Practise National and global energy resources. 14 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
The energy resources we use for transport, generating electricity and heating, and how they compare. You need to sort resources into renewable and non-renewable, explain why some are more reliable than others, describe their environmental effects and explain trends in how we use them. Expect short recall questions, data questions and 6-mark 'evaluate' questions.
Grade by grade
What you need to be able to do, from the first marks up to the top grade.
3
List the main energy resourcesFossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.
3
Define a renewable energy resourceA resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
4
Sort resources into renewable and non-renewableCoal, oil, gas and nuclear fuel are non-renewable; all the others are renewable.
4
Link energy resources to their usesThe three main uses are transport, electricity generation and heating.
5
Explain why some resources are more reliableWind, solar and waves depend on the weather (and solar on the time of day); fossil fuels and nuclear do not.
6
Describe the environmental impact of each resourceE.g. burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide; hydro-electric dams flood valleys.
7
Explain trends in energy resource useUse data and reasons such as cutting carbon dioxide emissions and the falling cost of renewables.
8
Evaluate energy resources using dataWeigh up reliability, cost and environmental impact, then give a conclusion with a reason.
Notes
Energy resources and their uses
The main energy resources: fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.
Transport: mainly petrol and diesel (from oil), plus bio-fuels and electricity.
Electricity generation: any of the resources can be used.
Heating: mainly natural gas, oil and electricity, plus bio-fuels such as wood, solar water heaters and geothermal.
Renewable or non-renewable
A renewable resource is one that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used: bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.
Non-renewable resources will run out one day: coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel.
Reliability
Fossil fuels and nuclear fuel are reliable: they can generate electricity at any time. Gas power stations can also be started quickly when demand rises.
Hydro-electricity and geothermal are reliable too, but only work in suitable places.
Tides are predictable, but the output changes during the day.
Wind, solar and waves are unreliable: they depend on the weather (and solar on the time of day), so their output cannot be increased to meet demand.
Environmental impact
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming (climate change). Burning coal and oil can also release sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain.
Nuclear power releases no carbon dioxide when generating, but it makes radioactive waste that stays dangerous for a very long time.
Bio-fuels release carbon dioxide when burned, but the plants took in carbon dioxide as they grew. Growing them uses land that could grow food.
Renewables release no carbon dioxide while running, but still have effects: wind turbines are noisy and spoil views; hydro-electric dams flood valleys and destroy habitats; tidal barrages affect estuary wildlife.
Trends in energy use
World energy demand keeps rising as the population grows and more countries become industrialised.
In the UK, much less electricity now comes from coal and much more from renewables, especially wind, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Science can identify environmental problems, but cannot always deal with them because of political, social, ethical or economic reasons, e.g. cost, or people objecting to a wind farm near them.
Cheatsheet
Non-renewable: coal, oil, natural gas (fossil fuels) and nuclear fuel
Renewable: bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, tides, the Sun, water waves
Renewable = being (or can be) replenished as it is used
Uses: transport, electricity generation, heating
Reliable: fossil fuels, nuclear, hydro-electricity, geothermal; tides are predictable
Unreliable: wind, solar, waves (depend on the weather)
Nuclear: no carbon dioxide when generating, but long-lasting radioactive waste
How to answer each type of question
Recall: identify renewable resources
1 to 2 marks3
Remember the only non-renewables are coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel.
Tick exactly the number of boxes asked for: an extra tick loses marks.
Example. Which two energy resources are renewable? Tick (✓) two boxes. Coal / Geothermal / Natural gas / Nuclear fuel / Tides
Show the model answer
Geothermal (1) Tides (1)
Explain why a resource is not reliable
2 marks5
Say what the output depends on: the weather, the time of day or the tides.
Link it to demand: the output cannot be increased when more electricity is needed.
Example. Explain why solar panels cannot be relied on to supply electricity on winter evenings.
Show the model answer
It is dark in the evening (and light levels are low in winter), so the panels generate little or no electricity (1). Their output cannot be increased to meet demand, which is high on winter evenings (1).
Suggest reasons for a trend in the data
3 marks7
Describe the trend, using figures from the data.
Give an environmental reason: carbon dioxide and global warming.
Give another reason: cost, fuels running out, or government targets.
Example. In one country, the percentage of electricity generated from coal fell from 38% to 3% over 12 years. Over the same time, the percentage generated from wind rose from 6% to 27%. Suggest reasons for these changes.
Show the model answer
Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming (1). So the country set targets to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and closed coal-fired power stations (1). Wind turbines release no carbon dioxide when generating, and they have become cheaper to build (1).
6-mark: evaluate two energy resources
6 marks8
Give advantages and disadvantages of each option: reliability, carbon dioxide, other environmental effects, renewable or not.
Use any data you are given, such as costs or power outputs.
Compare the options directly, e.g. 'the gas power station is more reliable, but…'.
Finish with a conclusion and a reason.
