Different Energy Sources
We require various energy sources to live and work. These include wind, solar geothermal, biomass, and geothermal sources. In addition to being an important source of electricity, these sources can also be used for transport and heat. These energy sources can emit greenhouse gases when they are used to generate electricity. This creates the need for more sustainable sources of energy.
The most common kind of energy is fossil fuels, made up of coal oil, natural gas. They were formed millions of year ago when prehistoric animals and plants died and were buried under layers of sedimentary rocks. If the conditions were right they were gradually transformed into carbon-rich compounds that, when burnt generate energy. They are not renewable because they will run out within our lifetimes or in a number of lifetimes.
Renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are continually replenished. The most important renewable energy source is sunlight, which supplies heat and light. We use it to power our homes and businesses and to drive our vehicles. Wind is renewable energy source that produces electricity by spinning turbines. Since the first time people realized how to harness the wind we have been utilizing it for millennia. Finally, we use biochemical processes to create ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used as a fuel) from crops and waste.
Hydropower is the most important renewable energy source in America, however wind and biofuels will soon surpass it. Hydropower makes use of the natural water cycle to harness the power of water’s rapid flow, which in turn is used to produce electricity.