Updated May 2007
This is a major issue as we move into a century which fossil fuels are not expected to outlive (despite the 200 years worth of coal that was apparently left despite the closing of the collieries). The Government announced in the first week in March 2001 that it had set new targets for the amount of renewable energy that was going to be used. We still have a way to go match the efforts of countries like Denmark. There are targets of 10% of renewable energy, of which about a half is likely to be from wind power, by 2010, and eventually going on to 20%.
There are, of course, problems with any kind of energy production: even alternatives have their environmental impacts. For an alternative viewpoint, and some excellent resources (also a good place to visit on a wet weekend in Wales) is the CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY. They have some excellent displays, and a good bookshop and cafe.
The last week of October 2004 was ENERGY EFFICIENCY WEEK. A quarter of all Carbon dioxide produced in the UK comes from people's homes. £150 million worth of electricity is used simply by TVs and video recorders being on standby. Visit the website of the ENERGY SAVING TRUST.
You should also aim for CARBON REDUCTION.
This page, which has grown rather long of late, has information on the following energy types: click the name to go there rather than scrolling down:
| WIND ENERGY | FOSSIL FUELS |
| GEOTHERMAL ENERGY | OIL POLLUTION |
| SOLAR POWER | NUCLEAR POWER |
| HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER | MISCELLANEOUS LINKS |
Go to the LESSON PLANS
Oil is the most widely used fossil fuel, and has powered our insatiable drive towards car ownership (see TRANSPORT page for more details)
One of the more controversial locations for oil exploration is the North Slope of Alaska (which was recently given more of a death sentence in the early days of the new Bush administration in the USA, although it looks as if Congress may save it, only for the Rockies to be next on the list) - on the positive side however, the TRANS-ALASKAN PIPELINE has an excellent site which could be used as the basis for research on a project looking at the effects of energy extraction in an area of beauty. Some very useful illustrations and factlets. There have of course been spills from the pipeline, most recently when someone shot at it. Try the news archives and an appropriate search string.
UK Offshore Operators' association have produced a site on Offshore OIL AND GAS. This is largely for 6th formers as it has a scientifically demanding text. Has a series of maps, charts, diagrams and drawings. Resource is around £10.
BP is trying to rebrand itself as standing for BEYOND PETROLEUM: http://www.bpalternativenergy.com/liveassets/bp_internet/alternativenergy/index.html - has some good ideas and resources
Literally 'heat from the earth'. The GEOTHERMAL EDUCATION OFFICE has most of what you could ever want or need on the subject, including access to Slide Shows on Geothermal power.
There are a few small geothermal installations in the UK, but you need to head for Iceland for some large scale applications. There are geothermally heated greenhouses, homes, factories and swimming pools, most notably the famous Blue Lagoon which is a popular tourist destination.
One of the areas which has used Geothermal power for the longest is Tuscany in Italy, particularly in an area called Valle del Diavolo (Devil's Valley) - the area produces 10% of the world's Geothermal energy power, and a quarter of the region's electricity needs.
Other areas use volcanic heat directly, notably on Tenerife, where some restaurants apparently use the heat to cook the meals. Has anyone eaten in such a restaurant ?
Report on the SEA EMPRESS oil spill. There have of course been many major spills in recent years unfortunately. Each of them would have information available on a range of sites:
TORREY CANYON
BRAER
An area of greater pollution is Soviet Russia, where the environment was not always high up the list of priorities. The oil from previous explorations has been allowed to flow unchecked, and the thawing of the permafrost is creating massive 'hidden' problems for future generations. The Yamal peninsula is an area which has been particularly badly affected by oil spills which have been unregulated for years, and were only revealed as perestroika opened up the country to outside scrutiny.
There are plenty of resources on the EXXON VALDEZ. One such article is HERE - as you can see, it's EXXONVALDEZ.ORG) - a search will bring up loads of others. This is a case study I use at GCSE level and A2, and the students prepare Powerpoint materials, which go through the causes and effects.
Try the site of commercial energy supplier SMARTENERGY
Solar Energy is increasing in the UK. This doesn't necessarily involve solar panels, but features such as a Trombe wall, where panes of glass are used to trap energy.
Solar energy is an issue covered at the ENERGY21 site.
Loads of materials on solar energy at the nicely named PLUGGING INTO THE SUN site.
Nuclear energy uses U-235 as a fuel: an isotope of uranium.
BNFL Ltd. (BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS) also have an online presence. The Education section of the website offers downloadable resources and 'fun and games' of a radioactive variety.
BNFL is a company with problems. The Government is likely to have to bail out the nuclear industry, due to the tremendous costs of decomissioning which can't be covered. Nonetheless, there is a continued process of producing resources for education. There are many issues involved in the NUCLEAR DEBATE. This is a common lesson topic with GCSE groups. I personally can't be doing with setting up large role plays and changing all the desks and printing all the cards, but if you can make it work then good on you!
