Energy Sources

Electricity generation involves the transfer of energy from one form to another. The energy
sources used in the generation of energy can be classified as two types.

1. Non renewable energy source

2. Renewable energy source

Non renewable energy sources

Non renewable energy is the name given to energy sources which once used cannot be
replaced. Examples of non renewable energy resources are fossil fuels and nuclear fuels.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas get there name because they are formed from the fossilized
remains of dead plants and animals.

The generally accepted theory is that fossil fuels were formed many millions of years ago by
geological processes acting on dead animals and plants (exposure to heat and pressure from
the Earths crust).

These fuels take many millions of years to form and are currently being depleted (used up)
much faster than new ones are being formed.

Nuclear Fuels

These are radioactive elements which undergo nuclear reactions (fission) in nuclear reactors
generating nuclear energy which in turn is used to generate electricity.

Nuclear fuels such as Uranium or Plutonium are mined from the Earths crust. These are of
limited supply and cannot be replaced therefore once used are gone forever.

The table below is a summary of non renewable energy resources.

 Petroleum (Oil)

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Petroleum is a fossil fuel Easily converted to Products of combustion
formed by heat and pressure energy. (the gases given off
from the Earths crust acting Relatively easy to when burnt) are
on the fossilized remains of extract. atmospheric pollutants
dead animals and plants. Can be easily and greenhouse gases.
Petroleum reserves exist in the transported (pipelines, Accidents during
Earths crust sandwiched super-tankers) transport, extraction
between layers of and refining cause major
impermeable rocks and porous environmental
rocks. The petroleum is pollution.
extracted from these
reservoirs drilling oil wells and
sinking pipes into the
reservoirs to pump the
petroleum out.
 Natural Gas

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Natural gas is a fossil fuel. Its Relatively easy to Produces greenhouse
formation is similar to that for extract. gases and atmospheric
petroleum; however the Requires little pollutants when burnt.
conversion of the fossilized processing (is extracted
remains of the dead plants and in a ready to use form)
animals to gas occurs at Is the cleanest of the
deeper depths in the Earths fossil fuels?
crust where the pressure and
heat is greater. Natural gas is
extracted in a similar way to
petroleum by drilling holes and
sinking pipes into the gas
reservoirs, the gas travels to its
surface under its own
pressure.
 Coal

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Coal is a fossil fuel. Coal is
formed from the fossilized
remains of plants that once
grew on the earth. The action
of the pressure and heat of the
Earths crust over millions of
years converts the fossilized
remains of these plants into
coal. Coal is mined from coal
seams in the Earths crust.
Where the coal is near the
surface of the Earth, open cast
mining is used but in areas
where the seam is deep
underground mining is used to
extract the coal.
Of all the fossil fuels
coal has the largest
reserves.
It is relatively easy and
inexpensive to extract.
Open cast mining
damages the landscape
and ecosystems.
The burning of coal
produces gases that are
atmospheric pollutant
and greenhouse gases.
Due to the large amount
of greenhouse gases
coal produces power
station require
expensive pollution
control measures.
 Nuclear

Source Advantages Disadvantages

The most common form of Small amounts of fuel Although small amounts
nuclear fuel is Uranium. produce a large of waste are produced,
Uranium is a common metal amount of energy. the waste is very
found in rocks all over the Does not produce dangerous.
world. However, the particular atmospheric pollutants The waste needs to be
form of Uranium best suited as and greenhouse gases. disposed of carefully
a nuclear fuel is Uranium 235 Produces small and responsibly.
and this is very rare. Uranium amounts of waste. The risk of a nuclear
235 is extracted via mining accident can have
and then processed to make it catastrophic
usable as a fuel. consequences as was
the case of Chernobyl.

Renewable energy sources

These are energy sources that are unlimited (will never run out) and once used are rapidly
replenished (continuously replaced).

Examples of renewable energy sources are wind, water, geothermal and solar.

The table below is a summary of renewable energy resources.

 Solar

Source Advantages Disadvantages

This is energy from sunlight. Free unlimited source Source not available at
Sunlight can be captured by of energy night.
solar panels and its energy No waste or Can be an unreliable
transferred to electricity. greenhouse gases source of energy unless
Energy from the sun can also be produced. in a country with a hot
focussed onto pipes carrying climate.
water transferring heat energy.

