National and global energy resources — AQA GCSE Combined Science
Test yourself on National and global energy resources with AQA GCSE practice questions.
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National and global energy resources explained
Earth offers a range of energy resources that can be classified as non-renewable or renewable.
Read the full explanation
Fossil fuels — coal, oil and gas — and nuclear fuel are finite and will eventually run out. Bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, tidal, solar and wave energy are renewable because they are replenished naturally. Each resource supplies energy through a different transfer: burning fossil fuels or bio-fuel releases chemical energy, nuclear fuel releases energy from atomic nuclei, wind and water waves drive turbines, hydro-electricity uses falling water, geothermal uses heat from within the Earth, tides use the rise and fall of sea level, and the Sun provides radiant energy. Choosing between them involves weighing reliability, cost, environmental impact and availability.
A renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.
A renewable energy resource is replenished while it is used, so the rate at which it is replaced is at least as fast as the rate at which people use it. This matters because non-renewable resources such as coal, oil and natural gas are used far faster than they form, so their stores will eventually run out. Renewable resources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal and biomass. For example, sunlight arrives continuously, wind blows because of pressure differences, and biomass can be regrown. Some renewables are not available all the time, so they may need storage or back-up supplies. The key idea is replenishment rate compared with use rate, not whether the resource is natural or clean.
The uses of energy resources include: transport, electricity generation and heating.
Energy resources are used for three main purposes: transport, electricity generation and heating. Transport includes vehicles which mostly use fuels such as petrol, diesel or biofuels. Electricity generation uses resources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear fuel, wind, solar and hydroelectricity to produce electricity. Heating includes warming buildings and providing hot water, often using natural gas, biomass or solar thermal panels. The same resource can serve more than one use: natural gas can generate electricity and heat homes. Note that electricity is an energy carrier, not a primary resource, though it powers transport and heating. When evaluating a resource, consider its availability, cost, reliability and environmental effects for each specific use.
describe the main energy sources available
You need to give a clear account of the main energy sources used for electricity generation and transport, including fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), nuclear fuel, biofuels, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, solar, geothermal and water waves. For each, state whether it is renewable or non-renewable and outline how it is used. For example, in a gas-fired power station, burning natural gas transfers chemical energy to thermal energy in steam, which turns a turbine to generate electrical energy. In a hydroelectric scheme, gravitational potential energy of stored water transfers to kinetic energy as it flows downhill, turning turbines. You should also describe patterns of use, such as the global reliance on fossil fuels and the growing contribution of renewables.
distinguish between energy resources that are renewable and energy resources that are non-renewable
Energy resources are classified by whether they are replenished as they are used. Renewable resources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal and biomass, are replaced naturally at a rate comparable to consumption, so they will not run out on a human timescale. Non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel, exist in finite stores formed over millions of years and are used faster than they form. To distinguish them, ask whether the resource is being replaced while it is consumed. Burning methane from a landfill is renewable if the waste is continually produced; extracting ancient natural gas is not. This distinction underpins choices about electricity generation, transport fuels and heating.
compare ways that different energy resources are used, the uses to include transport, electricity generation and heating
Different energy resources suit different uses because of energy density, portability, reliability and cost. Transport needs portable, energy-dense fuels, so petrol, diesel and jet fuel dominate, with battery electric vehicles and hydrogen increasingly used. Electricity generation needs resources that can drive turbines or photovoltaic cells, so coal, gas, nuclear, wind, hydroelectric and solar are common, chosen for reliability, output and emissions. Heating buildings and water can use natural gas boilers, electricity, solar thermal panels, geothermal heat or biomass, where storage and convenience matter. Comparing uses means matching each resource to the demands of the application and weighing advantages against drawbacks, such as gas being reliable but producing carbon dioxide, or wind being clean but variable.
understand why some energy resources are more reliable than others
Reliability means how dependably a resource can supply energy whenever demand arises. Fossil fuels, nuclear fuel and biofuels are reliable because they are stored and can be burned or reacted on demand, whatever the weather. Renewable resources often depend on natural conditions: solar panels produce nothing at night, wind turbines need wind, and tidal schemes work only around tide cycles. Hydroelectric and geothermal supplies are steadier, but drought or local geology can still limit them. To judge reliability, ask whether output can be controlled, whether supply is continuous, and whether it can match sudden increases in demand. A useful method is to compare a gas-fired power station, switched on within minutes, with a wind farm whose output varies through the day.
