The world is awash with a variety of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, accounted for over 81 percent of the energy consumed. Renewable sources such as wind power, solar energy biomass, hydroelectricity, and biomass comprise 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another five percent. Different countries use different sources of energy to meet economic needs and environmental concerns.
Energy is found in nature in a number of forms, including sunlight as well as wind, waves oceans, and more. When harnessed and transformed into more convenient forms of energy, like electricity or heat, these are known as primary sources. These sources are non-renewable resources of energy once they have been exhausted.
Many fossil fuels and some of the other sources of energy that aren’t renewable are damaging the environment. For example mining for oil could degrade the world’s forests. Hydraulic fracture (fracking) can trigger earthquakes and water pollution. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burnt and 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 the need to dig for new sources.
Other sustainable energy sources are gaining momentum, such as the wave and tidal power. But, in order to be utilized on a massive scale these technologies require efficient distribution networks. These need to be built which will require the use of non-renewable energy. These sources aren’t enough to fulfill the majority of our energy requirements. It’s vital to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment has fallen dramatically in recent years and that efficiency is increasing.