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11/12/2025

7.1 The Energy We Use

 Non-renewables: Energy resources that are permanently used up and cannot be
replaced.
 Renewables: Energy resources that naturally replenish themselves and can be used
again.

Feature Solar Energy Wind Energy
Resource Type Renewable Renewable
Moving air (convection
Energy Source Sunlight
currents)
Heating water & generating
Main Use Generating electricity
electricity
Reliability Only works with sunlight Only works with wind
Environmental
No greenhouse gases No greenhouse gases
Impact
Limitations Needs large areas; sunlight varies Needs suitable wind speeds

Differences between renewable and non-renewable energy:

Feature Renewable Energy Non-Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that can be Energy from sources that will
Definition
naturally replenished eventually run out
Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal,
Examples Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuel
biomass
Availability Unlimited / naturally replenished Limited / finite reserves
Environmental Low pollution, environmentally High pollution, contributes to
Impact friendly global warming
Cheaper in the long run (after Increasing costs as resources
Cost Over Time
installation) become scarce
Renewal Rate Replenished quickly Takes millions of years to form
Carbon Emission Low or zero High carbon emissions
Sustainability Sustainable Not sustainable
Electricity from solar panels or wind Electricity generation from coal
Examples of Use
turbines or oil

The Sun as Our Main Energy Source

Nearly all the energy used on Earth ultimately comes from the Sun. The Sun is an average-
sized star located about 150 million kilometres away. The heat and light it emits take roughly
8 minutes to reach our planet through space.
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 Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis.

 Animals (including humans) stay warm because of the Sun’s energy.
Earth’s Position in the Solar System
Earth is at an ideal distance from the Sun, providing conditions suitable for life.
 Earth’s average temperature is about 15°C, which allows living organisms to survive.
 If Earth were closer to the Sun, it would be dangerously hot—similar to Venus, where
temperatures exceed 400°C.
 If it were much farther away, it would be extremely cold—like Saturn, which is about
ten times farther from the Sun and has a surface temperature of around –180°C.
Direct vs Indirect Use of Solar Energy
Although most of our energy originates from the Sun, only a small portion is used directly—
for example:
 Warming ourselves in sunlight
 Houses designed with large windows to gather solar heat
Most usable energy, however, must be converted into other forms, such as electricity.
Humans rely heavily on processed or stored forms of solar energy.
World Energy Consumption
A typical global energy-use chart (Figure 7.2) shows the contribution of different fuels as of
2018:
 Oil — 34%
 Coal — 27%
 Natural Gas — 24%
 Hydro — 7%
 Nuclear — 4%
 Other Renewables — 4%
Around 85% of global energy consumption comes from fossil fuels.
Historically, this was very different.
 1000 years ago, fossil fuel use was minimal.
 Most people relied on burning wood, a type of biomass.
Today, industrialised countries consume high amounts of energy (especially fossil fuels),
while less developed regions depend mainly on biomass fuels, particularly wood.
Renewable vs Non-Renewable Resources
Non-Renewable Energy Resources
These are resources that cannot be replaced once used.
Examples:
 Coal
 Oil
 Natural Gas
Oil and natural gas may run out within this century, while coal could last another 200 years.
However, burning these fuels contributes to global warming.
Renewable Energy Resources
These energy sources are replenished naturally and will not run out in the foreseeable future.
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Examples:
 Solar energy
 Wind energy
 Biofuels
After using them, they are replaced naturally:
 The Sun rises again
 The wind continues to blow
 New biofuel crops can be grown
Renewable energy is ideal because it does not deplete and generally causes less
environmental harm.

SOLAR ENERGY (Energy Direct from the Sun)

 Energy comes from the Sun’s light (solar radiation).
 The Sun’s rays carry light energy, which can be absorbed and turned into heat or
electricity.

Solar Energy Renewable or Non-Renewable?

 Renewable
 The Sun will continue to shine for billions of years.

How Solar Energy Generates Electricity & Heat?

Solar Panels (Heating Water)

 Sunlight falls on a solar panel.

 Light energy is absorbed → converted to thermal energy.
 Water inside the panel heats up → used for washing or heating (radiators).

