Costs and benefits to fossil fuel alternatives
I can assess the costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels.
- Year 11
- Edexcel B
Costs and benefits to fossil fuel alternatives
I can assess the costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The UK's energy mix has diversified in response to policies of reducing carbon emissions and improving energy security.
- 2020 was the UK's first year in which more electricity came from alternatives to fossil fuels than from non-renewables.
- Alternatives to fossil fuels can reduce carbon emissions, improve energy security and diversify the energy mix.
- Alternatives to fossil fuels include biofuels, wind, solar, HEP and future technologies such as hydrogen.
- Alternatives to fossil fuels have both benefits and costs.
Keywords
Energy mix - the combination of different energy sources used by a country or a region. The energy mix can change over time
Energy security - the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
Carbon footprint - the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by an individual, product, process, country, etc
Common misconception
If you got your electricity from 100% renewable energy sources, then your carbon footprint would be zero.
Even if all your electricity comes from renewables, other parts of your lifestyle (like the manufacture of the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the technology you use) still produce carbon emissions elsewhere — often in other countries.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a renewable energy source?
Q2.Which factor most influences energy use in high-income countries?
Q3.Why might a country want to reduce fossil fuel use?
Q4.What does an energy mix show?
Q5.Why might a country use more renewable energy in future?
Q6.Which energy source is most likely to run out first?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
