In I/GCSE Physics, we will learn about green energy and which energy resources can we use.
Energy Saving
Ways to save energy | ||
In the home | In the workplace | National context |
● More efficient appliances, e.g. a condensing boiler could save £190 per year ● Double glazing – possible savings of £130 per year ● Loft insulation – possible savings of £145 per year ● Cavity wall insulation – possible savings of £110 per year ● Draught-proof rooms – possible savings of £25 per year | ● Cleaning air conditioner filters – can save 5% of the energy used in running the system ● Using low-energy light bulbs ● Roof insulation/cavity wall insulation in modern buildings ● Use of efficient modern, low energy machinery ● Use of modern, efficient vehicles for transport of goods | ● Replacing old houses with new efficient ones ● Increased use of public transport ● More efficient trains and buses ● Encourage more widespread recycling ● Encourage car sharing and fewer journeys |
Coal, oil and gas are energy sources that are formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals – they are called FOSSIL FUELS and are responsible for most of the energy that we use. However, because they cannot be replaced within a lifetime, they will eventually run out. These are called NON-RENEWABLE energy sources.
As they demand for electricity continually increases, other sources of energy are needed. RENEWABLE energy sources are those that will not run out because they are continually being replaced
The choice of energy source for a given situation depends upon a number of factors including:
- Environmental impact
- Economics
- Waste produced
- Carbon dioxide emissions
Non-renewable Energy
When it comes to I/GCSE Physics, these Non-renewable sources of energy provide most of the electricity we need in this country:
Source | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Gas | ● Enough natural gas left for the short to medium term ● Can be found as easily as coal ● No sulphur dioxide (SO2) is produced ● Gas-fired power stations are flexible in meeting demand and have a quicker start-up time than nuclear, coal and oil-fired reactors. | ● Burning produces carbon dioxide (CO2) although it produces less than coal and oil per unit of energy (CO2 contributes to global warming and climate change ● Expensive pipelines and networks are often required to transport it to the point of use. |
Coal | ● Relatively cheap and easy to obtain ● Coal-fired power stations are flexible in meeting demand and have a quicker start-up times than their nuclear equivalents ● Estimates suggest that there may be over a century’s worth of coal left | ● Burning produces CO2 and SO2 ● Produces more CO2 per unit of energy than oil or gas does ● SO2 causes acid rain unless the sulfur is removed before burning or the SO2 is removed from the waste gases. Both of these add to the cost of electricity |
Oil | ● Enough oil left for the short term to medium term ● Relatively easy to find, though the price is variable ● Oil-fired power stations are flexible in meeting demand and have a quicker start-up time than both nuclear-powered and coal-fired reactors | ● Burning produces CO2 and SO2 ● Produces more CO2 than gas per unit of energy ● Often carried between continents on tankers leading to the risk of spillage and pollution |
Nuclear | ● Cost of fuel is relatively low ● Nuclear power stations are flexible in meeting demand ● No CO2 or SO2 produced | ● Although there is very little escape of radioactive material in normal use, radioactive waste can stay dangerously radioactive for thousands of years and safe storage is expensive ● Building and decommissioning is costly ● Longest comparative start-up time |
That's it! Thanks for watching.
