What are our main energy resources, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources, how electricity is generated from them, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy resources, how each is used to generate electricity, and the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels, nuclear and the main renewables.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to distinguish renewable from non-renewable energy resources, describe how each is used to generate electricity, and give the advantages and disadvantages of the major resources. This is an explanation-heavy topic with few calculations.
The answer
Renewable and non-renewable
How electricity is generated
Most power stations turn a generator using a turbine. Fossil-fuel and nuclear stations heat water to make steam that spins the turbine. Wind turbines are spun directly by the wind, hydroelectric and tidal schemes by moving water, and solar cells convert sunlight straight to electricity without a turbine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Worked example: choosing a resource
Examples in context
Example 1. The UK electricity mix. The United Kingdom has moved from mostly coal towards a mix of gas, nuclear, wind and solar, cutting carbon dioxide emissions while using gas and nuclear to provide reliable baseload power.
Example 2. A hydroelectric dam. Water held behind a dam has gravitational potential energy; releasing it spins turbines to generate electricity reliably, though building the dam floods land and can disrupt river ecosystems.
Try this
Q1. Give two examples of renewable energy resources. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, geothermal, biomass.
Q2. State one advantage and one disadvantage of nuclear power. [2 marks]
- Cue. Advantage: reliable, no carbon dioxide in use. Disadvantage: radioactive waste (or high costs).
Q3. Why is wind power described as unreliable? [1 mark]
- Cue. It only generates when the wind blows, so output is intermittent.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA style4 marksExplain the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable energy resource, giving two examples of each.Show worked answer →
A renewable resource is replenished as fast as it is used (or never runs out), so it will not be used up. Examples: solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, biomass (any two).
A non-renewable resource is used up faster than it is replaced and will eventually run out. Examples: coal, oil, gas (fossil fuels) and nuclear fuel (uranium) (any two).
Markers reward correct definitions of both and two valid examples of each type.
CCEA style4 marksCompare generating electricity from wind with generating it from a coal-fired power station, giving one advantage and one disadvantage of each.Show worked answer →
Wind: advantage - renewable and produces no carbon dioxide or other polluting gases while generating. Disadvantage - unreliable, because it depends on the wind, and some find turbines visually intrusive.
Coal: advantage - reliable and can provide a large, steady output on demand. Disadvantage - non-renewable and burning it releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and other pollutants.
Markers reward one valid advantage and one valid disadvantage for each resource.
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCSE Physics specification — CCEA (2017)