the waste and reused. It also contains plutonium, which is a highly-radioactive product of the fission reactions that occur in uranium nuclear fuel. New reactors that use this waste product as a fuel have been built. However, plutonium is also used in the construction of nuclear bombs and poses a very serious threat if it gets into the wrong hands.
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Where can nuclear waste be stored?

Nuclear waste that cannot be reused poses serious problems as it can remain radioactive for thousands of years. Highly radioactive waste can be turned into glass to help stabilize it and prevent leaks during storage.

One solution is to bury the waste deep underground. This must be in a geologically stable environment, so there are few suitable sites.
Another suggested solution is to dump radioactive waste at the bottom of the sea. Dealing with nuclear waste is expensive and any solution has to be long term.
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How quickly can electricity be produced?

The demand for electricity varies depending on the time of day and time of year. Power stations have to cope with this. Power stations cannot be turned on at the flick of a switch. These are typical start-up times for power stations that use nonrenewable energy resources. Natural gas power stations produce electricity quickly. Type of fuel natural gas oil coal nuclear power Start-up time 1 hour 4 hours

7 hours
48 hours

Nuclear power stations take about two days to reach full power. They are only shut down for maintenance.
Which type of power is useful when extra power is needed for a short time?
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How long can non-renewable energy last?

Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out. Type of fuel natural gas oil coal Time until reserves run out 25-30 years about 75 years about 300 years Scientists think that natural gas reserves will only last another 25-30 years. It is difficult to be exact as new gas fields are still being discovered.

nuclear power thousands of years

Even though nuclear fuel will last thousands of years, there is still a limited supply and so it will eventually run out. This is why nuclear power is classed as a non-renewable energy resource.
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Fossil fuels: what are the pros and cons?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning fossil fuels in power stations to generate electricity? Advantages of fossil fuels readily available easily transported low fuel cost low building costs short start-up times Disadvantages of fossil fuels non-renewable acid rain greenhouse effect inefficient

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Opinions about using fossil fuels

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Nuclear power: what are the pros and cons?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power to generate electricity? Advantages of nuclear power cheaper to run once built conserves fossil fuels no sulfur dioxide emissions Disadvantages of nuclear power expensive to build non-renewable produces radioactive waste

no carbon dioxide emissions expensive to decommission safe under normal conditions links with cancer small amount of fuel used risk of disaster so less transport needed
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Opinions about using nuclear power

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Reporting about nuclear power

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Glossary (1/2) acid rain Rainwater that is more acidic than normal due
to the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.

fossil fuels Carbon-based fuels, such as coal, oil and

natural gas, that are formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

generator A device used in power stations, which

transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy.

global warming The increase in the temperature of the

Earth, which some scientists think is causing climate change.

greenhouse effect The trapping of heat from the Sun

by certain gases in the Earths atmosphere.

greenhouse gas A gas, such as carbon dioxide, that

can trap heat from the Sun in the Earths atmosphere.
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Glossary (2/2) nuclear fission The splitting of an atomic nucleus, which

releases large amounts of energy. In nuclear power stations, this process provides the heat used in generating electricity.

nuclear fuel Material, usually uranium, that undergoes

nuclear fission and is the source of heat in nuclear power stations.

non-renewable An energy resource that cannot be

replaced or used again and so will eventually run out.

renewable An energy source that can be replaced or

regenerated and so will not run out.

turbine A device used in power stations, which is turned

by the force of moving steam. It is connected by a shaft to a generator to produce electricity.

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Anagrams

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Non-renewable energy resources summary

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Multiple-choice quiz

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