Activity 1. Speaking. Try to answer with a partner.
- What was the first energy source?
- Is natural gas a modern energy source or was it used in the antiquity?
- When was the first city lit?
Activity 2. Work in pairs. Have you ever listened about renewable or non-renewable energies? Discuss with a partner their difference and decide a possible definition for each one.
Activity 3. Classify the next sentences in advantages and disadvantages taken into account that some of them are relatedto renewable energy and others to non-renewable energy. Check your previous answers reading the article Renewable and Non-Renewable Energies.
- The non-renewable sources of energy that we are using are limited and are bound to expire one day.
- Renewable sources have low carbon emissions, therefore they are considered as green and environment friendly.
- Non-renewable sources are cheap and easy to use. You can easily fill up your car tank and power your motor vehicle
- Solar energy can be used during the day time and not during night or rainy season.
- Geothermal energy which can be used to generate electricity has side effects too. It can bring toxic chemicalsbeneath the earth surface onto the top and can create environmental changes.
- The speed at which such resources are being utilized can have serious environmental changes.
- Non-renewable sources release toxic gases in the air when burnt which are the major cause for global warming.
- Renewable helps in stimulating the economy and creating job opportunities. The money that is used to build theseplants can provide jobs to thousands to millions of people.
- You don’t have to rely on any third country for the supply of renewable sources as in case of non-renewable sources.
- Renewable sources can cost less than consuming the local electrical supply. In the long run, the prices of electricityare expected to soar since they are based on the prices of crude oil, so renewable sources can cut your electricitybills.
- Non-renewable have little or no competition at all. For eg: if you are driving a battery driven car your battery getsdischarged then you won’t be able to charge it in the middle if the road rather it is easy to find a gas pumpingstation.
- Non-renewable sources will expire some day and we have to us our endangered resources to create more non-renewable sources of energy.
- Since these sources are going to expire soon, prices of these sources are rising day by day.
- To use wind energy, you have to rely on strong winds therefore you have to choose suitable site to operate them.Also, they can affect bird population as they are quite high.
- It is not easy to set up a plant as the initial costs are quite steep.
- Hydroelectric provide pure form of energy but building dams across the river which is quite expensive can affectnatural flow and affect wildlife.
- The sun, wind, geothermal, ocean energy are available in the abundant quantity and free to use.
- Various tax incentives in the form of tax waivers, credit deductions are available for individuals and businesses whowant to go green.
- They are considered as cheap when converting from one type of energy to another.
- You can use small amount of nuclear energy to produce large amount of power.
Activity 4. Watch the video on Renewable Energy Sources and write a text in approximately 200 words about the most important energy source in the future in Spain. You can choose whatever energy source studied in class and you have to explain where it can be found, how it is used, its advantages and disadvantages and why you think it will be important in the future.
Activity 5. Work in groups of 4 students. What do you think are the 5 most important benefits of Renewable Energy for humans? Prepare a 2 to 3 minutes oral presentation to explain your classmates what are the most important benefits you have agreed on and the reasons why you have chosen them.
