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where does our energy come from? (Hydroelectric (What is it?, Advantages:,…
where does our energy come from?
Hydroelectric
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
this is when generators are powered when rainwater that's been collected flows downhill. This then turns the turbines that turn the generators at the bottom of the hill. the water though, sometimes comes from a dam which is built in a river valley.
It can send energy very quickly to the National Grid.it is also very renewable as it uses the Earth's water to produce electricity. They have a very long lifetime and also, they do not produce any greenhouse gases.
they interrupt the natural water flow, and they can have a major impact on the river ecosystem which is very harmful. The dams which are built for this can kill animals such as fish.
Wind
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
This is when wind is collected with a wind turbine. There is an electric generator at the top of the narrow tower and the force of the wind, turns blades which then turn the generator.
they don't produce gases, they are cheap to run, they reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, they are one of the cleanest forms of energy.
Very expensive to set up, visually polluting, can harm animals in the process of setting up, harm animals such as birds as they fly into them, unreliable as can't work if there is no wind.
Nuclear
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
No greenhouse gases are created, it is more efficient than fossil fuel, this power is readily available, it does not have to be developed first.
The used rods contain radioactive waste, which has to be stored safely for ages, An explosion could harm a very wide area for many years, The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium. this is running out. Its supply is estimated to last for the next 40-60 years.
Nuclear power is created from the release of energy from nuclear reactions. These reactions usually use uranium or plutonium. A relatively small amount of fuel is required to produce the energy.
Geothermal
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Hot water and steam from underground can be used to drive turbines. The energy transferred from radioactive substances, heats the surrounding rocks, so energy is transferred by heating towards the earths surface.
one of the most efficient types of producing energy, a very renewable source of energy.
it uses a massive amount of water, it uses more electricity for this process to work
Coal
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Coal can be used to produce energy by the method of burning. This is done in a boiler and steam is produced. The steam, under pressure, flows into a turbine which spins a generator to create electricity. The steam is then cooled down, condensed back into water and returned to the boiler to start the process over again.
lets of the most greenhouse gases of all energy sources, there is a finite supply, it is hard work getting it - the coal mining, has high levels of radiation, can cause acid rain, can be dangerously toxic, can cause major health risks.
it is relatively cheap, it gives continues power - it is very reliable.
Natural gas
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
This is also similar to Coal and Oil. Energy is produced by combustion (heating). This heats water, turns to steam and this turns turbines linked to a generator.
cheap to run, safe and easy to store.
Greenhouse gases are created, acid rain, it is a finite resource, can cause major health risks
Oil
What is it?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
This is done by a similar method to coal. It gets burned, this creates steam which then turns a turbine.
Significant air pollutants, lets of greenhouse gases, finite resource, acid rain gets caused by the burning of the oil, working in the oil industry is very dangerous
one of the cheapest energy sources, very reliable - gives energy at a very steady rate, based on sources that are very easy to extract,
Wave
What is it?
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Wave energy is when a generator is let to float on the water. it moves up and down with the waves and this movement turns a turbine which is linked to a generator. This is how the energy is created.
they are efficient and reliable. this is because the waves will never run out and they work 24/7. They don't produce any greenhouse gases and don't pollute the environment. they also don't damage the ground because they are not like fossil fuels which have to be extracted and scare the landscape
They are visually polluting destroy the natural ocean. They need a constant flow of fairly powerful waves and you are never going to get a reliable wave pattern.
Solar
What is it?
this is when energy is collected from the sun. Millions of small cells make up a panel which are like mirrors; they use the suns heat and turns this into energy. This is by using the heat of the sun to heat up water.
Advantages:
Very cheap to set up and run, very efficient when used in small quantities, do not pollute the earth.
Disadvantages:
Don't work when there is no sun (during the night), not efficient on a cloudy day, and loads of them are needed to generate a decent amount of power