# Describe the disadvantages of using renewable energy resources compared to fossil fuels for large-scale electricity generation.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.1.3 National and global energy resources · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Renewable energy resources are unreliable / intermittent
2. Correct example of an unreliable renewable resource (e.g. solar does not work at night or in bad weather / wind only blows intermittently)
3. Renewable resources cannot produce as large an amount of energy as fossil fuels / lower energy output per unit
4. Renewable energy technology has required significant development to harness energy sources efficiently / infrastructure is less established than for fossil fuels

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/describe-the-disadvantages-of-using-renewable-072b4780) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.