Energy

Energy – an introduction

This page, designed for children, gives a good introduction to the topic of energy, and explains what fossil fuels, renewable energy and nuclear energy are.

http://www.jedessine.com/c_16134/lecture/reportages-pour-enfant/les-science

Different types of energy – glossary of terms

Click on any of the terms (énergie géothermique, énergie hydraulique, énergie nucléaire, énergies renouvelables) to get to a short paragraph about it. If you want to look up the meanings of other scientific terms, enter them in the box and click on OK.

http://www.cite-sciences.fr/lexique/index.php?num_page=8&d

Carbon tax

This page gives general information on what is meant by a carbon tax. There are two video clips at the bottom of the page which are good, although the second one is no longer up to date in terms of what is happening in France.

http://www.webzine-impactcc.com/La-taxe-carbone-un-outil-simple

Different types of energy

Click on the picture of the girl on the bike. There follows a series of animated cartoons depicting different types of energy sources, with explanations designed for children that are very good. Click on the arrow at the bottom to go to the next one when you have read the one on screen.

http://www.cea.fr/jeunes/themes/l_energie

Advantages and disadvantages of different forms of energy

There is a resource intended to be used for the game which is quite useful. To get to it, keep clicking the right-hand arrow (some useful information is given along the way if you're interested) until you get to the page with the game itself. On the left-hand side of the screen you'll see a vertical line of little pictures - each one representing a type of energy. (Run the cursor over the picture to see which one it represents). Clicking on any of the pictures takes you to a window with a little explanation of the type of energy, and a list of its advantages and disadvantages (the advantages are at the top on a blue background, and the disadvantages go down the page, the background getting redder as the disadvantage gets more important).

http://www.cea.fr/var/cea/storage/static/fr/jeunes/animation/prodElectricite

Different sources of energy in France

From the site of Les Amis de la Terre. For students wanting to make a special study of energy in France click on any of the links on the right-hand side to get to a whole host of articles.

http://www.amisdelaterre.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=16

Energy issues in the EU

This site for children is worth looking at. In the second section on this page they look at issues relating to energy in the EU.

http://europa.eu/abc/keyfigures/transportenergy/index_fr.htm

Energy and the environment

If you're not scientific and you want a really basic introduction to energy and the environment, then start with this EDF site designed for young school children. Click on Energie et environnement and then scroll through the pages (by clicking on the right-facing arrow at the bottom of the page) to get to lots of simple information. Where you see a + sign you can click on it to get more information.

http://www.edf.com/html/ecole_energie/

Energy in France

Explanation of what energy sources France uses. Click on énergie (in yellow).

http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/kid/

Introduction to energy

If you're not scientific and you want a really basic introduction to energy, then start with this site designed for young school children. Click on L'énergie c'est quoi? and then scroll through the pages (by clicking on the right-facing arrow at the bottom of the page) to get to lots of different information including information on renewable and non-renewable energy. Where you see a + sign you can click on it to get more information.

http://www.edf.com/html/ecole_energie/

European summit on energy 2007

This article resumes what decisions were made and what targets were set at the European summit on energy with reference to the battle against climate change. If you don't have the time to plough through the whole article, look at the section entitle Enjeux, in which you'll find firstly the areas in which agreement was reached on target setting, and secondly the two areas in which not much progress was made.

http://www.euractiv.fr/energie/article/sommet-europeen-sur-lenergie

Nuclear energy

Very concise definition of nuclear energy, explanation of its place in energy production in France, and the potential problems associated with it.

http://www.cite-sciences.fr/lexique/definition1.php?definition=2&id

Nuclear energy and reducing CO2 emissions

This article is not an easy read, but if you're making a special study of the topic, then it has a lot of interesting information here. It deals with the fact that France, along with other EU countries, has to undertake to reduce CO2 emissions. France is wedded to nuclear power and wanted to redefine 'renewable energy' so that it included nuclear power, however they were not successful.

http://www.euractiv.fr/energie/article/lutte-contre-emissions-co2-quel

Safety of EPR nuclear reactor called into question

This short TV news report lasting just under 2 minutes reports on questions that have been raised by regulators in France, the UK and Finland over the control and safety systems in the new-generation EPR (European Pressurised Water Reactor) nuclear reactor being built in France. (Nov 2009).

http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/la-securite-des-reacteurs-nucleaires-epr-mise-

Group against nuclear energy

This is the website of the pressure group 'Sortir du nucléaire' who campaign to try to get France to abandon the use of nuclear power by developing and using alternative methods of energy instead. There is a huge amount of of information here that is well organised under different headings. It's probably best to start by clicking on Pourquoi in the horizontal yellow bar at the top of the page. This will take you to a page with concise arguments against nuclear power. Do browse the site, as the information is well-explained, clear and concise.

http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/

The future of nuclear energy

Seven experts answer the question of whether nuclear energy should be revived. The interviews were conducted in 2002, and appear to be transcripts of spoken answers. This means that some of the language is quite colloquial.

http://www.cite-sciences.fr/francais/ala_cite/science

Management of nuclear waste in France and elsewhere

TV report on the management of nuclear waste in France, and comparing it to other countries around the world. Click on the 3rd link down (histoire d'une loi). Even with Broadband this takes a while to download, so leave it downloading while you do something else. The report is really excellent, and well worth waiting for. The issues are explained and discussed clearly, and most of the people interviewed speak clearly and not too fast.

