Wind
Kinetic energy from wind is harnessed by a turbine. The turbine spins a generator turning this into electricity.
- +Renewable
- +No greenhouse gases produced
- -danger to wildlife
- -Noise
- -Depends on wind
- -Takes a lot of space and produces very less energy
Water (hydropower)
Kinetic energy from moving water is harnessed by a turbine which spins a generator and turns that into electrical energy
- +Renewable
- +No greenhouse gases produced
- -Causes hindrance in fish migration (dams) and damages their habitat
- -Depends on water
- -Limited locations
Geothermal sources
Heat energy from earth's core is used to rapidly heat up water which turns into high pressure steam with kinetic energy. This used to turn a turbine which turns a generator and turns kinetic energy into electrical energy.
- +Renewable
- +No greenhouse gases produced
- -Emits harmful gases – sulfur dioxide
- -Limited locations
Solar heating system
Heat energy from sun is used to rapidly heat up water and turn into high pressure steam. The steam turns a turbine which turns a generator which converts kinetic energy into electrical energy.
- +Renewable
- +No greenhouse gases produced
- -Limited location
- -Depends on sun (day time/clear sky only)
Solar cells
Light energy from the sun is converted into electrical energy in the solar cell.
- +Renewable
- +No greenhouse gases
- -Depends on sun
- -Limited locations
- -Low energy production
Fossil fuels
Chemical energy stored in fossil fuels is converted into heat energy by combustion. The heat energy is used to rapidly vaporize water and turn a turbine which turns this heat energy into kinetic energy, the turbine spins a generator which converts kinetic energy into electrical energy.
- +Any location
- +High energy production with less space
- +Easy to setup
- -Non renewable
- -Greenhouse gases and soot is produced
- -Needs fossil fuels
Nuclear power
Nuclear energy stored in radioactive materials is converted into thermal energy by the process of nuclear fission. The thermal energy is used to heat up water and turn it into high pressure steam. A turbine converts thermal energy into kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy by a generator.
- +No greenhouse gases
- +High energy production
- -Nuclear waste
- -Non renewable
- -Complicated to set up