Electricity supplies
Web Guides
The headings in this guide come from the specification for the course.
NOTE: Many of the web sites mentioned in the Using Fuels section will also prove useful here.
1. The generation of electricity - Renewable energy sources
Lots of information here on wind power, where it is used, the technology utilised...together with useful 'What's new' bulletins from the British Wind Energy Association. The Renewable Power Association provides a good overview of renewable sources in the UK.
Many countries are now looking to renewable energy and the CADET Renewable Energy - International Demonstration Projects site provides examples of renewable energy technology from around the world. It also gives access to technical brochures and useful newsletter articles. It is an excellent reference source.
To see a number of renewable energy resources in action you would do well to take a virtual tour of the Centre for Alternative Technology, or of course visit for real by going to Machynlleth, Powys, in Wales.
The US Department of Energy - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (EREN) site gives details of current research and development in renewable energy in the US.
For an excellent set of factsheets on renewable energy the Texas State Energy Conservation site is ideal.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) - US Department of Energy is a US Government resource looking at energy efficiency and renewable energy.
2. The generation of electricity - The UK electricity supply industry
The Association of Electricity Providers gives basic information on the supply of electricity in the UK.
The DTI publishes Energy in Brief, which includes statistics on all aspects of energy in the UK presented in an accessible form.
To boost the overall efficiency of power stations the technique of combined heat and power is sometimes used. The 'Combined Heat and Power Association' site provides information on the use of combined heat and power (CHP) in the UK.
3. Economic, social and environmental considerations determining method of generation of electricity in the UK
The UK government published an important white paper in 2003 called Our Energy Future.
WWF has published a report on the potential for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions based on different scenarios for electricity generation.
Much of the debate of recent years surrounding the generation of electricity has centred on nuclear power. If you would like to know more about nuclear power plant design, operation, potential, pollution, accidents etc. then the Virtual Nuclear Tourist! Nuclear Power Plants Around the World site is well worth looking at.
The campaigning organisation Greenpeace have listed on this site all the nuclear accidents that they have details of. You will need to enter "nuclear accidents' in the search box. Does it shock? Do you think it was meant to? Did you expect a longer list?
A well documented comparison of the costs of nuclear and renewable energy sources in the report 'Mirage or Oasis' by the New Economics Foundation.
Another campaigning organisation The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research - Where Science and Democracy Meet deals predominantly with issues surrounding nuclear power and the environment and is also worth referring to on such matters.
The nuclear industry has its points of view too and the BNFL(formerly British Nuclear Fuels Limited) and NIREX sites provide their comments on nuclear power and waste management.
4. Economic, social and environmental considerations determining method of generation of electricity in a low-income country
The World Energy Assessment Report, Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability, gives a wide-ranging international overview including specific discussion of the particular issues of rural energy supplies in developing countries.
The World Energy Council provides information on the main sources of energy in each country in the World.
For tables of data on energy supplies in different countries in Africa see AFREPREN, the African Energy Policy Research Network.
For local news stories on rural energy projects from Africa search the All Africa site.
A New Economic Foundation report, 'The Price of Power' includes case studies of local projects in different low income countries.
The World Commission on Dams provides a detailed analysis of the benefits and costs of large scale dams.