3.1.20

Other Non-Renewables

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Other Non-Renewables

As well as fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, there are other finite resources that are used to generate electricity.

Biomass

Biomass

  • Biomass or biological mass/matter is from organic material.
  • The biomass is burnt to provide energy.
  • Positives:
    • Cheap and is carbon neutral.
    • Carbon neutral means there is no net increase in the amount of carbon dioxide released.
    • The carbon that the plant material absorbed in photosynthesis is released over a short space of time.
  • Negatives:
    • If plant material is not replanted, then the method is non-renewable and not sustainable.
    • Deforestation.
Nuclear power stations (1)

Nuclear power stations (1)

  • Nuclear power stations use uranium as an energy source.
  • The nuclear fission of uranium generates heat that produces electricity.
  • Nuclear fission is the splitting apart of atoms.
    • Uranium is mined from the ground.
Nuclear power stations (2)

Nuclear power stations (2)

  • Positives:
    • Only a small amount of nuclear fuel is needed to produce a lot of energy. 1kg of uranium can produce 3,000,000 times more energy than coal.
    • Does not produce carbon dioxide.
  • Negatives:
    • Nuclear waste.
    • Nuclear accidents.
    • High cost of building and decommissioning (stopping the power station from operating and dismantling it).
Jump to other topics
1

Biology

1.1

Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2

Reproduction & Variation

1.3

Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4

Digestion & Nutrition

1.5

Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6

Biological Systems & Processes

2

Chemistry

2.1

Particles

2.2

Chemical Reactions

2.3

Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4

The Periodic Table

2.5

Materials & the Earth

2.6

Reactivity

2.7

Energetics

2.8

Properties of Materials

3

Physics

3.1

Energy

3.2

Forces & Motion

3.3

Waves

3.4

Electricity & Magnetism

3.5

Matter

3.6

Space Physics

4

Disciplinary Knowledge

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