Energy Sources Overview

Energy Sources

• Non-renewable energy sources, also known as fossil fuels, are not sustainable.
• They take a long time to form from dead organisms.
• Fossil fuels will eventually run out.
• Non-renewables currently provide a large proportion of the world's energy.

Renewable Energy Sources

• Renewable energy sources can be replenished.
• They are obtained from natural resources like the sun, wind, or water.
• Examples include hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, biofuels, and wave/tidal power.
• Using biofuels like fuelwood is renewable if the trees are reforested.

Differences in Energy Sources Between Countries

• Developed countries use more energy per capita.
• Their energy sources differ from developing countries.
• Developing countries rely more on resources concentrated in developed areas.

Why Countries Rely Less on Non-Renewables

• Non-renewable resources are not sustainable and will eventually run out.
• Global warming pressures nations to switch because fossil fuels contribute significantly to atmospheric pollution.
• Countries want to reduce reliance on imports.

Why Only Few Countries Use Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy is still in the early stages of development.
• Developing countries often cannot meet all their energy demands.
• Setting up renewable energy infrastructure is expensive.
• Renewable energy sources are sometimes unreliable.
• Renewable energy sources can be inefficient compared to non-renewable alternatives.

Nuclear Power

• Nuclear power is considered a unique energy source; it is a renewable energy source that uses uranium.
• Uranium is a non-renewable resource.
• Nuclear power can be controversial due to potential catastrophic disasters.

How a Nuclear Reactor Works

• Nuclear reactors, despite different designs, share similar basics.
• They use uranium and nuclear fission to generate heat.
• The heat drives turbines to generate electricity.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

• Building nuclear power plants is expensive but once built, they are reliable and cheap, and clean and safe.
• Nuclear waste needs safe disposal, which poses a risk to the environment due to radioactivity for hundreds of years.
• Nuclear power plants create jobs for many people.
• Nuclear plants can be built in remote areas to reduce dangers to health.
• Most countries need to import uranium for their nuclear power plants.

Siting of Power Stations

• Most power stations need to be near bodies of water for cooling steam.
• They usually need to be relatively close to urban areas for a workforce.