Solar Cells / Photovoltaic Cells (Electricity)

 Sunlight falls on a solar cell.

 Light energy → electrical energy (voltage produced).
 Often connected to rechargeable batteries to store electricity for night-time use.

Advantages
 Renewable and sustainable
 Does not cause global warming
 No fuel cost after installation
 Useful in remote locations
o Medical refrigerators in Africa
o Roadside emergency phones in deserts
o Spacecraft
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 Technology is becoming cheaper

Disadvantages
 Unreliable — sunlight varies; zero output at night
 Cloudy weather reduces efficiency
 Requires large areas of panels to produce significant energy
 Energy storage (batteries) needed for night-time

 Solar panel: Collects sunlight → heats water

 Solar cell / Photocell / Photovoltaic cell: Converts light → electricity

WIND POWER

 Caused by the Sun heating the atmosphere unevenly.

 Warm air rises; cooler air moves in → convection currents → wind.

Renewable or Non-Renewable?
 Renewable
 As long as the Sun heats Earth, winds will form.

How Wind Generates Electricity

 Wind turns the blades of a wind turbine.
 Kinetic energy of moving air → mechanical energy (turning blades)
→ electrical energy in a generator.

Advantages
 Renewable
 Does not produce greenhouse gases
 Long history of use (old windmills, modern turbines)

Disadvantages
 Unreliable — wind speed varies
 No power on calm days
 Turbines need minimum wind speed ~5 m/s
 Must be switched off if wind speed exceeds 25 m/s to prevent damage

1. Explain why wind power can be traced back to sunlight.

Wind power can be traced back to sunlight because:
 The Sun heats the Earth’s surface unevenly.
 This causes warm air to rise and cooler air to move in, creating wind.
So, the energy in wind originally comes from the Sun’s heat.
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2. What is the difference between a solar panel and a solar cell?

Solar Panel Solar Cell
A device that uses the Sun’s heat to A device (photovoltaic cell) that converts sunlight directly
warm water. into electricity.
Used for heating. Used for generating electric power.

3. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of solar power.

Advantages
 Renewable and does not produce pollution.
 Does not contribute to global warming.
 Works well in sunny climates.
 Low running cost once installed.
Disadvantages
 Expensive to install.
 Only works when sunlight is available (no power at night or cloudy days).
 Large areas needed for high power output.
 Less effective in countries with little sunlight.

Wind, Wave, and Hydroelectric Power

1. Wind Power
 Wind is a dilute energy source, meaning a single turbine produces only a small
amount of energy.
 A wind farm needs hundreds of turbines over many square kilometers to match the
energy from one fossil-fuel power station.
 Wind turbines are noisy and many people think they spoil the landscape.
 However, they produce clean, renewable energy.

2. Wave Power
 Waves are produced when wind transfers energy to the water through friction.
 Wave power is renewable and does not cause global warming.
 But it is unreliable because wave height changes and no waves mean no power.
 Converting up-and-down motion into turbine rotation is difficult.
 Machines in the sea are expensive, can corrode in saltwater, and may be damaged in
storms.

3. Hydroelectric Power
 Historically, the kinetic energy of moving water turned water wheels for grinding
crops, pumping water, and weaving.
 Modern hydroelectric power stations use water stored behind dams. When released, it
turns turbines connected to generators.
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 Hydroelectric power is clean, safe, and very reliable.

 However, building a dam creates a new reservoir that can:
o Flood large areas of land
o Destroy wildlife habitats
o Make people homeless
o Reduce land available for farming or hunting

Short Start-Up Time

 Hydroelectric stations have a very short start-up time (electricity can be produced
quickly).
 This makes them useful for meeting sudden increases in electricity demand.

Why It’s Needed

 Fossil fuel and nuclear power stations take a long time to start or stop, so they are left
running constantly.
 At night, electricity demand is low, but these stations cannot easily be stopped.

Pumped Storage Systems

 Some hydroelectric stations can reverse their turbines:

o Water is pumped uphill to the reservoir when demand is low.
o When demand rises, the water is released to generate electricity again.
 This stores energy as gravitational potential energy.

