| Energy resource | Generation of electricity | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Hydro | Potential energy of the water stored In a dam changes to kinetic energy to drive turbines | - Renewable energy
- Water is freely available in large quantities
- Clean and does not pollute the environment
- Water stored in dams can be used to irrigate farms and for human consumption
- Dams can be used to control floods
| - Building of dams upsets the balance of the ecosystem
- Not suitable in areas where natural disasters such as earthquakes may occur
- Not suitable in flat and dry regions
|
| Oil and natural gas | The burning of oil or natural gas produces high pressure steam that is used to drive turbines | - At present still available in large quantities
- Can be transported to the location where it is to be used
| - Non-renewable energy
- Discharges harmful gases that pollute the environment
- High cost
- Cost depends on political factors
|
| Coal | Coal is burned and the heat energy is used to produce high pressure steam | - Plenty of resources available for up to 200 years
- Can be transported to the location where it is to be used
| - Non-renewable energy
- Discharges harmful gases that pollute the environment
|
| Nuclear | Energy from nuclear fission is used to produce high pressure steam to drive turbines at nuclear power stations | - Have high energy density – a small amount can release a large quantity of energy
- Minimum discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
- Vast reserves of nuclear fuel such as uranium spread evenly throughout the world
- Reactor in nuclear power stations can be used to produce useful radioisotopes to be used in industry, medicine and agriculture
| - High cost of designing and building nuclear power station
- Waste in the form of used fuel rods which are very hot and highly radioactive
- Hot water discharged causes thermal pollution to the environment
- Risk of accidents which may lead to the leakage of large amounts of radioactive substances to the environment
- Nuclear fuel could be enriched and used to produce weapons of mass destruction
|
| Biomass | Heat energy from the burning of biomass is used to generate electricity | - Renewable energy
- Liquid biofuels from biomass are lead-free and sulphur-free
- Reduces problem of disposal of organic waste
| - Requires large storage space far from human population if the biomass is animal dung or sewage
|
| Solar | Solar cells or panels convert the energy from sunlight to electrical energy | - Renewable energy
- Freely available
- Clean and does not pollute the environment
| - Requires very large space to collect sufficient energy
- Lower efficiency in the generation of electricity
- Intensity of sunlight is dependent on seasonal changes, climate and latitude of the region
|
| Wind | Kinetic energy of the wind drives turbines | - Renewable energy
- Clean and does not pollute the environment
- Suitable at isolated places such as mountainous regions and islands
| - Many windmills are needed which cover a large area
- Generates high level of noise
- Spoils the natural beauty of the region
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