Energy resources

Renewable
1. Hydro-electric
  1. Fast flowing water(waterfall, river)
  2. Its use is widespread
  3. Advantages
    1. One of the cheapest ways
    2. Continuous generation of electricity
    3. Without pollution
    4. Water isn't consumed or contaminated
  4. Disadvantages
    1. Construction is expensive
    2. Away from where people live
    3. Natural vegetation is destroyed
    4. People living close are forced to move
  5. Essential conditions
    1. High rainfall
    2. Natural store of water
    3. Narrow deep valley suitable for building a dam
2. Geothermal
  1. Heat from the ground in areas of volcanic activity
3. Solar
  1. Heat from the light of the sun
  2. Solar panels and photovoltaic cells are used
  3. More expensive than wind power
4. Wave
  1. Force of sea waves
  2. Least used as technology is difficult to develop
5. Wind
  1. Turbines driven by the force of the wind
  2. Essential conditions
    1. Strong winds are frequent
    2. On hill tops and other areas of open high ground
    3. Along the coastline
    4. Offshore but close to the coast
  3. Advantages
    1. Cheap
    2. Pollution free
    3. Take up little land
  4. Disadvantages
    1. Construction costs are high
    2. Winds need to be constant
    3. Backup is necessary
    4. Eye-sore
6. Biomass
  1. Using fuelwood, crop waste and animal dung
Non- renewable
1. Coal
  1. Rotten vegetation formed thick layers of peat that hardened over time
  2. Extracted through mining
  3. Cannot be mined deep as higher temperatures deep underground may cause combustion
2. Petroleum and natural gas
  1. Decomposition of plants and dead sea creatures
  2. Drilling is the method used for extraction; oil and gas is forced out through pipes
  3. Oil and gas rise to the top of porous rock and are trapped by the impervious rock above
Nuclear power
1. Fission:An atom containing a nucleus is split using uranium as a reactor.
2. Great deal of heat is released due to fission
3. This heat is harnessed to make energy

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	Created by Aadira Parakkat about 10 years ago

	Copied by Lana Farrell about 8 years ago