Energy resources are mostly used to generate electricity which we use around the home as well as in schools and offices.

Energy resources can be split into two categories Non renewable and renewable.

Non renewable energy resources

Fossil fuels consist of coal, oil and gas. Coal is formed from fossilised plants. Oil and gas are formed from fossilised marine creatures as in these two videos.

Fossil fuels are burned in power stations to boil water to generate steam. this in turn turns a turbine which is linked to a generator to generate electricity. 

Nuclear power is similar and is included here only as it is a non renewable energy resource. It will not be examined in any way except that nuclear energy is different from chemical energy found in fossil fuels.  It is still used to heat water to generate steam.

Renewable energy resources.

This Primer may be of interest to some.

There are many different types of renewable energy resource. some are more common than others.

Hydro electricity.

Essentially hydro electricity plants generate power by harnessing the power of falling water.  It is reliable and provides almost instant power. Electricity cannot be stored but must be generated on demand.  Hydro electric power plants can do this.  They harness the power of gravitational potential energy of falling water.

Dinorwig in North Wales is a good example of this and plays an important part in generating electricity for the UK.

Solar power

Solar power is the original source of all our energy resources on Earth. It can be utilised in several ways - in photo voltaic cells or to heat water.  Although this video discusses how photo voltaic cells work, this is not something you need to know. I hope you enjoy the dancing man in the middle of this video.

The web sites found here, here and here might also be of interest to some. It covers how solar energy can be used in the home.

Wind power

Mankind has harnessed the wind for thousands of years to do his work.  In the past it was to grind corn. Now it is used to power generators to create electricity. There are many different designs of wind turbines and many different sizes. they can be so small as to fit onto the back of a yacht to ones that have blades 40m long.

Geothermal power

Heat from the ground - used to heat water to generate steam to power generators.

Tidal power

Power from the tides - water moving backwards and forwards in a specific area can be used to turn turbines to generate electricity.

Wave power

Waves moving up and down contain a huge amount of power. The sea is rarely flat calm.

This last video sums up renewable energy and gives some figures as well.

Biomass

Biomass is the burning of biological matter to produce electricity or heat instead of fossil fuels.

These web sites might also be useful.

renewable energy resource maps

Comparing alternative energy resources

energy resources, electricity, and the environment

energy resources

This web site has been recommended for solar power for those of you who want to look further into this way of power production. Here in sunny Kent, UK, we have around 50 solar farms.