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GCSE Questions: Energy Sources

Q12.A small community of people live in an area in the mountains. The houses are not connected to the National Grid. The people plan to buy an electricity generating system that uses either the wind or the flowing water in a nearby river. Here is a sketch of where these people live.

 

(a) It would not be economical to connect the houses to the National Grid. Give one reason why.

[1 mark]

(b) Here is some information about the two electricity generation systems they could set up:

A wind turbine costs £50 000 to buy and install.

A hydroelectric generator costs £20 000 to buy and install.

The average power output from the wind turbine would be 10 kW.

The hydroelectric generator would produce a constant power output of 8 kW.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods of generating electricity. Use your knowledge of energy sources as well as information given above in your answer.

[6 marks]

(Total 7 marks)