What are the main advantages of Nuclear Power (despite the negatives...)
the energy produced per amount of fuel expended is the largest available - a small amount of fuel goes a long way: an amount of Uranium 235 can produce 3.7 million times as much energy as the same amount of coal
costs are competitive with coal and other fossil fuels
there are abundant supplies of uranium in the world
plutonium (a by product of some types of reactors) can then be used as fuel in certain other types of reactor
An interesting anecdote. Recently, I was in Suffolk and had 10 minutes to kill so decided to drive down to Sizewell. The map said there was a Visitor Centre, but it wasn't signposted. I thought I might take a picture for the website, but like a lot of buildings, when you get closer to it it's harder to see. So I turned round, and was followed for the next few miles by a police car, which then pulled me with flashing lights and the officer questioned what I had been doing...
There are some useful links at the site of the TVA: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY. Try a diagram here.
There's a site for British BIO ENERGY here. Chicken manure, willow, lupins - anything that can be burn will have to be burnt. There is also the use of BIODIESELS which include recycled cooking oil.
For websites on all the above areas go to the American NREL site.
One of the alternatives to developing alternative sources is to use less energy so that our energy reserves last longer. There are plenty of sites which are linked to from the ENVIRONMENTAL section of GeographyPages which offer advice on saving energy. This is an idea which should be the most popular as it saves people money. There is a lot to be saved on energy costs...
The site called ENERGY CHEST is part of the NGfL: it's funded by Exxon, which is a bit dodgy: lots of pictures of Joules the Robot filling up with ESSO petrol. Some useful information though, and nice graphicy design.
The GREEN ENERGY website offers information on a range of renewable fuels. These include links to a site which promotes the use of wood as a fuel: wood pellets from sustainable sources. This is known as the LOGPILE.
Edison Mission Energy commissioned a website called the POWER PROGRAMME to look at key Energy areas for Key Stages 2 and 3. There are details on visits to power stations, and some worksheets for key curriculum areas.
Alternative energy clearly has to be produced. The NATIONAL WIND POWER site (see link in the wind energy section) has a lot of information on this particular form of energy, but the most useful recent addition, which could be a useful resource for a lesson is the results of a survey carried out for the RSPB, and carried out by BMRB International in September-October 2001. 1000 adults were surveyed across Britain.
Which sorts of power station should be built in Britain during the next 10 years ?
Wind power on land - just over 50%
Wind at sea - 45%
Solar 42%
Coal, Oil and Gas were all under 5% of the vote.
Which sorts of power station should NOT be built in Britain during the next 10 years ?
Nuclear - 66%
Coal - 35%
The details of the survey are available HERE.
Instead of WIND TURBINES, the UK's first TIDAL POWER STATION has been started off the coast of Lynmouth. The new development is that of a company called THG (Tidal Hydraulic Generators) - the idea is that the tides will turn undersea turbines.
The FIRST HYDRO COMPANY has a nice site which includes some useful information on their operations in North Wales. They have a tourists' eye view of the Dinorwic power station ('Electric Mountain') with visitor information. Also has SNOWDON WEATHER STATION information and a Photographic library.
Drax power station is apparently going to start to burn wood. They are testing the use of thousands of tonnes of willow: which grows very fast. The plant currently burns 9.5 million tonnes of Yorkshire coal a year. The use of such new materials is called BIOMASS FUEL.
Willow is used in Scandinavian power stations. The wood is provided by SHORT ROTATION COPPICE. The trial will reduce the need for coal, and also the output of carbon dioxide.
Recently received the THINK ENERGY flyer and poster. Some great resources - lots of FLASH animations and activities.
1. Wind Energy on SKYE
Skye has its own action group. There are some excellent resources at the site which relates to the action group which makes an excellent case study for wind energy. You can explore the various issues, and also look at an actual case study using MULTIMAP.
The site is the SKYE WINDFARM ACTION GROUP site. The Action Group was set up following the announcement of plans by AMEC to build 28 x 330ft turbines overlooking the village of Edinbane. There are also other plans for other locations on the island. There may also be more pylons needed to transmit the energy that is produced. A useful windfarm map of Scotland is available at the VIEWS OF SCOTLAND site.
Go to the SWAG links page for some other action group sites at locations like Cumbria, Meikle Carewe, Ark Hill in Scotland, Cefn Croes in the Cambrian Mountains and Barningham High Moor (a success!)
Electric Mountain is the name for a tourist attraction developed around the Dinorwic pump-storage scheme near Llanberis. Tour groups take a bus half a mile underground to see the HEP generators hidden inside a hollowed out mountain.
3. There's now an ENQUIRY on Wind Farms on the SLN Geography site. The ENQUIRY which is HERE, is titled:
"Wind Farms UK - Ugly monstrosities or things of beauty ?"
