Comparing Energy Resources (OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway))

Comparing Energy Resources

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Energy Resources

• Each energy resource has various advantages and disadvantages associated with it

• A renewable energy resource is one that is replenished at a faster rate than the rate at which it is being used

  • As a result of this, renewable energy resources will not run out

• A reliable energy resource is one that can produce energy at any time

• Non-reliable resources can only produce energy some of the time (e.g. when it’s windy)

• The table below shows a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the different energy resources:

Trends in the Use of Energy Resources Due to their Effect on The Environment

• The current evidence for climate change is overwhelming – in order to limit global warming, carbon emissions must be limited globally

• Doing so, however, requires a balanced approach – carbon-neutral energy resources either lack public support, reliability or cannot produce sufficient energy to meet the demand

• Nevertheless, over the past 20 years, there has been a gradual shift towards cleaner technologies

  • Government grants have encouraged the development of wind and solar farms

  • Coal has gradually been replaced with cleaner natural gas

  • A new generation of nuclear power stations are currently in development – although with old power stations being shut down, nuclear power is becoming a smaller option

• Further reduction of carbon emissions will require some further measures:

  • More nuclear power stations will be needed to replace existing fossil fuel stations

  • A means of storing energy from unreliable sources (such as solar and wind) will need to be developed

• Although science can identify environmental issues arising from the use of energy sources, political, social, ethical and economic considerations must be taken to deal with these issues

• In the past 30 years in the UK:

  • Fossil fuel use has dropped from 75% to 38%

  • Renewable energy use has increased from 2% to 35%

• Coal used to be the main provider of energy in the UK, but now it is natural gas

  • This is because, out of the 3 main fossil fuels, coal produces the most carbon dioxide, while natural gas produces the least

  • Switching to gas is not the solution to reducing carbon emissions, but as the use of carbon-neutral energy resources increases, it is a step in the right direction

The Greenhouse Effect

• Global warming is a problem caused by the Greenhouse Effect

• The Greenhouse Effect is caused by the increased concentration and effect of greenhouse gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide

• The process of global warming is as follows:

  • The Sun emits rays that enter the Earth’s atmosphere

  • The infrared radiation is emitted back from the Earth’s surface

  • Some infrared radiation is reflected back out into Space

  • Some infrared radiation is absorbed by Greenhouse gases and becomes trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise as a result

  • The higher the concentration of greenhouse gases, the higher the Earth's average temperature will rise

• Once the temperature increases too much, this will lead to devastating consequences:

  • Climate change due to the increase in Earth’s temperature

  • Sea levels will rise as glaciers melt because of high temperatures, causing flooding in low-lying countries

  • Extinction of species due to the destruction of natural habitats

  • Migration of species (including humans) as they will move to areas that are more habitable (with no droughts or wildfires)

  • Spread of diseases caused by warmer climate

  • Loss of habitat due to climate change (animals that live on glaciers)

• Many of these consequences have already begun to take effect

  • It is predicted many of these will have taken full effect by 2050 if carbon emissions are not drastically reduced