Wind

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Wind is created by the action of Wind is free. Unpredictable source
warm air rising and cold air No waste or of energy.
blowing to fill the void created. greenhouse gases Wind farms can be
Hence, the source is the sun as produced. unsightly and cause
it is its energy that warms the noise pollution.
air.
 Tidal

Source Advantages Disadvantages

The pulling effect of the moon A free source of Tidal barrages can
on the earth causes the oceans energy. affect the natural
and seas to rise and fall. The No waste or habitat of wildlife and
movement of the rise and fall of greenhouse gases impact the
the oceans and seas can be produced. environment.
used to drive turbines. Tides are predictable. Can only supply energy
when the tide is
moving in or out.

Hydro

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Water stored in a large volume Once the dam is built Dams are very
in a reservoir behind a dam. the energy is free. expensive to build.
The potential energy of the No waste or Dams cause flooding
water can be transferred to greenhouse gases which seriously impact
kinetic energy in the turbines. produced. the environment and
Very reliable source of local habitats.
energy.
 Waves

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Waves are produced by the A free source of Dependant on the
action of the wind on the seas energy. strength of the waves.
and oceans. No waste or Needs to be capable of
greenhouse gases withstanding rough
produced. weather.
Sites are limited to only
areas where the waves
are consistently strong.

Geothermal

Source Advantages Disadvantages

Heat from under the earth in
volcanic regions is used to heat
water to produce steam for
running turbines for generating
electricity. In some cases it is
used to heat water for heating.
No fuel needed Limited sites available.
Does no contribute to Hazardous gases can be
greenhouse gases released from
geothermal sites which
require safe disposal.
 Biomass

Source Advantages Disadvantages

This is fuel obtained from Is a renewable source Produces greenhouse gases.
decaying plant and animal as long as plant and
material. Wood is one source as trees are replaced.
it can be burnt to provide heat Cheap and easily
energy. Sugar cane can be available source of fuel.
fermented to produce alcohol
which can be used as a fuel.

Coal Fired Power Station

Below is an animation showing the main processes in generating electricity using coal as the
fuel source. However, some further useful points are also worth mentioning.

Flue Gas Treatment

Coal contains sulphur and when burnt it produces sulphur dioxide. Although, some sources of
coal are low in their sulphur content some have a relatively high content. Low sulphur coals are
usually more expensive.

Sulphur dioxide is a greenhouse gas and also produces acid rain. In order to remove the sulphur
dioxide from the flue gases produced, the power stations have flue gas desulphurization plants.
Removal of sulphur from the flue gas involves passing the gases through a scrubber. This is like
a shower. The gases rise up the scrubber which showers water down on them. The sulphur
dissolves in the water to give sulphurous/sulphuric acid, this way the sulphur is removed from
the flue gas and the remaining gas passes up a chimney and into the atmosphere. The
sulphurous/sulphuric acid produced flows out of the scrubber and is neutralized with limestone
(calcium carbonate) to form calcium sulphate, water and carbon dioxide. The calcium sulphate
produced is known as de-sulphanated gypsum and is sold to plasterboard/plaster
manufacturers.
Superheated Steam

This is steam at high pressure and above 100C.

A Nuclear Power Station

The animation below shows how electricity is generated in a nuclear power station.
Wind Turbine

Wind is created from solar power, as the sun heats the air it rises above the cooler air creating
an air current. A wind turbine consists of large propeller like blades which are rotated by the
action of the wind. As the blades turn they spin and internal shaft connect to a generator thus
transferring mechanical energy to electrical energy. As the primary source of energy is from the
wind which is a clean renewable source of energy wind turbines do produce any pollution in the
form of greenhouse gases. The animation below shows the workings of a wind turbine.

The National Grid

The national grid system is the network of cables which transport electricity from the power
stations in Britain to homes, factories and other places that require it.

Power stations produce electricity at high currents. Electricity transmission at high curren ts
would encounter a large resistance in the transmission wire and therefore lose a lot of its
energy as heat. To prevent this, the current generated is passed through a step up transformer.
Here the voltage is increased to as much as 400,000V and the current decreased (remember
the relationship P = VI an increase in voltage and decrease in current by the same ratio will give
the same power).

The high voltage (400,000 Volts) electricity is carried along overhead lines and underground
cables referred to as the super grid. The voltage is the reduced in several stages making before
reaching the end user. The voltage reduction is made in step down transformers.

The diagram below gives a simplified representation of the National Grid system: