Renewable & Non-Renewable Energy Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is a renewable energy source?

An energy source that will not run out because it is naturally replenished, e.g. wind or solar.

What is a non-renewable energy source? Give the two types.

A finite source that will run out: fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and nuclear power.

Name four renewable energy sources other than wind and solar.

Any four of: biomass, hydro, tidal, wave, geothermal.

Give one reason offshore wind turbines may be better than onshore ones.

Winds are stronger and more reliable offshore, so they generate more power (also less visual pollution and less conflict with people).

True or false? A disadvantage of wind and tidal power is that supply is not constant.

True. Wind can be too strong or too weak, tidal power falls at slack water between tides, and storage technology is still limited.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of nuclear power.

Advantage: a small amount of uranium produces a huge amount of electricity with very low carbon emissions. Disadvantage (any one): radioactive waste must be stored safely for thousands of years; power stations cost a great deal to build and later dismantle; a serious accident can spread radiation over a wide area.