The world is awash with a variety of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and https://leonardogiombini.it/2019/02/14/interessante-articolo-sui-biocarburanti/ coal, comprised more than 81 percent of energy consumed. Renewables, like solar power, wind, hydroelectricity, and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries employ different sources of energy to meet the environmental and economic demands.
Nature’s energy can be found in a variety of forms like sun, wind waves and ocean. When harnessed and converted into more convenient forms of energy, such as heat or electricity, they are known as primary sources. These energies become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
A lot of fossil fuels and a few of the other energy sources that are not renewable are causing harm to the environment. For instance mining for oil may take away the planet’s forests. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can cause earthquakes as well as water pollution. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burned which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately, some of the most promising energy sources are renewable and sustainable. Wind, solar and hydropower for instance, could generate electricity without having to search for fresh supplies.
Other sources of sustainable energy are emerging, like the wave and tidal power. However, to be used on a large scale, these technologies must have effective distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energy sources to build these networks. As a result, these sources aren’t able to provide the bulk of our energy needs. It’s important to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment have fallen dramatically in recent years and the efficiency of these equipments is growing.
