Renewable energy
A collection of resources collated for the Design and Technology GCSE, to support the teaching of energy storage and electricity generation from renewable sources.
Energy Generation
This collection of resources provides classroom presentations and activities to engage students in different types of energy generation. Content covered includes renewable and non renewable energy types, environmental impact and provides examples of different types of power stations around the world.
Career Clips: Solar Energy Researcher
This video follows a PhD student as her research into photovoltaic cells takes her to an academic conference in Hawaii. It looks at the use of solar panels to generate a source of renewable energy and provides students with an example of a career path that links to renewable energy generation.
Electricity Generation: Renewables
This film clip shows how steam is used to drive turbines in power stations which burn fossil fuels. It then looks at how turbines can be adapted to be driven by alternative energy sources, and examines the advantages and disadvantages of energy sources such as wind, to solar, biomass, hydroelectric power, tidal and geothermal power.
The Challenge of Solar Power
From Teachers TV, this Inside Science video describes technologies and concepts which are attempting to use solar energy as a renewable source of electricity. One of the world's most visionary solar power plants is near Seville, Spain. This solar plant may be providing all of Seville's electricity needs in the years ahead, by using concentrated solar energy. An engineer at the Seville plant explains how ancient concepts and modern technologies combine to pave the way for endlessly renewable energy from the sun.
Wind Turbine Role Play
There is much debate about reducing greenhouse gases and how renewable energy sources might form part of the answer. Most people agree that renewable energy is a good thing, but how do people react when a wind farm is proposed to be built near them? The following activity puts students into different roles which will influence how they react to the proposed wind farm.
Moja Island
From Practical Action, this 1-2 hour class activity uses the supply of energy for an island community to help students to understand renewable energy options.
Tidal Power
These resources provide up to date information and class activities on the topic of tidal power. Based on cutting edge research and the development of the Severn Tidal Barrage, students gain a valuable insight into the work of engineers in the design of the barrage and the environmental and ethical factors which need to be considered, whilst learning about the application of concepts such as energy transfer and power.
Biomass Renewable Energy Plant
Youtube video showing the processes behind Snetterton renewable energy plant.
"Snetterton Renewable Energy Plant is a biomass-fired power plant in UK, which is primarily fired with straw from local suppliers, and has a capacity of 44.2 MWe. The production is equivalent to the energy consumption of 82,000 households and will result in a yearly CO2 reduction of 300,000 tons."
How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take to Change a Man?
This video features Cambridge University physicist, David Mackay, in a passionate, personal analysis of the energy crisis in the UK, in which he comes to some surprising conclusions about the way forward. He debunks some myths about energy saving – unplugging our phone chargers does not make any appreciable difference. After showing us what will not work, he goes on to show what will make a difference at home, like turning the thermostat down.