http://www.debatpublic-dechets-radioactifs.org/documents/audiovisuels.html

Danger of seismic activity and nuclear power stations

Page arguing that since the new map of seismic activity in France has been published (showing that some areas of France previously not associated with seismic activity are in fact more susceptible to earthquakes than previously thought) some nuclear power stations should be closed down as a precautionary measure. The first section resumes the situation as they see it, and then the following sections are extracts from other published material that supports their case. An interesting starting point for any student wanting to make a special study of the problem.

http://www.dissident-media.org/infonucleaire/news_terre.html

Setting up of National Institute of Solar Energy (INES)

Short report on the setting up (July 2006) of a National Institute of Solar Energy (INES) in France. Part of its remit is to help France meet its objective of getting 21% of its energy from renewable sorces by 2010.

http://www.actualites-news-environnement.com/20060704-

Renewable vs non-renewable energy

Click on the fourth picture (les diverses sources d'énergie). Click on each picture in turn to get to a short explanation of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

http://www.cea.fr/jeunes/themes/l_energie

Renewable energy

Click on les energies renouvelables (in the fourth row) to get to a series of short explanations of how energy is extracted from water, the sun and the wind. Ideal for non-scientists! Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page (Suite) each time to get to the next page.

http://www.cea.fr/jeunes/themes/l_energie

Renewable energy in the EU

This video clip is made much easier to access because there is a transcript of it below the video clip. It reports on the progress that Europe is making in moving to renewable energy, and focuses particularly on Spain and France's contributions.

http://fr.euronews.net/2010/04/13/energies-renouvelables-le-tandem

Electricity production from renewable sources

If you're making a study of electricity production from renwable sources throughout the world and want statistics and detailed information then this bilingual (French and English) site is an excellent resource. Click on the links on the left hand side to navigate through the site.

http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/html/inventa

Renewable energy sources

This page has information about renewable sources of energy, and also puts forward the view that France is lagging behind its European neighbours when it comes to promoting renewable energy. It is from the website of the pressure group 'Sortir du nucléaire'.

http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/index.php?menu=sinformer

Energies of the future

Click on L'énergie du futur (second picture in the last row) to get to a series of short explanations for children about the possible types of energy that might be developed in the future. Click on any of the speech bubbles to get to an explanation and click on fermer when you have finished reading the explanations to get back to the original page.

http://www.cea.fr/jeunes/themes/l_energie

Energy efficient house

An interesting interview with a householder in Grenoble who has made every attempt to make their house energy efficient, including using solar panels.

http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/index.php?menu=sinformer&

Electricity

If you're not scientific and you want a really basic introduction to electricity, then start with this site designed for young school children. Click on De l'énergie à l'électricité and then scroll through the pages (by clicking on the right-facing arrow at the bottom of the page) to get to lots of different information. Where you see a + sign you can click on it to get more information.

http://www.edf.com/html/ecole_energie/

Wind energy in France

This webpage provides useful information about wind energy and its uses in France, including the areas in which it is produced the most. For the information you want, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the links that more interest you.

http://www.futura-sciences.com/fr/doc/t/developpement-durable

The future of wind turbines in danger?

Read this summary and listen to the short radio report on the fact that wind turbines in France may be in danger if the government votes in changes in the near future. (April 2010).

http://www.rtl.fr/fiche/5939561296/l-avenir-des-eoliennes-en-france-

Wind energy: harmful for your health or not?

A debate is underway over whether or not wind turbines are a danger to the health of those living nearby. Click on the link to see a video report and an article about their effects and plans for the future.

http://www.rue89.com/planete89/2011/07/30/tachycardie-nausee-le-bruit

Wind turbines

From this Website promoting wind turbines, quite a few facts and figures relating to France and the rest of the world. If you look at some of the other links under the heading Réalités you'll find some more information.

http://www.planete-eolienne.fr/produire_de_l_electricite.html

Wind turbines

This page has questions and answers about renewable energy. In the second column (first two blue questions) you'll see two questions about wind energy. Clicking on those will take you to that section in the text, where they discuss the environmental and economic advantages of wind turbines, and also whether they are very noisy.

Note: just ignore all the numbers in the title of the first question in the body of the page - something has gone wrong and the string of rubbish is replacing the simple apostrophe!

http://www2.ademe.fr/servlet/KBaseShow?sort=-1&cid=96&m=3&

Wind energy from the ocean

A proposal to install windmills in the ocean is going ahead. The exact locations will be announced in August 2010. Click on the link to read more.

http://www.lejdd.fr/Ecologie/Energie/Actualite/Pr

The environment / energy

A fun site full of games related to conserving energy and being environmentally friendly. Click on the little animated creature in the middle of the screen. Then click on Les jeux secrets on the next screen. Then select the little blue picture of the house from the top of the page. The new page has a picture of a house on it, click on maison on the top left of the picture and select a room from the list that appears. In each of the rooms you are asked to click on something that is wasteful (e.g. a dripping tap). When you click on a correct item, a window opens up giving you some general advice (e.g. to do with saving water by not letting taps drip). Each time you find something wasteful you are awarded a leaf in the bottom left-hand corner. Once you have completed this first task there is another one in which you have to find a particular thing hidden by clicking on cupboards etc. Other games follow.

http://www.e-leclerc.com/ptitsreperes/