4. A BEE IN YOUR BONNET
Scoutmoor, Lancashire: a proposed Wind Farm
Programme in March 2004 looked at Ann Metcalfe and her daughter's campaign against Scoutmoor Wind Farm. They were helped by a 'spin doctor' to set up the campaign, and the programme looks at the ways that campaigns can work, and how people can make a difference if they are passionate enough.
First step is publicity: encourage people and local businesses to have posters in their windows, and then try to get the local media involved.
Letters of objection need to be written and sent to the council.
Ann Metcalfe goes to Liverpool to see a wind farm with 50m turbines: a smaller one than the proposed one, and another one near Burnley.
Objections: disrupting the view, the 'feeling of the place' being destroyed, more damage than benefits.
If on TV, come across as natural and passionate, and believing in the cause. Ask other people who have set up similar campaigns.
Think that natural groundwater supplies to local farms could be disrupted. They are also concerned about the effect of wind farms on property values, and get estate agents to value properties 'before and after'... some houses are only around 300m from the farm - estate agent thinks that it could devalue one property by around £100 000
50 000 homes will be powered in Rochdale, but only when the wind blows at an appropriate speed...
United Utilities is the opposing power generating firm, and Managing Director is convinced of the benefits, as well as the importance of increasing renewable energy in the UK - they are responding to changes in Government policy - Renewable energy is here to stay...
Go to the BWEA conference and meet Stephen Timms: the Energy Minister - needed to be properly briefed.
Hold meetings in places like local pubs so that people are likely to turn up, and practise public speaking - use appropriate technology. Need fund raising events to pay for postage, phone calls, printing etc.
Mentions James Rigby, who believes that things, including landscapes, need to be sacrificed.. the landscape is (and he's right of course) not natural anyway... and global warming is a far more
Organising a walk over the moor, and trying to attract a high profile figure to attend or lead the walk - tried to contact Professor David Bellamy and persuaded him to attend. Well organised event. Plenty of people attending, as well as the media.
The landscape is the lungs of the people.
The wind has to blow at the right speed to create energy.
Need to reduce air flights, insulate homes etc. rather than ruining landscapes.
Produced leaflets which are presented in the form of an electricity bill.
Attended a council planning meeting - committee vote to object to the WIND FARM, so there will be a PUBLIC ENQUIRY
The WEBSITE has more information, and details on effective campaigning.
The episode can be linked to HERE.
Professor David Bellamy: famous environmental campaigner has his own views on the proliferation of wind farms. You can read them HERE.
More information on this further up the page.
5. NUCLEAR POWER
This page to appear shortly due to increasing interest in nuclear power.
6. ENERGY RESOURCES
I recommend that you go and read through this site for a detailed look at energy supplies.
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm - Andy Darvill has produced an excellent set of illustrated notes.
7. THERMAL POWER STATIONS IN YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE
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| Clouds on the horizon: one of 3 in a row, spreading eastwards in the wind | Several clouds merging together | Getting closer... |
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| Ferrybridge: thermal power station - taken from new A1(M) section | And disappearing behind us.. | And 2 more down near Lincolnshire.. |
8. ELECTRICITY CALCULATOR
By 2020, total UK energy demand is predicted to be 381 bn kWH
The BBC SITE has a great little CALCULATOR where you move sliders to calculate the relative size of different types of energy. Check it out !
9. E.ON FREE RESOURCES
It is a growing trend for companies to produce educational materials.
In the Autumn 2006 issue of GA NEWSLETTER, I mentioned the arrival of these resources by energy company E.ON
Go to the ENERGY EXPERIENCE page for more details.
There are basically 4 different section for different age groups.
ENERGY HOME (5-7 year olds)
This looks at What is Energy, Wasting Energy, Using Energy and Safety - flash visuals and audio too....
ENERGY TOWN (7-11 year olds)
The Search for Energy, Wasting Energy - on the trail of the wasters, Our new school & the renewable town.
The new school activity gives you £4 million to try to design an energy efficient school.
Some great activities here for lower secondary pupils. Will use this with my Year 8's after Christmas.
ENERGY NATION (11-14 year olds)
Meet various people who are involved in producing energy for countries.
ENERGY WORLD (14 years and above)
Contemplate the fate of the planet. Need to look at global issues and also our personal responsibilities, in sections like Local to Global and Climate Change (compares UK and Argentina...) and a Nuclear Future and build your own Power Station.
There is also a TEACHERS ZONE...
RECOMMENDED!
10. Send your free WIND ENERGY DVD presented by Kate Humble... (my favourite price...)
Address coming soon - check the GEOGRAPHY JAZZ weblog for more details...
11. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Make sure you are familiar with the term SUSTAINABLE ENERGY as well as the RENEWABLE term that is perhaps more familiar to all. The energy that we use in the future has to be suitable for generations rather than the short term reliance on Fossil Fuels which has got us into our current fine mess (allegedly)