As quickly as you can, identify what energy source is in the photo, decide if it’s renewable or non-renewable and note it in your book.

Wind farms for energy

The Co-operative Farms – committed to green energy. In 2005, The Co-operative built an eight-turbine wind farm at Coldham in Cambridgeshire.It can provide enough power to supply around 9,000 homes each year.Each turbine costs around £2 million.

Should you invest in more wind farms or invest in another energy resource?

Analyse the dataWind speed (m/s)

Power (MW)

0 0

2 0

4 0.1

6 0.5

8 1

10 1.6

12 1.9

14 2

16 2

18 2

20 2

22 2

The power output of one of the Coldham wind turbines was measured at different wind speeds.

Draw a suitable chart to display the data.

What does it show?

The turbine starts generating electricity at a wind speed of around 4m/s

An increase of wind speed above 14 m/s will not increase the power.

The turbine reaches its maximum power output of 2 MW at a wind speed of 14 m/s

GeothermalHot rocks under the earth’s crust turn water into steam to drive a turbine.

HydroelectricityFalling water turns a turbine.

SolarLight energy from the sun can be converted directly into electricity.

TidalMotion of tides used to turn turbines.

WaveMotion of waves used to generate electricity.

BiomassOnce-living matter (e.g. wood) is burnt.

Your final task!

Working on your own, write a paragraph saying why your group’s choice of renewable energy is a good option for the UK.