Example. A town's old coal-fired power station is closing. It could be replaced by a gas-fired power station or by a wind farm. Evaluate the two options.
Show the model answer
Marked by levels. A full answer could include: gas: reliable, and its output can be changed quickly to match demand gas: releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming (but less than coal) gas: non-renewable, so it will run out wind: renewable, and releases no carbon dioxide when generating wind: unreliable, with no electricity when the wind speed is too low or too high wind: needs many turbines over a large area, which cause noise and spoil views a conclusion with a reason, e.g. the wind farm, because it cuts carbon dioxide emissions, with a backup supply for calm days Top level (5 to 6 marks): both options evaluated, with a conclusion supported by reasons.
Shortcuts and memory tricks
There are only four non-renewables: coal, oil, gas and nuclear fuel. Everything else on the list is renewable.
Reliability test: does it depend on the weather? Then it is unreliable. Tides are predictable, but the output still varies.
If it is burned (fossil fuels or bio-fuel), it releases carbon dioxide.
Where marks are lost
Saying nuclear fuel is renewable, or that nuclear power stations release carbon dioxide or cause acid rain when they generate electricity.
Defining renewable as 'can be reused'. It means the resource is replenished as it is used.
Saying renewables cause 'no pollution' or 'no environmental impact'. They release no carbon dioxide while running, but they have other effects.
Mixing up the effects: carbon dioxide → global warming; sulfur dioxide → acid rain.
Vague answers such as 'bad for the environment'. Name the effect.
Exam technique
In 'evaluate' questions, give points for and against each option, then a conclusion with a reason. A conclusion on its own earns few marks.
Quote figures from any table or graph in the question.
Name the gas and its effect: 'carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming'.
You don't need to describe how power stations generate electricity: focus on uses, reliability and environmental impact.
Quick recall
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable. What is meant by a renewable energy resource?
A resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
Solar cells generate no electricity at night. Give one other reason why the output of solar cells varies.
Cloud cover (or shorter days / lower Sun in winter).
Some cars use bio-ethanol as a fuel. Bio-ethanol is made from sugar cane. Explain why bio-ethanol is a renewable energy resource.
More sugar cane can be grown to replace what is used, so it is replenished as it is used.
Is wave power a renewable or a non-renewable energy resource?
Renewable
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable.
(a) What is meant by a renewable energy resource?[1]
(b) Which two energy resources are renewable? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
coal
geothermal
natural gas
nuclear fuel
tides
(c) Name one energy resource that is used for transport.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: A resource that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
(a resource that) is (being) replenished as it is used / will not run out
(b)Answer: geothermal; tides
(c)Answer: Oil (petrol or diesel), or a biofuel.
oil / petrol / diesel / biofuel / (natural) gas
Question 2Medium6 marks
Electricity can be generated using wind turbines, solar cells and gas-fired power stations.
(a) Explain why wind turbines are not a reliable way of generating electricity.[2]
(b) Solar cells generate no electricity at night. Give one other reason why the output of solar cells varies.[1]
(c) Gas-fired power stations are often used to meet sudden increases in the demand for electricity. Suggest why.[2]
(d) Give one environmental problem caused by burning natural gas.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The wind does not always blow (its speed varies), so the power output varies and cannot be increased to match demand.
the wind does not always blow / the wind speed varies
so the power output varies / cannot be matched to demand
(b)Answer: Cloud cover (or shorter days / lower Sun in winter).
cloud cover / weather / season / shorter days in winter / angle of the Sun
(c)Answer: They have a short start-up time, and their output can be controlled by changing the rate at which fuel is burned.
(gas-fired power stations) have a short start-up time / can be started quickly
the output can be controlled / increased when needed (by burning more fuel)
(d)Answer: It releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming (climate change).
releases carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming / climate change / releases nitrogen oxides which contribute to acid rain
Question 3Hard4 marks
A coastal town is considering building a wave farm offshore to generate electricity. Scientists can measure the wave energy available and predict how much electricity could be generated and how the wave farm would affect the local marine environment.
Explain why the decision on whether to build the wave farm cannot be based on scientific evidence alone.[4]
Show the answer and mark scheme
Answer: Science can provide data and predictions, but the decision also depends on social, economic, environmental and political factors, and on value judgements about whether the benefits outweigh the costs, which science cannot make.
science can only provide data and predictions, e.g. how much electricity would be generated or the likely effects on the environment (and these predictions have uncertainties)
social factors must be considered, e.g. local residents' views or the effect on the view from the coast
economic factors must be considered, e.g. the cost of building and maintaining the wave farm, and jobs created or lost in fishing or tourism
environmental factors must be weighed up, e.g. the effect on marine habitats and wildlife against the benefit of generating electricity without carbon dioxide emissions
ethical / political factors, e.g. whether benefits to the wider population outweigh the effects on local people
deciding whether the benefits outweigh the costs is a value judgement (depends on people's opinions), which science alone cannot answer
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