Renewable energy resources
3 marks · NormalThe table shows the start-up cost and annual electricity output for different renewable energy resources used in a town.
| Resource | Start-up cost (thousand $) | Annual output (MWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Wind turbine | 80 | 180 |
| Solar farm | 60 | 100 |
| Hydroelectric | 150 | 350 |
Which resource gives the highest annual electricity output?
Which resource has the lowest start-up cost per 1 MWh annual output? Show your working.
Work this out on paper, then compare with the answer and worked solution below. With a free account you can submit written answers for marking.
Show answer
(a) Hydroelectric
(b) Hydroelectric. Cost per 1 MWh = 150/350 = $0.43 (thousand) per 1 MWh.
Show mark scheme and worked solution
Marking points
A1 (a) · 1 mark · Correctly selects hydroelectric.
M1 (b) · 1 mark · Divides start-up cost by annual output for each resource.
A1 (b) · 1 mark · Correct answer: hydroelectric is cheapest per 1 MWh ($0.43 thousand per 1 MWh).
Worked solution
a) Hydroelectric gives the highest annual output (350 MWh). b) Wind: 80/180 = 0.444, Solar: 60/100 = 0.60, Hydroelectric: 150/350 = 0.43. Hydroelectric is lowest per MWh.