Renewable Energy Sources

Question 1

What are the advantages of renewable energy sources?

Answer 1

1. Never run out

2. Less damage to environment

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of renewable energy sources?

Answer 2

1. Don’t provide much energy

2. Unreliable due to weather

Question 3

What are the advantages of wind power?

Answer 3

1. No pollution except manufacturing
2. No permanent damage to landscape
3. No fuel costs

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of wind power?

Answer 4

1. Not much energy provided - lots of turbines needed
2. Noisy and spoil views
3. High initial costs
4. Can’t increase supply
5. No wind, no power

Question 5

What are the advantages of solar cells?

Answer 5

1. No pollution but high energy for manufacture
2. Very reliable source in daytime
3. Free electricity and very low running costs

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of solar cells?

Answer 6

1. High initial costs
2. Too expensive to connect to National Grid
3. Not much energy provided

Question 7

How do solar cells work?

Answer 7

Generate electric currents directly from sunlight

Question 8

How does hydroelectric power work?

Answer 8

1. The flooding of a valley by a dam

2. Water flows out to drive turbines

Question 9

What are the advantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 9

1. Can provide immediate response to increased demand
2. Very reliable
3. No fuel and very low running costs
4. No pollution

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 10

1. Flooding of valley releases methane and CO2 - rotting vegetation
2. Ugly when dry
3. High initial costs

Question 11

What is pumped storage?

Answer 11

A way of storing energy that has already been generated.

Question 12

How does pumped storage work?

Answer 12

1. Similar to hydroelectric
2. Cheaper electricity at night used to pump water up to reservoir
3. Released during peak demand

Question 13

How does wave power work?

Answer 13

Waves move up and down and drive generator.

Question 14

What are the advantages of wave power?

Answer 14

1. No pollution

2. No fuel costs and very low running costs

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of wave power?

Answer 15

1. Spoils views
2. Boat hazard
3. High initial costs

Question 16

What are tidal barrages?

Answer 16

Big dams built across river estuaries, with turbines in them.

Question 17

What is the source of energy for tidal barrages?

Answer 17

The gravity of the sun and moon

Question 18

What are the advantages of tidal barrages?

Answer 18

1. No pollution
2. No fuel costs and very low running costs
3. Can generate significant energy
4. Can store energy for peak demand
5. Reliable - twice a day

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of tidal barrages?

Answer 19

1. Prevents boat access
2. Spoils view
3. Alters habitats for wildlife
4. Only works on some estuaries
5. Moderate initial costs

Question 20

How does geothermal energy work?

Answer 20

Cold water is pumped down to hot rocks and comes back up heated.

Question 21

Where does the heat for geothermal energy come from?

Answer 21

Radioactive decay of various elements.

Question 22

What is the advantage of geothermal energy?

Answer 22

1. No environmental problems.

2. Lots of energy provided

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of geothermal energy?

Answer 23

1. Not many suitable locations

2. Building cost is high

Question 24

How are biofuels used to generate electricity?

Answer 24

The same way as fossil fuels.

Question 25

Where do biofuels come from?

Answer 25

Organisms that are still alive or dead organic matter that has died recently.