St. Michael’s RC School Non-renewable Energy. St. Michael’s RC School Energy sources – Britain (2002)

St. Michael’s RC School

Non-renewableEnergy


17%

9%

1%

32%

41%coal

nuclear

HEP and otherrenewablesoil

natural gas

Energy sources – Britain (2002)


Non-renewable energy resources

Non-renewable types of energy can only be used once. There is a finite amount of these materials on the Earth so they will run out eventually.Non-renewable resources make up approximately 95% of the world’s energy.

fossil fuels

nuclearcoal

gasoil

fuelwood

Non-renewable energy

biomass

mineral


Fossil fuels

Oil, coal and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. They were formed from biological deposits millions of years ago.

Oil Coal Natural gas


Animation showing the formation of fossil fuels


1950

2000

2050

2100

2150

2200

NaturalGas

Oil Coal

ESTIMATEDRESERVES

Fossil fuels – how much is left ?

Why are these only ‘estimated’ reserves ?


Look at these photographs.

What impact do these thermal power stations have on the environment?

Over 90% of Britain’s energy comes from gas, coal and oil, thermal power stations.

Thermal power stations


electricity pylons

steam from the cooling towers

buildings

Thermal power stations


OIL GAS COAL

Match the sentences to the different types of fuel.(some statements may apply to more than one fuel)

power stations associated with this fuel are located on deep coastal estuaries

fuel can be easily transportedproduces a smaller amount of greenhouse gases than the other fossil fuels when burnt

power stations associated with this fuel are located near the supply of fuel

the fuel heats water to produce steam

fuel is bulky

fuel may only last between 30-60 years

there is a danger of spillage with this fuel

this fuel produces just under 50% of the electricity in the UK


Impact of burning fossil fuels – Acid Rain


Acid rain has attacked these limestone buildings


Impact of burning fossil fuels – Greenhouse Effect


Combustion of fossil fuels

How can these pollutants be reduced?

gas flue desulphurization(water is sprayed down the chimneys and this turns

the gases to sulphuric and nitric acids)

construct taller chimneys

or, we could use less energy, more efficiently.

fluidized bed technology(limestone is burnt with the coal so the sulphur

remains with the limestone)

burn coal with less sulphur

or, we could use more nuclear or renewable energy


Nuclear

Nuclear energy is made from the mineral, uranium. These power stations are often located by the coast or on estuaries where there is water for cooling.

France has 55 nuclear power stations. This one is in the Rhone Valley.


Nuclear

uranium =25 000 tonnes of coal

0ne tonne of uranium can produce the same amount of electricity as 25,000 tonnes of coal.

What are the other advantages of nuclear power?


Nuclear disaster! On April 25th 1986 there was a major nuclear accident in Chernobyl in the Former Soviet Union. 4,000 died in radiation related diseases and thyroid cancer is up 10 fold in this Ukrainian area. Chernobyl was decommissioned in December 2000 but it will need to be contained for hundreds of years to prevent further leaks.

The accident didn’t just have an impact on the local area. The cloud of radioactive gas reached Britain on May 3rd 1986 and the radioactivity was deposited by rain. One area that was particularly affected was North Wales. This area received heavy rain at the beginning of May. The government banned the slaughter of sheep within North Wales for three weeks.

1) How far did the radioactivity travel in the eight days? (use an atlas to help)

2) Why did the government ban the slaughter of sheep in North Wales?


Nuclear or fossil fuels?

Nuclear energy will cause a loss of mining jobs

Nuclear energy is the clean fuel of the futureWhat about nuclear waste?

There is worry about nuclear disasters

Fossil fuels will run out

Fossil fuels cause pollution

Terminals and refineries take up space

There have been no serious nuclear accidents in Britain

Nuclear power is too costly to be used for heating and transport

It is very expensive to decommission old nuclear power stations

Oil and gas could be exhausted by 2040

Only small amounts of uranium are needed in nuclear power stations


Types of energy


Which type?

Documents

St. Michael’s RC School Non-renewable Energy. St. Michael’s RC School Energy sources – Britain (2002)