Station 1 Energy Form: Solar Source of Energy: Sun How is it utilized? Energy from sunlight is captured in solar panels and converted into electricity. Advantages/Disadvantages: Potentially infinite energy supply. Single dwellings can have own electricity supply. Manufacture and implementation of solar panels can be costly.

Station 2 Energy Form: Hydroelectric Source of Energy: Water How is it utilized? A tidal barrage (a kind of dam) is built across estuaries, rivers, and lakes, forcing water through gaps, causing turbines to move and generate energy. Advantages/Disadvantages: Potential to generate a lot of energy. Creates water reserves as well as energy supplies. Costly to build. Can cause the flooding of surrounding communities and landscapes. Dams can have major ecological impacts on surrounding wildlife.

Station 3 Energy Form: Wind Source of Energy: How is it utilized? Wind turbines (modern windmills) turn wind energy into electricity. Advantages/Disadvantages: Can be found singularly, but usually many together in wind farms. Potentially infinite energy supply. Manufacture and implementation of wind farms can be costly. Some local people object to on-shore wind farms, arguing that it spoils the countryside.

Station 4 Energy Form: Oil/Natural Gas Source of Energy: Drilled Fossil Fuels How is it utilized? Pipes are sunk into the ground to release the gas or oil. Natural Gas is used in houses for heating and cooking, while oil is also used in industry and transportation. Advantages/Disadvantages: They are a ready-made fuel. Relatively cheap to extract and to convert into energy. When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases. Only a limited supply.

Station 5 Energy Form: Biomass Source of Energy: Living, or recently living organisms, such as trees and plants. How is it utilized? An organic material, which can be burned to provide energy like heat, or electricity. After treatment with chemicals it can be used as a fuel in diesel engines. Advantages/Disadvantages: It is a cheap and readily available source of energy. If replaced, biomass can be a long-term energy source. When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants. Biomass is only a renewable resource if crops are replanted.

Station 6 Energy Form: Coal Source of Energy: “Fossilized Carbon” (Solid fossil fuel) How is it utilized? Mined from seams of coal, found sandwiched between layers of rock in the earth. Burnt to provide heat or electricity. Advantages/Disadvantages: Ready-made fuel. It is relatively cheap to mine and to convert into energy. Coal supplies will last longer than oil or gas. When burned coal gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.

Station 7 Energy Form: Geothermal Source of Energy: Heat from below Earth’s crust How is it utilized? Cold water is pumped under ground and comes out as steam. Steam can be used for heating or to power turbines creating electricity. Advantages/Disadvantages: Potentially infinite energy supply. Can be expensive to set up and only works in areas of volcanic activity. Geothermal and volcanic activity might calm down, leaving power stations useless at times.

Station 8 Energy Form: Nuclear Source of Energy: Splitting the atoms of radioactive minerals (Uranium) How is it utilized? Electricity is generated from the energy that is released when the atoms of these minerals are split (by nuclear fission) in nuclear reactors. Advantages/Disadvantages: A small amount of radioactive material produces a lot of energy. It doesn't give off atmospheric pollutants. Nuclear reactors are expensive to run. Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and needs to be safely stored for hundreds or thousands of years (storage is also expensive). Leakage of nuclear materials can have a devastating impact on people and the environment.