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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Geography > Energy Resources - 2

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Contents 1 Nuclear Power: e.g. France, Sellafield (UK) 2 Coal: e.g. Yorkshire 3 Oil e.g. North Sea 4 Hydroelectric Power: e.g. Kielder Water (UK) 5 Wave power: (Severn Estuary) 6 Comments

Nuclear Power: e.g. France, Sellafield (UK)

• More efficient than rival fuels.
• Clean because it does not produce air pollution.
• Use little raw materials and there is still a large supply of Uranium.
• Can be made more efficient by research.
• Dangerous because of a possible meltdown or leakage of radiation.
• Difficult to dispose of waste materials (dangerous to local people).
• It is still non-renewable.
• The power stations cost much more than others.

Coal: e.g. Yorkshire

• Can be efficient.
• Non-renewable and there are only enough supplies to last 30-40 years.
• The cost of production of electricity from coal has increased.
• There is competition from oil which is cheaper.
• Causes air pollution.
• The remaining coal is difficult to get to (costs too much to mine it).
• Miners are in danger of losing their jobs.

Oil e.g. North Sea

• Cleaner than coal.
• Relatively safe to use.
• Easy to transport and to distribute.
• Does not create as much air pollution as coal.
• Prices fluctuate.
• Dangers of spillage.
• Expensive to find.

Hydroelectric Power: e.g. Kielder Water (UK)

• Clean
• Non pollution
• Power stations are cheap to run
• Can cause flooding.
• Dams must be built as well as power stations which cost a lot.
• Takes up large areas of land.

Wave power: (Severn Estuary)

• Cheap to run.
• Clean and non polluting.
• Only available to coastal areas.
• Affects marine life.
• Unreliable for continuous power.
• The technology needs development.

Comments