1. Production and Distribution of Electrical Energy
Chapter 4

2. 1. Electricity generation:
electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.

3. 2. Types of Power Resources:
Power station
Function
Oil
transforming heat energy from burning oil into mechanical energy
Natural Gas
Coal
Geothermal
energy derived from the heat(hot water or steam ) in the interior of the earth
Biomass
AN organic materials that can be burned and used as a source of fuel .(Wood, waste, Crops ….)
Nuclear
Uses the fission of uranium nuclei
Wind
uses wind energy as mechanical energy
Solar
Uses light energy
Tidal
uses running water as mechanical energy
Hydroelectric
wave

4. 2. Types of Power Resources:
Power station
Function
Oil
transforming heat energy from burning oil into mechanical energy
Natural Gas
Coal
Geothermal
energy derived from the heat(hot water or steam ) in the interior of the earth
Biomass
materials that can be burned and used as a source of fuel .(Wood, waste, Crops …)
Nuclear
Uses the fission of uranium nuclei
Wind
uses wind energy as mechanical energy
Solar
Uses light energy
Tidal
uses running water as mechanical energy
Hydroelectric
wave

5. 3. Renewable &non renewable energy :
Energy comes from nature which cannot be exhausted(unlimited).
Example: sunlight, wind, tides, rain, geothermal heat, biomass.
b. Non Renewable Energy.
Energy obtained from sources that are exist in a limited amount on Earth.
Example: Petroleum, Coal, natural gas.

6. 4. Advantages and disadvantages of the different types of power resources:
COAL
Advantages
Disadvantages
Burning coal produces polluting gases which make acid rain.
found in lots of places
To dig up coal, we have to create mines which can be dangerous
inexpensive
Large amounts of
electricity can be
produced
Coal can be easily transported to the power stations.

7. contributes to ‘global
Petroleum
Advantages
Disadvantages
Burning this fuel
contributes to ‘global
warming’
Oil Transportation is
easy
The price of oil and gas will increase because supplies are running out and lots of people will
want it
can
be built almost
anywhere
found in lots of places

8. waste produced is highly dangerous Doesn’t produce smoke or C02
Nuclear
Advantages
Disadvantages
small amount of
waste produced is highly
dangerous
Doesn’t produce smoke
or C02
You only need a very small amount of nuclear fuel to make a lot of energy
costly if something does go wrong a nuclear accident could
be a major disaster
Costs around same as
coal (inexpensive)

9. If there is no light(cloudy or at night)
Solar
Advantages
Disadvantages
If there is no light(cloudy or at night)
there is no energy
free
leaves no waste
products
expensive

10. Electricity is produced constantly Finding a suitable site
Hydro-Electric
Advantages
Disadvantages
free
expensive
the nearby area has to be flooded and this could affect nearby wildlife and
plants.
leaves no waste
products
Electricity is produced
constantly
Finding a suitable site
can be difficult

11. Finding a suitable site
Wind
Advantages
Disadvantages
free
expensive
leaves no waste
products
No wind, no energy
Finding a suitable site
can be difficult
very few safety risks