describe the environmental impact arising from the use of different energy resources
Every energy resource has environmental costs across its life cycle, from extraction to waste. Burning coal, oil and gas releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, plus sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain. Nuclear fuel produces radioactive waste needing long-term safe storage, though operation releases little carbon dioxide. Renewables generally release little carbon dioxide while running, but they have other impacts: wind turbines can harm birds and create noise, hydroelectric dams flood valleys and disrupt habitats, tidal barrages alter estuaries, and solar farms use large land areas. Biofuels can be considered carbon neutral, yet growing them may remove farmland or forest. A good method is to trace one resource from extraction to waste and name the specific impact at each stage.
explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources. WS 3.5
Energy resources are used in different proportions over time, and patterns emerge when you compare fuels, countries or decades. A trend is a consistent change, such as the rising share of renewables in UK electricity since 2010, while a pattern is a repeated relationship, such as wealthier countries using more energy per person. To explain rather than describe, link each change to a cause: cost, availability, government policy, technology, environmental concern or demand. For example, cheap North Sea gas in the 1990s reduced coal use, and carbon targets plus falling wind costs later increased renewables. Use data from graphs or tables, quote figures, and state whether the trend is rising, falling or levelling off. WS 3.5 means interpreting data to draw conclusions, so always connect the evidence to the reason.
consider the environmental issues that may arise from the use of different energy resources
Every energy resource carries an environmental cost, and comparing them means tracing the whole chain from extraction to waste. Burning coal, oil and gas releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, plus sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain. Nuclear fuel gives low carbon emissions in operation but leaves radioactive waste needing long-term safe storage. Renewables are not cost-free: wind turbines and solar farms alter landscapes and habitats, hydroelectric schemes flood valleys, tidal barrages disturb estuaries, and biomass burning still emits carbon dioxide. A useful method is a table listing each resource against carbon dioxide output, pollution, land use and habitat disruption, then judging which issues are local, national or global.
show that science has the ability to identify environmental issues arising from the use of energy resources but not always the power to deal with the issues because of political, social, ethical or economic considerations.
Science can measure and explain environmental problems, but solving them also depends on decisions science cannot make alone. Scientists can identify that carbon dioxide raises global temperatures or that radioactive waste stays hazardous for thousands of years, yet acting on that knowledge involves political, social, ethical and economic factors. A government may accept the evidence but avoid unpopular taxes, a community may object to a wind farm near homes, and a country may lack money for cleaner technology. A strong answer names the issue, states the scientific evidence, then explains one barrier: cost, public opinion, government priorities or differing views about responsibility to future generations.
Your focus
- Name the main energy resources available on Earth and classify each as renewable or non-renewable.
- Describe the energy transfer involved for a named energy resource.
- Compare energy resources using at least two criteria such as reliability, cost or environmental impact.
Show all 33 objectives
- Define a renewable energy resource in terms of replenishment as it is used.
- Classify named energy resources as renewable or non-renewable and justify each choice.
- Explain why a renewable resource can still be unreliable even though it is replenished.
- State the three main uses of energy resources: transport, electricity generation and heating.
- Match named energy resources to appropriate uses and explain the match.
- Evaluate the suitability of a resource for a particular use using given information.
- Name the main energy sources used nationally and globally.
- Classify each named source as renewable or non-renewable.
- Describe how named sources are used to generate electricity or provide transport energy.
- Define renewable and non-renewable energy resources using the idea of replenishment rate.
- Classify a range of named energy resources as renewable or non-renewable with a reason for each.
- Apply the distinction to a real energy supply context and justify the classification given.
- Describe how transport, electricity generation and heating each use different energy resources.
- Compare two or more resources for a given use by weighing advantages against drawbacks.
- Justify a resource choice for a specified use using criteria such as portability, reliability and environmental impact.
- Define reliability as the ability to supply energy whenever demand arises.
- Compare named energy resources and explain how far their output can be controlled or predicted.
- Justify a judgement about which of two resources is more reliable using evidence about supply conditions.
- Identify the main pollutant or waste produced by named energy resources.
- Explain how a named impact arises, linking the resource to its environmental effect.
- Compare the environmental impacts of two resources across their life cycles.
- Interpret a graph or table to identify a trend in energy resource use.
- Explain a trend by linking it to at least one cause such as cost, policy or technology.
- Compare patterns in energy use between different resources or countries using data.
- Describe at least three environmental issues arising from different energy resources.
- Classify given environmental issues as local, national or global in scale.
- Compare two energy resources by weighing their environmental impacts in a structured table.
