Supply and demand
3 marks · NormalNuclear power stations are used to supply a large proportion of electricity in some countries.
Explain two reasons why nuclear power stations are not suitable for meeting sudden changes in electricity demand.
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(1) Nuclear power stations take many hours to start up and cannot increase or decrease output quickly. (2) The process of starting or shutting down the nuclear reactor is slow and requires extensive safety procedures, so output cannot change rapidly.
Must show: long start-up, slow change in output due to safety/technical reasons
Common mistakes: Focusing only on costs or environmental concerns
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · Mentions long start-up time for nuclear reactors.
B1 · 1 mark · Explains output cannot be changed quickly after start-up.
B1 · 1 mark · Links slow change to safety/technical reasons.
Worked solution
1. Nuclear power stations take many hours to start up, so they cannot meet sudden demand. 2. The nuclear reaction cannot be increased or decreased rapidly due to safety and technical reasons.