1. Energy Resources

2. Non-renewable energy resources are made of: fossil fuels uranium (used in nuclear plants).

3. Fossil fuels add to the “greenhouse effect” and will result in a warming of the atmosphere.

4. Uranium fuels produce radioactive waste products that must be stored for many years.

5. Renewable energy resources is a term used to describe energy supplied by processes that are part of our natural environment.

6. These natural processes can be “tapped” to supply useful energy.

7. These processes include: wind wavepower, solar energy, water.

8. For example, windmills are machines that produce useful energy from the energy of the wind.

9. Materials used in these processes are replaced by natural means.

10. Renewable energy could provide up to 30% of our energy needs.

11. Non-renewable Energy Resources

12. Oil and gas AdvantagesDisadvantages Undersea reserves Reserves limited Pipeline supplyGreenhouse effect Air pollution

13. Coal AdvantagesDisadvantages Abundant reserves Air pollution Acid rain Spoil heaps Greenhouse Effect

14. Nuclear AdvantageDisadvantage Much more energy released per kg of fuel than above Reactor core is highly radioactive Radioactive waste much be stored for centuries

15. How does a nuclear power station work?

16. The decay of radioactive elements like Uranium and Plutonium release a lot of energy in the form of Gamma radiation This energy is used to boil water which turns into steam The steam turns the turbines to generate electricity Steam is cooled back to water and process repeated.