UK Energy mix

UK Energy mix

1. Renewables

   • Wind
     • Wind turbines turn to make electricity
     • Wind farms in the countryside or in the sea
   • Hydroelectric power (HEP)
     • Energy from the movement of water through lakes and dams
     • In mountainous areas
   • Solar
     • Energy from the sun
     • Collected by solar panels on roofs or in fields
   • Biomass
     • Uses decaying plant and animal waste
   • Tidal
     • Movement of the tide drags turbines
     • Found in estuaries with large tidal range
   • Geothermal
     • Cold water is pumped underground and comes out as steam
     • Uses natural heat of the earth
     • Tectonically active areas
   • Wave
     • The movement of seawater through a cavity to drive turbines
     • Found where there are lots of waves

2. Fossil Fuels

   • Oil
     • Lakes of oil are found between seams of rock
     • Pipes are sunk to the oil and it is pumped out
   • Coal
     • Mined from coal seams
     • Burned to provide electricity
     • Formed by fossilised carbon
   • Natural gas
     • Methane and other gases trapped between rock seams
     • Pipes sunk into the ground to release gas

3. Nuclear

   • Radioactive minerals are mined
   • Electricity is released when atoms are split
   • Located near the coast