New
New
Year 9

Alternative energy supplies

I can describe alternative sources of energy to using fossil fuels, and some of their benefits and limitations.

New
New
Year 9

Alternative energy supplies

I can describe alternative sources of energy to using fossil fuels, and some of their benefits and limitations.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Alternative energy sources include renewable energy sources and nuclear power.
  2. Renewable energy sources produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. The cost of renewable technology is falling, making it more accessible.
  4. Nuclear energy is reliable and does not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
  5. There are disadvantages in using nuclear energy.

Keywords

  • Renewable energy - sources of energy that can be reused and will not run out

  • Geothermal energy - energy from the heat inside Earth

  • Nuclear energy - is the energy from inside atoms which can be used to generate electricity

Common misconception

Renewable energy is always expensive to set up.

Small-scale renewable energy projects such as micro-hydro plants can be fairly cheap and help communities in lower income countries.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Alternative energy supplies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use Google Earth with the class to look at the scale of the Bhadla solar park in India.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords with their correct meaning.

Correct Answer:Anthropocene,Current age where humans impact the planet

Current age where humans impact the planet

Correct Answer:Visualise,Making something easier to understand with images

Making something easier to understand with images

Correct Answer:Carbon emissions,Gases released when burning fossil fuels

Gases released when burning fossil fuels

Correct Answer:Urbanisation,When towns and cities grow and spread

When towns and cities grow and spread

Q2.
Which of the following is a human cause of climate change?

Solar flares
Volcanic eruptions
Correct answer: Burning fossil fuels
Earth’s orbit

Q3.
What is the Anthropocene best known for?

Correct answer: Humans shaping Earth’s systems
Humans beginning to walk upright
The extinction of the dinosaurs
The formation of Earth

Q4.
One reason carbon emissions have increased in recent history is:

Fewer cars on the road
More tree planting
Use of wind turbines
Correct answer: Burning more fossil fuels

Q5.
Which of the following shows a positive human impact on the planet?

Plastic pollution
Habitat destruction
Correct answer: Renewable energy use
Deforestation

Q6.
Humans release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when they burn fuels.

Correct Answer: fossil

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords with their correct meanings.

Correct Answer:Renewable energy,Can be reused and won’t run out

Can be reused and won’t run out

Correct Answer:Geothermal energy,Energy from heat within Earth

Energy from heat within Earth

Correct Answer:Nuclear energy,Energy from atoms used to make electricity

Energy from atoms used to make electricity

Q2.
What makes nuclear energy different from fossil fuels?

It uses wind
It’s made from water
Correct answer: It comes from atoms, not ancient organisms
It can’t produce electricity

Q3.
Solar panels turn sunlight into .

Correct Answer: electricity

Q4.
Why is it wrong to say renewable energy is always expensive?

It's made of gold
It's only used in rich countries
Correct answer: Some types can be affordable and local
It needs coal to work