4.17 describe the advantages and disadvantages of methods of large-scale electricity production from various renewable and non-renewable resources.

Energy Resource	Advantages	Disadvantages
Fossil Fuels	·          Large amount of energy ·          Doesn’t rely on weather ·          We have lots of fossil fuel  stations built now	·          All fossil fuels release CO2  which is a greenhouse gas ·          Coal & Oil release sulphur dioxide which causes acid rain ·          They will eventually run out
Nuclear Power	·          Doesn’t contribute to global warming ·          Loads of uranium available	·          Nuclear reactors are expensive to build and maintain ·          Produces radioactive waste which is hard to dispose of
Wind Farms	·          Quite cheap to run ·          No polluting waste ·          Renewable	·          They are eye sores & noisy ·          They can’t run if wind is too weak ·          Expensive to build and set up
Geothermal Energy	·          Free and renewable ·          No environmental problems	·          Expensive to drill down 7km ·          Expensive to build a power plant in the right place
Solar Energy	·          Renewable ·          No pollution	·          Can only produce a small amount of electricity ·          Dependant on sunlight
Wave Power	·          No pollution ·          Renewable ·          Low running costs	·          They are eye sores ·          Dangerous for boats ·          Fairly unreliable ·          Initial costs are high