Energy Sources

There are two forms of energy

sources:
1. Non-renewable energy sources.
2. Renewable energy sources.
Non-renewable energy sources are
energy sources that cannot be
replaced and will eventually run out.
Renewable energy sources are
natural energy sources which do
not get used up.
Total Primary Energy Supply
(World)
Non-renewable Energy
Non-renewable energy is the more traditional source
of energy and is most commonly known as fossil fuels.
Examples of non-renewable energy are:
Coal.
Oil.
Natural Gas.

Non-renewable sources of energy are much cheaper

than renewable sources but are harmful to the
environment.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an
atom.
Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But
first the energy must be released. It can be released
from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear
fission.
Nuclear energy plants are very expensive to build.
It does not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
but can be very dangerous due to radioactivity.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is a source of energy that does not
get used up.
There are many different forms of
renewable energy:
Wind energy.
Solar energy.
Bioenergy.
Ocean energy.
Hydroelectricity (Inniscarra Dam).
Wind Energy
The energy that travels in the wind can be captured
and converted to provide electricity.
Wind turbines are used to create electricity from the
energy in the wind.

Wind turbines are located onshore and offshore.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is reasonably predictable, and is not

associated with any environmental risk.
There are two main ways that solar energy is used in
our buildings :
1. Solar Heat 2. Solar Electricity
Solar light (light from the sun) can be exploited in
building design to even further minimise the need for
artificial lighting during daylight hours.
Ocean Energy
Ocean energy uses the power from the sea to create
electricity.
It uses energy from waves or from tidal currents.
Ireland has one of the greatest ocean energy
resources in the world.
Ocean Energy Resource
European Wave Energy Atlas, Average Theoretical
Wave Power (kW)
Bioenergy
Bioenergy is energy which comes from biomass
(Plants and other organic material).
Biomass can be burned to provide heat or converted
to steam to drive engines.

Certain plants can be converted to fuel (biofuel) and

special cars can run on this biofuel.
Hydroelectricity
A dam is built to trap water, usually in a valley where
there is an existing lake.
Water is allowed to flow through tunnels in the dam,
to turn turbines and thus drive generators.

Hydro-electric power stations can produce a great

deal of power very cheaply.
Homework
Pick one form of non-renewable energy and one form
of renewable energy.
Write about how each form of energy works.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Give your opinion as to which is better and should be
used more.

For information look up

www.tinyurl.com/energyproject.