Watch: Fossil fuels and renewable energy
There’s nothing like a warm fire when it’s chilly outside. Oh, it’s gone out, and I’ve got no coal left!
I think I might have to find an alternative energy.
Although coal is great for a nice cosy fire, there’s only so much of it we can dig out of the ground and burn before it eventually runs out.
That’s because it’s a fossil fuel, which was formed millions of years ago from the remains of plants and animals, so we can’t make more of it after we’ve used it up.
I’ll see if I can find a different fuel, one that can make heat or electricity but without running out. What’s called a renewable energy!This turbine is powered by the tide going in and out.
The water rushing through the propeller generates electricity.
The water from this hot spring is being warmed by rocks heated by volcanic activity deep under the ground.
The steam from these rocks can also be used to power generators in a power station. This is called geothermal energy.
The wind is strong here, which is great for drying my wetsuit but also for powering wind turbines.
And solar panels can generate electricity from the Sun.
All these sources of energy are great, not only because they’re renewable, but because they don’t produce harmful gases that can cause pollution and climate change like fossil fuels do.
And talking of burning, I think I’d better put a sun hat on!
What are fossil fuels?
- Much of the world’s energy is produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.
- They are used to power everything from planes to gas cookers.
- Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide gas. This is making the Earth warmer than it should be, adding to climate change.
- Fossil fuels are the biggest driver of climate change.
- Once fossil fuels are gone they cannot be replaced, so people are now using renewable sources of energy.
Image caption, This is a coal power station in the UK. Coal is a fossil fuel which is often used for providing heat.
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What is renewable energy?
- Renewable energy is a natural source of energy that will never run out.
- Wind, the Sun and water are renewable energy sources that can be used to create electricity.
There are different types of renewable energy:
| Renewable energy | How does it work? | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydropower | Moving water creates electricity by turning turbines under the sea as the tide moves in and out, or by using water stored in a dam. | |
| Solar | Solar panels collect energy from the Sun to create electricity. | |
| Wind | Wind turns turbines to create electricity. | |
| Geothermal | Volcanic activity can heat water and the steam produced can be used to power generators and create electricity. | |
| Biomass | Generated by burning living or once-living organisms (like dung or plant waste). It is considered renewable because biomass growth removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It stores it in the soil, plants or trees. |
These renewable sources of energy are much cleaner to use than fossil fuels because they do not produce harmful gases that cause pollution and climate change.
Nuclear energy is also a low carbon fuel but is not renewable because it uses up radioactive fuel.
Image caption, Hydroelectric dams generate electricity by passing huge amounts of water through turbines.
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Activity: Quiz – Fossils fuels and renewable energy
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