Term Meaning
Biofuel Fuel from recently living material
Fossil Fuel Fuel from long-dead organisms, millions of years old

1. Biomass Fuels
Definition: Fuels made from recently living material (plants or animal waste).
Examples:
Wood
Animal dung
Biogas (from rotting vegetable matter)
Origin of Energy: Captured from sunlight via photosynthesis.
Renewable? Yes, plants can be regrown.
Uses:
Heating homes
Cooking food
Cooking and heating in developing countries (~2/3 of biomass use)
Advantages:
Renewable
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Reliable (can be burned when needed)

Low contribution to global warming
Disadvantages:
Indoor burning can cause respiratory and health problems
Hard to track exact consumption globally

2. Fossil Fuels
Definition: Fuels formed from long-dead organisms, buried millions of years ago.
Examples:
Coal
Oil
Natural gas
Origin of Energy:
Fossil fuels store chemical energy originally from sunlight.
Plants captured sunlight via photosynthesis millions of years ago; dead material
turned into fossil fuels over time.
Renewable? No, non-renewable. Will eventually run out.
How Energy Is Released:
Burning fossil fuels:
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
Energy comes from breaking chemical bonds in hydrocarbons.
Advantages:
High energy output
Reliable and easy to store and transport
Disadvantages:
Produces greenhouse gases → global warming
Mining and drilling damages environment
Non-renewable → finite supply

1. Fossil Fuels
 Definition: Fuels formed from long-dead plants and animals over millions of years.
 Examples: Coal, oil, natural gas.
 Origin:
o Coal: Formed from ancient trees buried under layers of soil; heat & pressure
over millions of years turned them into coal.
o Oil & Gas: Formed from microplankton in oceans; compressed over millions
of years (e.g., Arabian Gulf, North America, Gulf of Mexico).
 Energy Stored: Chemical energy from sunlight originally captured by
plants/microplankton.
 Environmental Effects:
o Releases CO₂ → global warming
o Coal & oil release sulfur dioxide → acid rain

2. Nuclear Fuels
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 Definition: Energy stored in the nuclei of atoms (nuclear energy).

 Common Fuels: Uranium, sometimes plutonium.
 How Energy is Released: Nuclear fission – splitting large, heavy nuclei into smaller
ones releases energy.
 Advantages:
o Very concentrated energy source → small amount produces large energy
o Reliable and provides large-scale electricity (e.g., France: 75% of electricity
from nuclear)
o Relatively cheap in fuel cost
 Disadvantages:
o High initial construction cost
o Expensive waste disposal & decommissioning
o Risk of accidents (e.g., Chernobyl, Fukushima) spreading radioactive material

3. Geothermal Energy
 Definition: Energy stored as heat in rocks beneath the Earth's surface.
 Source: Hot rocks heated by radioactive decay inside the Earth.
 How Energy is Used:
o Water is pumped into hot rocks → becomes high-pressure steam → drives
turbines → generates electricity.
 Key Feature: Renewable, does not depend on sunlight or weather.