- Explain how scientific evidence identifies environmental issues from energy use.
- Describe political, social, ethical and economic factors that can prevent action on those issues.
- Apply the science-versus-society idea to a named energy resource in a written argument.
National and global energy resources exam tips
Marking Points
- List the non-renewable resources as fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and nuclear fuel.
- List the renewable resources as bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, tidal, solar and wave energy.
- State that fossil fuels and nuclear fuel are finite, whereas renewable resources are replenished and will not run out.
- Describe the energy transfer for at least one named resource, such as burning coal releasing chemical energy or wind turning a turbine.
- Compare resources using criteria such as reliability, cost, environmental impact or availability.
- States that a renewable resource is replaced or replenished as it is used, so it is not used up permanently.
- Compares the rate of replenishment with the rate of use, noting that replenishment must keep pace with use.
- Gives a valid example such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal or biomass and explains why it is renewable.
- Contrasts renewable resources with non-renewable resources such as coal, oil and natural gas, which form over very long periods.
- Recognises that some renewable resources are intermittent, so energy may need to be stored or supplied from another source when demand is high.
- Identifies transport as a use of energy resources and gives a valid example such as petrol, diesel or biofuel.
- Identifies electricity generation as a use and names a resource used for it, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear fuel, wind, solar or hydroelectricity.
- Identifies heating as a use and names a resource used for it, such as natural gas, biomass or solar thermal energy.
- Explains that one energy resource can be used for more than one purpose, for example natural gas for both electricity generation and heating.
- Evaluates a resource for a given use by considering factors such as reliability, cost, availability and environmental impact.
- Name at least four main energy sources, including at least two fossil fuels and at least two renewables.
- State correctly whether each named source is renewable or non-renewable.
- Describe the energy transfer for one named source, for example chemical to thermal to kinetic to electrical in a coal-fired station.
- Describe how a named renewable source is harnessed, such as solar cells transferring light to electrical energy directly.
- Describe a national or global pattern, such as fossil fuels supplying most global electricity or renewables growing in use.
- State that renewable resources are replenished naturally at a rate comparable to their use, so they are not used up on a human timescale.
- State that non-renewable resources are finite and are used faster than they can form, so they will eventually run out.
- Correctly classify named examples: solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal and biomass as renewable; coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear fuel as non-renewable.
- Explain the criterion used, namely whether the resource is being replaced while it is consumed, rather than simply listing examples.
- Apply the distinction to a familiar context, such as comparing a wind farm with a gas-fired power station, and justify the classification given.
- Identify transport as needing portable, energy-dense fuels and link this to petrol, diesel, jet fuel, batteries or hydrogen.
- Identify electricity generation as needing resources that drive turbines or photovoltaic cells, such as coal, gas, nuclear, wind, hydroelectric and solar.
- Identify heating as using natural gas, electricity, solar thermal, geothermal or biomass, and explain why convenience and storage matter.
- Compare at least two resources for the same use, giving an advantage and a drawback for each, such as reliability against emissions or cost against availability.
- Use the demands of each use, including portability, reliability, energy density and environmental impact, to justify the resource chosen.
- Reliability describes how dependably a resource can meet demand at the time it is needed, not simply how much energy it can release in total.
- Fossil fuels, nuclear fuel and biofuels are classed as reliable because they are stored and can be used on demand, independent of weather or time of day.
- Solar, wind and tidal resources are less reliable because their output depends on conditions such as daylight, wind speed and tide cycles.
- Hydroelectric and geothermal supplies are relatively steady, but drought, reservoir levels or local geology can still reduce their reliability.
- A strong answer compares two named resources and explains how far output can be controlled or predicted, rather than listing resources alone.
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, and sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain.
- Nuclear power produces radioactive waste that must be stored safely for long periods, although it releases little carbon dioxide during operation.
- Renewable resources release little carbon dioxide while running, but can affect habitats, landscapes or wildlife, for example wind turbines and birds or dams and flooded valleys.
- Biofuels can be close to carbon neutral because growing plants absorbs carbon dioxide, but they may compete with food crops or lead to deforestation.
- A strong answer names a specific resource, identifies a specific impact and explains how the impact arises, rather than giving a general list.
- Identify the trend from data, stating direction and approximate magnitude, for example renewable electricity rising from about 7% in 2010 to over 40% in 2020.
- Link each trend to a cause such as cost, availability, policy, technology, environmental concern or changing demand.
- Compare patterns between resources or countries, for example fossil fuels dominating transport while electricity generation shifts to renewables.
