Where does the energy in our products come from, and how is it stored?
Energy generation from fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable sources, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and energy storage in batteries and cells for portable products.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Design and Technology core technical principle on energy, covering generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable sources, their advantages and disadvantages, and energy storage in batteries and cells used in portable products.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this topic is asking
WJEC expects you to know where the electrical energy in products comes from, to weigh up the main sources, and to understand how energy is stored in portable products. This is core content in Unit 1 for all three routes. It overlaps with science, but in Design and Technology the focus is on the design choices: which source or storage suits a product, and what the advantages and disadvantages are.
Non-renewable energy sources
Renewable energy sources
Designers also meet kinetic and clockwork power for products without mains electricity, and solar cells built into devices such as calculators and garden lights.
Storing energy: batteries and cells
Choosing a power source for a product
Try this
Q1. Name two renewable energy sources and one non-renewable source. [3 marks]
- Cue. Renewable: any two of wind, solar, tidal, hydroelectric, biomass. Non-renewable: coal, oil, gas or nuclear.
Q2. Give one reason a designer might choose a rechargeable cell over a non-rechargeable one. [1 mark]
- Cue. It can be reused many times, saving cost and reducing waste.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style4 marksCompare wind power and fossil fuels as sources of energy for generating electricity.Show worked answer →
A four mark Compare question, so each source needs an advantage and a disadvantage with a clear contrast. Wind: advantage, it is renewable and produces no carbon dioxide when generating (1 mark); disadvantage, it is intermittent, only working when the wind blows, and turbines can be seen as visually intrusive (1 mark). Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas): advantage, they give a large, reliable output that can be switched on quickly (1 mark); disadvantage, they are non-renewable and release carbon dioxide and other pollutants that cause climate change (1 mark). Markers reward one valid advantage and one disadvantage for each, with a genuine comparison rather than two separate lists.
WJEC-style3 marksExplain why a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is suitable for a cordless drill.Show worked answer →
A three mark Explain question. A lithium-ion cell stores a large amount of energy for its weight and size (high energy density), so the drill stays light and portable (1 mark). It is rechargeable, so it can be reused hundreds of times rather than thrown away after one use, saving money and waste (1 mark). It delivers a high current, giving the drill the power needed to drive screws and drill holes (1 mark). A weaker answer just says it lasts a long time without linking the property to the tool.
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