Energy generation and storage - EdexcelFossil fuels

Energy generation and storage have a huge global impact on our lives - from decisions about the use of fossil fuels and their effect on our environment, to the development of cleaner, more-modern ways to create and store energy.

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Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are a finite resource, meaning that they cannot be replaced once extracted from the ground. More than 80% of the world’s energy still comes from fossil fuels. The UK also uses some fossil fuels for much of its energy.

Examples of fossil fuels include:

  • coal
  • natural gas
  • oil
How energy sources are generated and transported, shown on land by road for coal, and sea by pipe and boat for gas and oil.
Coal, gas and oil are fossil fuels. Gas and oil are often found together. Coal is usually located in a different place

Coal

In a coal power station, coal is usually crushed into a fine powder before being burned. The hot coal heats water, turning it into . The steam builds up to a very high pressure and this is used to spin a . The turbine is connected to an electrical , which creates electricity. Coal is no longer used to generate electricity in the UK.

Coal is a store of chemical energy stored as heat energy in water and steam. This is transferred through a turbine to a generator and transferred as electricity.

There are advantages and disadvantages to generating electricity from coal.

Advantages of coalDisadvantages of coal
Enough coal on Earth to last hundreds of yearsProduces carbon dioxide when burned, contributing to global warming
Produces high amounts of energyDamage is caused to natural land when mining takes place
Advantages of coalEnough coal on Earth to last hundreds of years
Disadvantages of coalProduces carbon dioxide when burned, contributing to global warming
Advantages of coalProduces high amounts of energy
Disadvantages of coalDamage is caused to natural land when mining takes place

Natural gas

accounts for around 30 per cent of the UK’s energy production. It is used for heating and cooking and is one of the main sources of power for electricity production in the UK.

A close-up image of a vegetable steamer on a gas hob with an open flame.
Gas hob

Natural gas is most commonly produced off-shore and transported through pipelines to a gas-powered electricity power station.

Advantages of natural gasDisadvantages of natural gas
It emits less carbon dioxide than coal or oilGas is highly flammable - if there is a gas leak, an explosion can easily happen
Existing infrastructure makes it easy to transport and useIt is non-renewable, so supplies will eventually run-out.
Advantages of natural gasIt emits less carbon dioxide than coal or oil
Disadvantages of natural gasGas is highly flammable - if there is a gas leak, an explosion can easily happen
Advantages of natural gasExisting infrastructure makes it easy to transport and use
Disadvantages of natural gasIt is non-renewable, so supplies will eventually run-out.

In the UK there are deposits. Shale gas is obtained using a process known as , which involves cracking large rocks underground. There is a lot of discussion about whether or not this process should be used, with concerns around damage to land and the release of harmful gases. Fracking is currently not allowed in the UK.

Oil

Very little of the UK’s electricity comes from oil as it is mainly used for fuel or is turned into plastics. However, a very small amount is burned to heat water, creating steam, to generate electricity.

Advantages of oilDisadvantages of oil
A small amount of oil can produce a lot of energyCreates significant air pollution when burned
It is relatively easy to store and transportConsiderable impact on water, land use and disposal
Advantages of oilA small amount of oil can produce a lot of energy
Disadvantages of oilCreates significant air pollution when burned
Advantages of oilIt is relatively easy to store and transport
Disadvantages of oilConsiderable impact on water, land use and disposal
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Nuclear power

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