- Use specific data points from a graph or table to support the explanation rather than making general statements.
- Explain a consequence of the trend, such as reduced carbon dioxide emissions or increased energy security.
- Recognise that trends can change direction, for example coal use falling then rising briefly when gas prices spike.
- Identifies carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels as a greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change.
- Recognises sulfur dioxide from fossil fuel combustion as a cause of acid rain, damaging soils, lakes and buildings.
- States that nuclear power produces radioactive waste requiring safe long-term storage, despite low carbon emissions during operation.
- Describes visual and habitat impacts of renewable resources, such as wind farms, solar farms, hydroelectric reservoirs and tidal barrages.
- Notes that biomass combustion releases carbon dioxide and requires land that could otherwise be used for food or wildlife.
- Compares resources by scale and type of impact, distinguishing local effects such as land use from global effects such as climate change.
- States that scientific methods can identify and measure environmental issues, such as monitoring carbon dioxide levels or radiation.
- Explains that political considerations, such as government priorities, international agreements or public unpopularity, can delay action.
- Explains that economic considerations, such as the cost of renewable technology or of closing fossil fuel plants, can limit what is done.
- Explains that social considerations, such as local opposition to wind farms or concern about jobs, can block solutions.
- Explains that ethical considerations, such as responsibility to future generations or to wildlife, shape which actions are judged acceptable.
- Uses a specific example, such as nuclear waste storage or fossil fuel emissions, to show the gap between identifying and solving an issue.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Group the resources into renewable and non-renewable before writing, so no named resource is missed.
- 💡For comparison questions, give one advantage and one disadvantage for each resource you discuss.
- 💡Link each resource to its energy transfer, for example wave motion driving a turbine, to show understanding rather than recall alone.
- 💡Define renewable in terms of replenishment rate compared with use rate, then give one named example and explain why it fits the definition.
- 💡When comparing resources, use the phrase 'used faster than it is replaced' for non-renewables and 'replaced as fast as it is used' for renewables.
- 💡If asked to evaluate, mention reliability as well as renewability, because a renewable resource can still be unavailable at times.
- 💡Structure answers around the three uses: transport, electricity generation and heating, and give a named resource for each.
- 💡When a question asks for a comparison, link each resource to a specific use rather than describing it in general terms.
- 💡Use correct terms such as 'electricity generation' and 'heating' rather than vague words like 'power' or 'energy making'.
- 💡Learn a concise energy transfer chain for each major source so you can write it quickly and accurately.
- 💡If asked to 'describe', give a continuous account rather than a bullet list of unconnected words.
- 💡Use comparative language such as 'more reliable than' or 'less polluting than' when describing patterns of use.
- 💡Define both terms before giving examples, so the examiner sees the criterion as well as the labels.
- 💡When asked to distinguish, give one clear difference and support it with a named example of each type.
- 💡Check the wording of the question: classify, compare and explain require different depths of response, so match your answer to the command word.
- 💡Structure comparisons around the three named uses so every part of the question is addressed.
- 💡For each comparison, give one advantage and one drawback rather than a one-sided list.
- 💡Use comparative language such as more reliable, less portable or lower emissions to make the comparison explicit.
- 💡Name the resource and state the condition it depends on, for example wind speed for a wind turbine, then say how that affects supply.
- 💡Use comparative language such as more reliable than or less reliable than, because the command word understand rewards clear judgements.
- 💡Link reliability to matching demand, mentioning that stored fuels can be used at peak times while weather-dependent resources cannot be switched on at will.
- 💡Structure each point as resource, impact and cause, for example coal burning releases carbon dioxide, which enhances the greenhouse effect.
- 💡Use comparative phrases such as releases less carbon dioxide than to show the relative size of impacts between resources.
- 💡Include one non-carbon impact, such as habitat loss or radioactive waste, to show a balanced understanding of environmental effects.
- 💡Read the graph axes and key before writing, then quote at least two specific figures in your answer.
- 💡Use comparative connectives such as 'whereas', 'however' and 'therefore' to show the relationship between evidence and cause.
- 💡If asked to explain, always give a because clause linking the trend to a reason, not just a description of the line.
- 💡Name the specific pollutant and its specific effect rather than writing vague phrases such as harms the environment.
- 💡Use comparative language such as more, less, local or global to show judgement between resources.
- 💡Link each issue to the resource that causes it, for example tidal barrages and estuary habitats, to gain credit for detail.
- 💡Use the wording of the question by naming the type of consideration, for example an economic consideration is the cost of building wind farms.
