# A remote mountain village currently uses a diesel generator to produce electricity. The village council is considering switching to a geothermal power station. Describe two advantages and one disadvantage of using geothermal energy compared with burning fossil fuels such as diesel to generate electricity.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1) — 4.3 Energy resources and electricity generation · Describe · 4 marks

> Geothermal power stations use heat energy from the Earth's core to generate electricity. Diesel is a fossil fuel.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Advantage 1: geothermal energy is renewable / can be replenished whilst it is being used, whereas fossil fuels are non-renewable / will eventually run out
2. Advantage 2: geothermal energy does not release greenhouse gases / does not cause global warming, whereas burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases which cause global warming
3. Disadvantage: geothermal power stations can only be built in locations where geothermal heat is accessible / not available everywhere / limited to geologically active areas
4. Disadvantage developed OR additional comparative point: fossil fuels / diesel can be transported to any location and used anywhere, making them more flexible for remote or geologically unsuitable areas

## Key terms

- [fossil fuels](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/fossil-fuels)
- [geothermal energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/geothermal-energy)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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