Energy Resources and Transfer: Non-Renewable Energy and Power Stations

Start with an understanding of non-renewable energy sources. These are types of energy which cannot be regenerated once used. The key types include fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel such as uranium.
Coal, oil and natural gas are burnt in order produce heat energy which is then converted into electrical energy.
Power stations are places where the conversion from chemical (fossil fuels) or nuclear (uranium) energy into electrical energy take place.
Understand the basic structure and function of a thermal power station. This includes the boiler, turbine, generator, condenser, and the cooling tower.
Familiarize with the process of making electricity in a power station using a fossil fuel. This includes combustion (burning) of the fuel, heating water to form steam, the steam spinning a turbine, and the turbine driving a generator to produce electricity.
Take note that nuclear power stations function similarly to those of fossil fuels, but the heat used to create steam comes from nuclear fission reactions instead.
When learning about energy transfer, consider the law of conservation of energy. It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another.
Be aware of the inefficiencies of power stations. Some energy is always lost to the surroundings as waste heat. This is usually lost in the cooling towers and as the steam or hot gases leave the chimneys.
Understand the environmental implications of non-renewable energy sources. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. Nuclear power, whilst not emitting CO2, has the problem of producing long-lived radioactive waste.
Different methods are being developed to increase the efficiency of power stations and reduce waste heat. This includes combined heat and power (CHP) sources and geothermal power stations.
Research the timeline for the predicted depletion of non-renewable energy sources. For example, it’s predicted that oil reserves will run out in about 50 years, whereas coal may last another two centuries and uranium sources may last for another few decades.
Finally, compare and contrast non-renewable energy sources with renewable ones, in terms of cost, efficiency, sustainability and environmental impact.