- 💡Give one developed example rather than four undeveloped lists to show the science-to-action gap clearly.
- 💡Finish with a judgement sentence stating why the issue remains unresolved despite the scientific evidence.
Common Mistakes
- Classing nuclear fuel as renewable: correction — nuclear fuel is finite and non-renewable, even though it produces no carbon dioxide during operation.
- Treating bio-fuel as a fossil fuel: correction — bio-fuel comes from recently living material and is renewable, while fossil fuels formed over millions of years.
- Assuming all renewable resources are equally reliable: correction — solar and wind are intermittent, whereas tidal, hydro-electric and geothermal supplies are more predictable.
- Thinking that any natural resource is renewable; correction: a resource is renewable only if it is replenished at least as fast as it is used.
- Believing that renewable means zero environmental impact; correction: renewable resources can still have environmental effects, for example land use for wind farms or flooding for hydroelectric reservoirs.
- Assuming biomass is non-renewable because it is burned; correction: biomass is renewable when the plants or crops are regrown at the same rate as they are used.
- Listing only fuels and forgetting that primary resources are also used to generate electricity; correction: resources like coal, wind and solar are used for electricity generation, which then powers transport and heating.
- Confusing electricity generation with electricity use; correction: generation is the production of electricity in power stations or by generators, while use is what the electricity powers.
- Assuming heating always uses natural gas; correction: heating can use biomass, solar thermal energy or geothermal resources as well as gas.
- Treating 'energy source' and 'fuel' as identical; correction: wind and solar are energy sources but not fuels because they are not burned.
- Describing nuclear power as burning uranium; correction: nuclear fuel undergoes fission, releasing thermal energy without combustion.
- Omitting the final electrical transfer; correction: a full chain for a power station ends with kinetic energy in the turbine transferred to electrical energy by the generator.
- Calling nuclear fuel renewable because it does not produce carbon dioxide when used; correction: nuclear fuel comes from finite uranium stores, so it is non-renewable.
- Treating biomass as non-renewable because it is burned; correction: biomass is renewable when the plants or waste are regrown or continually produced.
- Assuming all renewable resources are harmless; correction: renewable describes replenishment, not absence of environmental impact, so habitats and landscapes can still be affected.
- Claiming one resource is best for all uses; correction: suitability depends on the demands of the use, so comparisons must be context-specific.
- Confusing electricity with a primary energy resource; correction: electricity is a secondary energy carrier generated from resources such as gas, wind or nuclear fuel.
- Ignoring drawbacks of renewable resources; correction: state limitations such as variability of wind and solar or land use for hydroelectric schemes.
- Confusing reliability with cleanliness: a resource can be reliable yet polluting, so state the criterion being judged before giving a judgement.
- Assuming all renewables are unreliable: hydroelectric and geothermal schemes can supply steady output, so avoid sweeping statements about every renewable resource.
- Treating a large total output as proof of reliability: a wind farm may generate much energy across a year yet still fail to match demand on a still day, so link output to the moment of demand.
- Saying renewables have no environmental impact: they release little carbon dioxide in use but can still harm habitats, so describe the specific effect.
- Confusing global warming with acid rain: carbon dioxide is linked to climate change while sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain, so keep the gases and effects matched.
- Ignoring the life cycle: extraction, construction, transport and disposal also cause impacts, so consider stages beyond burning or operation.
- Describing the graph instead of explaining it: writing 'renewables went up' without saying why. Correction: add a cause, such as government subsidies or falling turbine costs.
- Treating all energy resources as interchangeable: assuming a rise in renewables automatically cuts total fossil fuel use. Correction: check whether total demand also rose.
- Ignoring units or scale: saying 'a big increase' when the data show a rise from 2% to 4%. Correction: quote the actual values and percentage-point change.
- Claiming renewable resources have no environmental impact; correction: all energy resources have some impact, for example land use, habitat change or noise.
- Confusing the greenhouse effect with acid rain; correction: carbon dioxide drives climate change, while sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain.
- Stating that nuclear power releases carbon dioxide during operation; correction: its main environmental issue is radioactive waste, not operational carbon emissions.
- Writing that science cannot identify environmental problems; correction: science identifies and measures them, but acting on the findings involves other factors.
- Listing barriers without linking them to a named energy issue; correction: connect each political, social, ethical or economic point to a specific resource or impact.
- Treating all four considerations as identical; correction: distinguish political decisions, economic costs, social attitudes and ethical judgements.