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). Photo credit (left): Energy Northwest/DOE/NREL Turbine installation at the Nine Canyon Wind Project; largest wind farm to be built in Washington State. Photo credit (right): Warren Gretz/NOE/NREL Cherokee Station coal-powered plant, Denver, Colorado. Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out – once used they cannot be used again. Examples: wind and solar. Examples: coal and oil.

Spot the energy resources How many different energy resources are part of this scene? Teacher notes This illustration could be used to start a discussion about energy resources. Renewable energy resources shown in this scene are: wind, wave and tidal power at sea; hydroelectric dam in the mountains; wind turbines inland; solar panels on the roof of the farmhouse; forest, hay and animal dung to represent biofuel. Non-renewable energy resources shown in this scene are: oil rig at sea; coal mine in the background; nuclear power station (which does not have a chimney).

Non-renewable or renewable? Teacher notes Appropriately coloured voting cards could be used with this classification activity to increase class participation.

The total amount of fossil fuels available is limited and so 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.

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. Photo credit: © 2006 Jupiterimages corporation Cooling towers and smokestack at Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station, which is a coal-fired power station in Warrington. 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.

What happens in a coal/oil power station? Teacher notes This four-stage interactive animation illustrates how a coal or oil power station works. While viewing the animation, students could be asked to identify the energy transfers that are taking place.

Energy changes in a coal/oil power station Teacher notes This drag and drop activity could be used as a plenary exercise to check students’ ability to identify the energy changes that occur in a coal or oil power station. Class voting or the use of traffic light cards could be used to make this a whole class activity.

Stages in a coal power station – activity Teacher notes This ordering activity could be used as a plenary or revision exercise on how a coal power station works. Mini-whiteboards could be used to make this a whole-class exercise.

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. Photo credit: © 2006 Jupiterimages Corporation Ash – This waste solid is disposed of in landfill sites. What can be done to reduce the problems caused by burning fossil fuels?

What is the greenhouse effect? Teacher notes This four-stage interactive animation could be used to explain how the greenhouse effect works. While showing the animation it is important to highlight the longer wavelength of the infrared that is emitted by the Earth. It is this radiation that is partially absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, raising the temperature of the atmosphere. See the Chemistry “Climate Change” presentation for more information about the greenhouse effect.

Should we use nuclear power? Teacher notes This voting activity enables the individual opinions of the class to be represented graphically. It could be used as a precursor to a debate on the use of nuclear power.

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. Photo credit: © British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) Aerial view of Berkeley power station. Nuclear power stations do not release any greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or gases which cause acid rain.

What happens in nuclear power station? Teacher notes This four-stage interactive animation illustrates how a nuclear power station works. While viewing this animation, students could be asked to identify the energy transfer that are taking place. The similarities and differences between a nuclear power station and a coal or oil power station could also be discussed.

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.

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. Photo credit: US Department of Energy/Science Photo Library Underground storage of radioactive wastes. This is one of the chambers of the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP), 700 metres below ground. WIPP is a research project to determine the suitability of the local salt rocks as a storage site for highly-radioactive transuranic waste from atomic power stations. Such waste materials may have radioactive half-lives of thousands of years, and so must be isolated in a geologically stable environment. On the left is an experiment testing the design of containers carrying vitrified waste. The mine is located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA. 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.

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 non-renewable energy resources. 1 hour 4 hours 7 hours natural gas oil coal nuclear power 48 hours Type of fuel Start-up time Natural gas power stations produce electricity quickly. 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?

How long can non-renewable energy last? Non-renewable energy resources will eventually run out. 25-30 years about 75 years about 300 years natural gas oil coal nuclear power thousands of years Type of fuel Time until reserves run out 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. 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.

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 Disadvantages readily available non-renewable easily transported acid rain low fuel cost greenhouse effect low building costs inefficient short start-up times

Opinions about using fossil fuels Teacher notes This citizens’ panel can be used to present a range of views on the use of fossil fuels, which could then lead into a small-group or whole class discussion about the subject. Further discussions could explore why people hold the views they do. There are no right or wrong answers for this activity.

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 Disadvantages cheaper to run once built expensive to build conserves fossil fuels non-renewable no sulfur dioxide emissions produces radioactive waste no carbon dioxide emissions expensive to decommission safe under normal conditions links with cancer small amount of fuel used so less transport needed risk of disaster

Opinions about using nuclear power Teacher notes This citizens’ panel can be used to present a range of views on the use of nuclear power, which could then lead into a small-group or whole class discussion about the subject. Further discussions could explore why people hold the views they do. There are no right or wrong answers for this activity.

Reporting about nuclear power Teacher Notes This headline activity can be used to explore media reports about nuclear power. Students could get into groups and identify the bias in the headlines. They could then explore the reasons for the bias and perhaps predict what type of newspaper might run headlines like these. There are no right or wrong answers for this activity.

greenhouse effect – The trapping of heat from the Sun 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 Earth’s atmosphere. greenhouse gas– A gas, such as carbon dioxide, that can trap heat from the Sun in the Earth’s atmosphere.

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.

Anagrams

Non-renewable energy resources – summary Teacher notes This completing sentences activity could be used as a plenary or revision exercise on non-renewable energy resources. Students could be asked to write down the missing words in their books and the activity could be concluded by the completion on the IWB.

Multiple-choice quiz Teacher notes This multiple-choice quiz could be used as a plenary activity to assess students’ understanding of non-renewable energy resources. The questions can be skipped through without answering by clicking “next”. Students could be asked to complete the questions in their books and the activity could be concluded by the completion on the IWB.