National and global energy resources

The main energy resources available for use on Earth include: fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.

A renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.

The uses of energy resources include: transport, electricity generation and heating.

Students should be able to:
- describe the main energy sources available
- distinguish between energy resources that are renewable and energy resources that are non-renewable
- compare ways that different energy resources are used, the uses to include transport, electricity generation and heating
- understand why some energy resources are more reliable than others
- describe the environmental impact arising from the use of different energy resources
- explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources.

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Descriptions of how energy resources are used to generate electricity are not required.

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Students should be able to:
- consider the environmental issues that may arise from the use of different energy resources
- 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.