Term Meaning

Nuclear fission Energy release by splitting large atomic nuclei

Geothermal energy Energy stored in underground hot rocks

Fossil fuel Fuel formed from long-dead organisms, stores chemical energy

Biofuel Fuel from recently living material, stores solar energy

1. What form of energy is stored in fossil fuels and biofuels?

Answer: Chemical energy.
 Both fossil fuels and biofuels store energy in the molecular bonds of organic matter.
2. What is the difference between biofuels and fossil fuels?
Answer:
 Biofuels are renewable and come from recently living matter (plants, animal waste).
 Fossil fuels are non-renewable and formed from ancient organic remains over
millions of years.
3. How are fossil fuels formed?
Answer:
1. Dead plants and animals accumulate in swamps, lakes, or oceans.
2. Buried under layers of sediment (mud, sand, rock) over millions of years.
3. Heat and pressure transform the organic material into coal, oil, or natural gas.
1. List the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power.
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Answer:
Advantages:
 Very concentrated energy → small fuel produces large electricity.
 Reliable and capable of producing large-scale power.
 Relatively cheap fuel cost.
 Provides electricity in countries with few other energy resources.
Disadvantages:
 High initial construction cost.
 Expensive disposal of radioactive waste.
 Risk of accidents (e.g., Chernobyl, Fukushima).
 Decommissioning old power stations is costly.
2. What energy is available from moving water?
Answer:
 Kinetic energy from flowing or falling water.
 Can be converted into electrical energy using turbines and generators.
3. In what way is a hydroelectric power station like a cell (or battery), and how can
it be adapted to act like a rechargeable cell?
Answer:
 A hydroelectric station stores gravitational potential energy in water behind a dam.
 Like a battery, it stores energy for later use.
 In pumped storage systems, turbines can be reversed to pump water back up, storing
energy for the next surge in demand → acts like a rechargeable battery.
4. How is electricity generated from energy resources?
Answer:
1. Fuel-based power stations (fossil fuels, nuclear):
o Fuel → thermal energy → heats water in a boiler → produces steam.
o Steam turns a turbine → kinetic energy.
o Turbine linked to a generator → electrical energy.
2. Fuel-free power stations (wind, hydro, wave, tidal):
o Moving air or water turns a turbine directly.
o Turbine connected to generator → produces electricity.

Term Meaning

Boiler Device that transfers thermal energy to water to make steam

Turbine Rotating device turned by moving air, water, or steam

Generator Device that produces electricity via electromagnetic induction

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1. Renewability
 Fossil fuels and uranium are non-renewable; reserves are limited.
 Other energy resources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, wave, tidal, biofuels) are
renewable.
 Renewable resources generally do not contribute to global warming once installed.
2. Cost
 Initial cost: Some renewable technologies (solar panels, wind turbines) are expensive
to install.
 Running cost: Sunlight, wind, and water are free; fuel cost is minimal.
 Nuclear: Fuel is cheap, but decommissioning and waste disposal are costly.
3. Availability
 Depends on geography and local resources:
o France → relies on nuclear power (few alternatives).
o Norway → hydroelectric power (abundant water and mountains).
o Iceland → geothermal energy (localised hot rocks).
4. Reliability
 Is energy available constantly?
 Fossil fuels and nuclear are generally reliable.
 Renewable sources may be intermittent:
o Wind power depends on wind speed.
o Solar depends on sunlight (day/night, clouds).
 Supply can also be affected by wars or trade disputes.
5. Scale & Concentration
 Fuel power stations are compact and supply large populations.
 Wind, solar, or wave farms are dilute: require large areas to produce the same energy.
 Concentration refers to energy stored per unit mass (fossil fuels vs renewable
sources).

Factor Fossil Fuels / Nuclear Renewable Resources

Renewability Non-renewable Renewable
Fuel expensive (nuclear cheap), running high; High initial cost, low
Cost
decommissioning costly running cost
Location-dependent (sun,
Availability High, global supply
wind, water)
Variable, depends on
Reliability Generally reliable
weather/time
Dilute, large land area
Scale/Concentration Highly concentrated, compact
needed
10. Renewable energy resource
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Answer: (C) Biofuels

 Reason: Biofuels come from plants/animal matter and can be replenished.
 Non-renewables: Oil, coal, nuclear (uranium) cannot be replaced quickly.
11. Non-renewable energy resource
Answer: (D) Nuclear
 Reason: Nuclear energy uses uranium, a finite resource.
 Renewables: Hydroelectric, wind, tidal are naturally replenished.

Energy from the Sun:

1. Fossil fuels:
o Store energy captured by plants from the Sun millions of years ago.
2. Solar power:
o Solar panels: heat water for domestic use.
o Photocells / Solar cells: convert sunlight directly into electricity.
3. Wind energy:
o Caused by air heated by the Sun.
o Wind turbines convert kinetic energy of air into electricity.
4. Hydroelectric power:
o Sun drives the water cycle: evaporation → cloud → rain → rivers → dam.
o Gravity turns water into kinetic energy, which drives turbines.
5. Tidal energy:
o Generated by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun.
o Independent of sunlight, reliable day and night.
6. Nuclear power:
o Uses uranium, mined from Earth.
o Energy comes from radioactive decay, present since the formation of Earth.
7. Geothermal energy:
o Heat from radioactive substances inside the Earth.
o Independent of the Sun, but location-specific.
The Sun’s Energy
a) Energy is released via nuclear fusion, not chemical burning.
b) Process: 4 hydrogen nuclei fuse → 1 helium nucleus.
c) Requires very high temperatures (~15 million °C) and pressures.
d) Mass difference → energy using Einstein’s formula:
2
a. E = m⋅c
e) Fusion produces vast energy without greenhouse gases or nuclear waste.

