AQA Physics (8463) 4.1.3 · Classify
Energy resources
Triple Science · Foundation tier
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It is the middle of the night, dark and completely still. A phone plugged into the wall is charging.
If you had to guess, where is most of that electricity coming from?
Key words
- energy resource
- renewable
- non-renewable
- reliable
Key knowledge
A renewable energy resource is one that is being, or can be, replenished as it is used.
A non-renewable resource will run out.
A reliable resource can be used whenever it is needed, or at times you can predict.
The main energy resources
| Row | Renewable | Reliable |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) | ||
| Nuclear fuel | ||
| Bio-fuel | ||
| Wind | ||
| Hydro-electricity | ||
| Geothermal | ||
| The tides | ||
| The Sun | ||
| Water waves |
What we use them for
| Row | Main resources |
|---|---|
| Transport | |
| Electricity generation | |
| Heating |
Environmental impact
| Row | The main impact |
|---|---|
| Fossil fuels | |
| Nuclear fuel | |
| Bio-fuel | |
| Wind | |
| Hydro-electricity | |
| Geothermal | |
| The tides | |
| The Sun | |
| Water waves |
Exams give you a chart and ask you to describe the trend, then explain it.
2020: coal 2% · gas 36% · nuclear 16% · wind and solar 30% · hydro and bio-fuel 16%
- Coal fell from 35% to 2%. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, and the country chose to cut its emissions.
- Wind and solar rose from 1% to 30%. They release no carbon dioxide while running.
- Gas stayed large. It can be used on demand when the wind drops or it is dark.
Science can identify environmental problems, such as carbon dioxide from burning coal.
Science does not always have the power to deal with them. Political, social, ethical and economic considerations also decide what happens.
Wrong: Nuclear power is renewable because it makes no carbon dioxide.
Right: Low carbon and renewable are different. Nuclear fuel will run out.
Wrong: Renewable resources have no environmental impact.
Right: Every resource has some environmental impact.
Key fact
Fossil fuels and nuclear fuel are non-renewable, while bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves are renewable. Every resource has some environmental impact.
- Describe: say what the chart shows, with numbers from it.
- Explain: give the reason, such as renewable or not, reliable or not, and the impact.
- Evaluate: give points for and against each resource, then a judgement with a reason.
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Not sure if a resource is reliable?
The electricity-mix chart is for a made-up country, for practice; it is not real data.