Year 7 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 19

Renewable vs Non-renewable Energy

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Learning Goals

Order the steps

Number the events from 1 to 6 to show the correct order of how a solar farm generates electricity and delivers it to homes. Event 1 = what happens first.

OrderEvent
An inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses.
The electrical current flows out of the solar panel and into connecting wires.
The AC electricity travels along transmission lines and is distributed to houses and schools.
Photons (particles of light) from the Sun strike the silicon cells in the solar panels.
Electricity generated by many panels is collected at a central point on the solar farm.
The photons excite electrons in the silicon, causing them to move and create an electric current.

Read the graph

Study the bar chart showing Australia's approximate electricity generation mix in 2024, then answer the questions below.

Australia's Electricity Generation Mix, 2024 (approximate) 0% 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Share of generation (%) 42% Coal 18% Gas 16% Solar 13% Wind 6% Hydro 3% Other RE 2% Other Non-renewable Solar Other renewable Other

Data: Australian Energy Statistics, DCCEW, 2024 (approximate figures)

(a) Which single energy source provides the largest share of Australia's electricity? Approximately how much larger is its share compared to the next biggest source?

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(b) Add up the shares of solar, wind, hydro and other renewables. What percentage of Australia's electricity came from renewable sources in 2024?

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(c) The government's target is 82% renewable electricity by 2030. Using the graph, explain what would need to change significantly in Australia's energy mix to reach this target.

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Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?