The world uses many different energy sources. Fossil fuels–including natural gas, oil, and coal accounted for more than 81 % of all energy consumed in the year 2018. Renewables, including wind, solar power, biomass and hydroelectricity, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy is responsible for another 5%. Different countries employ different types of energy sources, balancing economic needs with environmental concerns.
Energy is present in nature in many forms, including sunlight as well as wind, waves oceans and more. When harnessed and transformed into more efficient forms of energy, like heat or electricity, these are referred to as primary sources. When these energy sources are exhausted, they turn into non-renewable energy sources.
A lot of fossil fuels and a few of the other energy sources that are not renewable can be harmful to the environment. For example mining for oil may strip the planet’s pristine forests. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can trigger earthquakes and water pollution. The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately, the majority of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind, and hydropower can generate, for instance electricity without digging for new sources.
Other sources of sustainable energy are emerging, including tidal and wave power. To be utilized on a large-scale, these technologies need to have effective distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. These sources aren’t enough to meet the majority of our energy requirements. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the costs for renewable energy equipment have decreased significantly over the last few years, and their efficiency is growing quickly.