Term Meaning
Water cycle Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation of water
Nuclear fusion Joining of light nuclei (e.g., hydrogen → helium) to release energy
Plasma Ionised gas with free electrons and nuclei
12. What is plasma?
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Answer:
1. Plasma is a highly ionised gas where electrons are separated from nuclei.
2. Contains positive nuclei and free electrons, allowing it to conduct electricity and
respond to magnetic fields.
13. How is plasma confined in a star vs on Earth?
Answer:
1. In a star (e.g., the Sun):
o Enormous gravitational field keeps the plasma hot and contained.
2. On Earth:
a) Magnetic confinement in a tokamak (doughnut-shaped reactor) prevents
plasma from touching walls.
b) Only charged particles are confined; neutrons escape and produce thermal
energy.
14. Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fusion
Answer:
Advantages:
1. Produces vast energy from small amounts of fuel.
2. No greenhouse gases produced.
3. Produces less radioactive waste compared with fission.
4. Fuel (hydrogen isotopes) is abundant.
Disadvantages:
1. Extremely high temperature and pressure needed.
2. Containing plasma is very difficult.
3. No reactor has yet produced more energy than input.
4. Neutrons damage reactor walls → expensive maintenance.

15. Difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission

Feature Fusion Fission

Light nuclei combine → heavy nucleus Heavy nucleus splits → smaller nuclei
Process
+ energy + energy

Fuel Hydrogen isotopes (deuterium, tritium) Uranium, plutonium

Waste Low radioactive waste High-level radioactive waste

Energy
Very high High, but less than fusion per kg of fuel
output

Nuclear power stations (e.g.,

Example Sun, ITER reactor
Belleville)
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Exam-style Questions answers

1. Which energy resource does NOT depend on the Sun?

Answer: Tidal power
i) Tidal power comes from the Moon and Sun’s gravity.
ii) Wind, hydro, and coal all rely on the Sun.
2. Which energy resource produces greenhouse gases?
Answer: Natural gas
i) Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide.
ii) Hydroelectric, nuclear, and most biofuels do not make much greenhouse gas.
3. Which power station uses water’s height to make electricity?
Answer: Tidal power station
i) Uses the up-and-down movement of tides (gravitational energy).
ii) Geothermal, wind, and nuclear use other types of energy.
4. Which power station uses heat to make electricity?
Answer: Coal-fired power station
i) Burns coal to make heat → turns water into steam → spins turbine.
ii) Wind, hydro, and solar use other forms of energy.
6. Energy Resources
 Non-renewable: coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas
 Renewable: wave, hydro, geothermal, solar, tidal, wind
7. Hydroelectric Power Stations
a. Energy transfers:
 Water’s gravitational energy → kinetic energy → electrical energy (via turbine &
generator)
b. Reliance on the Sun:
 Sun causes evaporation → clouds → rain/snow → water collected in dams → energy
c. Matching supply to demand:
 Hydroelectric stations can start/stop quickly, so they can meet sudden changes in
electricity demand
8. Coal-fired power station vs Wind turbine
a. Advantage of wind turbines: Clean energy, no greenhouse gases or pollution
b. Why wind hasn’t replaced coal:
 Wind is not constant; coal provides reliable base-load power
 Wind turbines need lots of land and many turbines to match one coal plant
9. New power station proposal
Solar power: Needs sunny location; efficiency affected by weather, time, season
Geothermal power:
a) Needs location with hot rocks near the surface (tectonic activity)
b) Climate doesn’t matter; location is most important