The world is awash with a variety of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels such as web link oil, gas and coal, were responsible for over 81 percent of the energy consumed. Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind power hydroelectricity and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries use different sources of energy to meet the needs of their economy and environmental concerns.
Energy is present in nature in many forms: sunlight winds, waves oceans, and more. When harnessed and converted into more convenient forms of energy, like heat or electricity, they are known as primary sources. These energies become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
Many fossil fuels as well as some of the other sources of energy that aren’t renewable can be harmful to the environment. For instance, oil mining can devastate the forest ecosystems of the planet. Fracking (hydraulic fracture) could cause earthquakes and water pollution. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burned which causes global warming.
Fortunately, a lot of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind, and hydropower can, for example, generate electricity without the need to dig up new sources.
Other sources of sustainable energy are emerging, including waves and tidal power. To be utilized on a large-scale, these technologies require efficient distribution networks. This requires the use of non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. These sources aren’t able to provide the majority of our energy needs. It is important to be aware that prices for renewable energy equipment have dropped drastically over the last couple of years, and efficiency is growing quickly.