Our renewable energy resources will never run out. Their supply is not limited. There are no fuel costs, either. And they typically generate far less pollution than fossil fuels.
Renewable energy resources include:
- wind energy
- water energy (wave machines, tidal barrages and hydroelectric power)
- geothermal energy
- solar energy
- biomass energy (for example, energy released from wood).
A
wind turbine
Wind farms are noisy and may spoil the view of people who live near them. The amount of electricity generated depends on the strength of the wind. If there is none, there is no electricity.
There is a limited supply of non-renewable energy resources, which will eventually run out. They include:
- fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas)
- nuclear fuels (such as uranium).
Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when they burn, which adds to the greenhouse effect and increases global warming. Of the three fossil fuels, coal produces the most carbon dioxide, for a given amount of energy released, while natural gas generates the least.
The fuel for nuclear power stations is relatively cheap.
But the power stations themselves are expensive to build. It is also very
expensive to dismantle old nuclear power stations or store radioactive
waste, which is a dangerous health hazard.
[ This page has been adapted from www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science
]