1Fossil fuels
Coal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels, formed from the remains of plants and sea creatures over millions of years. Once used they can't be replaced: they are non-renewable.
fossil fuelnon-renewable
Lesson 12.4 notes
Energy resources
Fossil fuels and nuclear, how a power station works, renewable resources, and how Britain makes its electricity.
2Inside a power station
In many power stations, burning fuel heats water to make steam. The steam spins a turbine, which turns a generator to make electricity.
turbinegenerator
3Nuclear power
Nuclear power stations use uranium, which is mined. They release no carbon dioxide as they generate, but uranium is non-renewable and the radioactive waste must be stored safely for thousands of years.
uraniumradioactive waste
4Renewable resources
Renewable resources are replaced naturally, so they won't run out: wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, wave and geothermal. None of them burn fuel.
renewable
5Biomass
Biomass, such as wood, is burned like coal and releases carbon dioxide. It is renewable if new plants are grown to replace it, and they take in carbon dioxide as they grow.
biomass
6Not always there
Solar panels make nothing at night and wind turbines stop in still air. Gas power stations can start quickly to fill the gap, and batteries can store spare electricity.
7Britain's electricity in 2025
In 2025 wind was Britain's biggest source of electricity, ahead of gas. It was the first year with no coal power: the last coal power station closed in 2024.
Explore: Power for a day
Change the time of day and the wind. See how much electricity Britain's solar panels and wind turbines make, and what has to fill the gap.
Common mistake: Renewable does not mean always available
Renewable resources won't run out, but some aren't always there: solar panels make nothing at night and wind turbines stop when the air is still. So we need a mix, and ways to store energy.
Remember
- Non-renewable: coal, oil and natural gas (fossil fuels) and nuclear fuel. They will run out, and fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when burned.
- In many power stations the fuel heats water to make steam, which spins a turbine, which turns a generator.
- Renewable: wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, geothermal and biomass. They won't run out, but some aren't always available.
Going further at GCSE
GCSE: Energy resources → GCSE: The National Grid → GCSE: Climate change →