# A hydroelectric power station and a nuclear power station both generate electricity. Describe the process by which each type of power station generates electricity, and state whether each energy resource is renewable or non-renewable.

> OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249) — P6.2 Producing electricity · Describe · 4 marks

> A government energy adviser is comparing different methods of electricity generation to decide which power stations to build in a mountainous region that also has large uranium reserves.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. In a hydroelectric power station, water moves from a height (using gravitational potential energy) to directly turn turbines.
2. Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy resource.
3. In a nuclear power station, fission of nuclear fuel releases thermal energy, which is used to heat water to produce steam that turns turbines.
4. Nuclear fuel is a non-renewable energy resource.

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