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ENERGY RESOURCES

Vocabulary

Our daily lives depend on vast amounts of electricity, which in turn requires energy. Over 80% of the world’s energy comes from burning such as oil, natural gas and coal. We are burning up these fuels at an increasing rate but unfortunately they cannot be replaced. These fuels are therefore called energy resources.

To become more energy efficient, we need to develop the use of more sources of energy such as solar, wave, thermal and water. These forms of energy are called energy resources.

NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

OIL
It took 200 million years for the Earth to create the world’s oil , and we only have about 30 years supply left. Transporting oil is hazardous to the environment. Oil tankers often spill the oil into the sea, resulting in the death of thousands of sea birds and fish, and destroying the coastline.

Not only do we rely on oil products for nearly all our transport, but also oil is the starting material for petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG, bitumen and many .

COAL

Australia has lots of coal, which is the most commonly used fuel for generation. When coal is burnt, heat is produced to generate electricity. However, this conversion is not very because only 35% of the heat energy is transformed into electrical energy; the other 65% being lost to the environment.

The burning of coal and oil produces exhaust gases, such as and sulphur dioxide, which affect the atmosphere. The burning of these fossil fuels result in environmental problems such as acid rain, the , and smog.

NATURAL GAS

In Australia we may only have enough natural gas reserves for another 60 years. We mainly use gas for cooking and to our homes.

NUCLEAR POWER

Nuclear power, fuelled by , once seemed to offer a cheap, clean, long-term alternative source of energy. But there are problems disposing of the left by the fission process, and accidents such as Chernobyl.

CONSERVATION OF FOSSIL FUELS

energy means being more efficient and not wasting so much energy. To conserve fossil fuels we need to:
- Increase the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
- Make liquid fuel from natural gas or coal
- Produce alcohol fuels from renewable plant materials
- Use fuels more effectively and reduce
- Use more of the renewable sources

RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

WIND POWER

Wind energy is one of the most important of the renewable energy technologies for generating electricity. Australia’s first has been operating in Western Australia for 6 years.

WAVE POWER

The movement of waves is a form of water power. Water moves up and down inside a tube, which drives air through the turbine.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Hydro-electric power stations generate electricity using water trapped behind . The energy of raised water can be transferred to kinetic energy by letting the water flow downhill. The running water turns a turbine, which generates electricity.

TIDAL POWER

Water can be trapped behind a dam at high and used to drive a turbine when it is let out.

GEOTHERMAL POWER

Deep down in the ground the rocks are very hot due to radioactive substances. Hot rocks can be used to change water into which can be used to generate electricity.

SOLAR POWER

Heat and light from the sun is transformed into electrical energy in solar cells and solar panels.

BIOMASS POWER

We can use waste from biological sources (plants, animals and their wastes) as an energy source. is produced commercially using waste and bacteria inside an airtight container called a digester. This gas is used as a fuel in furnaces.