In most power stations, energy from fossil and nuclear fuels is used to heat water. 

           The steam produced is used to drive turbines. The turbines then drive generators

           which produce electricity.

        Energy from renewable resources can be used to drive turbines directly which then drive

           generators which produce electricity.   

        The following table shows advantages and disadvantages of the use of renewable and non

           renewable energy resources to produce electricity.

 

Energy resources	Advantages	Disadvantages
Fossil fuels	Very reliable.  Generate electricity whatever   the weather.  Quick to generate electricity   any time.	Give out sulphur dioxide which   causes acid rain.  Give out carbon dioxide which   causes greenhouse effect.  Will run out soon.
Nuclear fuel	Very reliable.  Nuclear fuels do not produce   gases that cause the   greenhouse effect and acid rain.   Generates electricity   whatever the weather.	Problems with storing nuclear    waste safely and for a long time.  Risk of accidents.  Will run out.  Capital cost and operating cost   are high.
The wind	Free energy resource.  Renewable.  Does not produce gases that  cause the greenhouse effect and  acid rain.	Turbine noisy and unsightly.  Turbine only works if there is   wind.  To generate enough electricity,   many turbines are needed.
Sunlight	Free energy resource.  Renewable.  The best energy source for   producing electricity in remote    locations (e.g. on satellites) or   where only small amounts of   electricity are needed (e.g. for   watches or calculators).	The amount of electricity   produced by solar cells   (Photocells) depends on the   intensity of light that falls on   them.  Solar cells have a very high cost   per unit of electricity produced   over their lifetime compared to   all other sources of electricity.