1. 3.4 Energy and the environment
LO’s:
Describe how fossil fuels damage the environment.
Explain why some people are concerned about nuclear power.
Describe advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy resources.
Evaluate the use of different energy resources
4-6
4-6
6-8
6-8
Keywords
fossil fuels
reliable
intermittent
renewable
Non renewable
radioactive waste
Starter
Show Brainpop clip on generating electricity
Play word domino round the class with ideas so far
Main Activity
Work though the revision power points
Read the aqa text book p 42 – 43 and answer the
Questions ( mainly revision of work done earlier)
Plenary
Discuss answers to Q
Homework task: kerboodle
P3.1 Using fuels for energy

2. Q1a.
Most of the Uk’s electricity is generated by gas ( 46% ) using efficient combined cycle gas turbines which make use of the hot exhaust fumes from gas turbines – which are like
aircraft jet engines.
Q1b.
Fossil fuels are:
* non renewable
* produce carbon dioxide which most
scientists believe contributes to global
warming
* cause acid rain

3. Q1a.
Most of the Uk’s electricity is generated by gas ( 46% ) using efficient combined cycle gas turbines which make use of the hot exhaust fumes from gas turbines – which are like
aircraft jet engines.
Q1b.
Fossil fuels are:
* non renewable
* produce carbon dioxide which most
scientists believe contributes to global
warming
* cause acid rain

4. Advantages of renewable fuels;
Q1c.
Advantages of renewable fuels;
* supply of energy will never run out
* do not produce carbon dioxide gas
Disadvantages:
Energy density of renewable energy schemes is low so renewable schemes take up a lot of land / sea to capture enough energy
Often unreliable ( eg wind )
or intermittent ( eg tidal barage)

5. Advantages of renewable fuels;
Q1c.
Advantages of renewable fuels;
* supply of energy will never run out
* do not produce carbon dioxide gas
Disadvantages:
Energy density of renewable energy schemes is low so renewable schemes take up a lot of land / sea to capture enough energy
Often unreliable ( eg wind )
or intermittent ( eg tidal barage)

6. 5. Boiler pipes to turn water into steam
1. Generators
2. Steam turbine
3. Condenser
4. Pump
5. Boiler pipes to turn water into steam
in hot gas exhaust
The clever bit !
6. Gas turbine
CCGT A combined-cycle power plant uses both a gas and a steam turbine together to produce up to 50 percent more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine is routed to the nearby steam turbine, which generates extra power  

8. Q3a.
For a remote island;
Wind turbine,
solar Photovoltaic panel
small bio mass thermal power station/ gas turbine
Q3b.
Power stations which do not release green house gases:
Solar power station which uses mirrors to direct sunshine on to a boiler to make steam for turbines
Nuclear power station
Burning carbon neutral fuels in a thermal power station

9. Q3a.
For a remote island;
Wind turbine,
solar Photovoltaic panel
small bio mass thermal power station/ gas turbine
Q3b.
Power stations which do not release green house gases:
Solar power station which uses mirrors to direct sunshine on to a boiler to make steam for turbines
Nuclear power station
Burning carbon neutral fuels in a thermal power station

10. Q4.
TIDAL
+ renewable , reliable
- Intermittent, very expensive to build, destroys habitats of wading birds
NUCLEAR
+ reliable , high power output
- radio active waste needs to be stored safely for thousands of years
WIND FARM
+ renewable, free energy supply
- Noisy , spoil landscape due to large area required

11. Q4.
TIDAL
+ renewable , reliable
- Intermittent, very expensive to build, destroys habitats of wading birds
NUCLEAR
+ reliable , high power output
- radio active waste needs to be stored safely for thousands of years
WIND FARM
+ renewable, free energy supply
- Noisy , spoil landscape due to large area required