Applied Science AQA/Generation of Energy

Setting Applied context
Many people are concerned about the environmental problems caused by traditional methods of producing electricity and by the potential dangers of nuclear fuels. These concerns have given rise to the use of alternative methods for the generation of useful energy.

Fossil Fuels
Oil, coal and gas formed from organisms that lived millions of years ago. Now we can extract them from the earth and burn them to release energy. Production - compare the main parts of power stations. What are their main areas of inefficiency?

Renewability - find out when each type is expected to run out.

Pollution - explore the effects of CO2 and SO2 production.

Topical Issues - what is 'fracking'? Do you think it is a good idea?

Nuclear Power
A nuclear power station doesn't produce CO2 while it's running, but there are big issues after the power station has reached the end of its life.

Waste disposal - what are the issues with nuclear waste?

Decommissioning - why is demolishing an old nuclear power station an expensive business?

Renewable Resources
The advantage of renewable resources is that they won't run out (in human timescales) but they each have significant limitations:

Solar power - when isn't it available?

Wind power - why is it unreliable?

Wave power - why is its use restricted?

Tidal power - what limits its availability?

HEP - what are its effects on the environment?

Geothermal sources - why can't we all use them?

Biomass - what problems do they share with fossil fuels?

Contexts and Comparisons
One important aspect of this topic is the realisation that different energy resources are useful in different places and at different times - and so a combination is often a good solution. You could look and see what the mix of energy resources in the UK is like currently.

You need to be able to compare different aspects of different types of energy resources e.g. why a coal power station has a much lower efficiency than a solar farm.

Study Task
Choose two of the energy resources and compare their advantages and disadvantages in a table like this: Consider issues such as renewability, cost, pollution, efficiency...

Careers and Organisations
Carry out some research into these jobs in the energy industry. (Feel free to add other jobs you find.)

Relevant practical/s
– relating to criteria skills

Exam-style question
6  A farmer on a remote Scottish island decides to install electric power to his house. The cost of installing a mains power line is very high. He has considered solar photo-voltaic

cells but he is concerned that they have an efficiency of only 8%.

6 (a)  Explain what is meant by an efficiency of 8%. (2 marks)

6 (b)  Other than efficiency, give one advantage and one disadvantage of generating electricity from solar photo-voltaic cells. (2 marks)

6 (c)  Suggest three other ways the farmer might generate electricity using renewable sources of energy. (3 marks)

6 (d)  Why are we being encouraged to use renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels, to generate electricity? (2 marks)

6 (e)  Give two reasons why we still produce most of our electricity from fossil fuels. (2 marks)

6 (f)  Give one disadvantage of using nuclear fuel as a source of energy. (1 mark)

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Links
UK Office for National Statistics gives an overview of our energy usage. 

to other sections within this book

to good external websites (including AQA website, Wikipedia, relevant applications / companies) - also considering links in spec

References / Bibliography
of recommended text books

including mapped refs to existing books