Different energy sources provide us with the energy we require to live and work. These include solar, wind geothermal, biomass, and geothermal sources. In addition to being an important source of electricity they are also used for heat and transport. The biggest issue with these sources of energy is that they can cause greenhouse gas emissions when burned to generate electricity. This results in the need for more environmentally sustainable energy sources.
Fossil fuels are the most common form of energy. They include coal, oil and natural gas. They were formed millions of years ago when animals and plants of the past passed away and were then buried beneath layers of sedimentary rock. In the proper conditions, they gradually transformed into carbon-rich compounds which, when burned create energy. These fossil fuels will not be renewable, as they’ll become depleted by the time we reach our age, or in many lifetimes.
Renewable energy sources however, are continually replenished. The sun is the most important source of renewable energy, since it supplies heat and light. We use it to power our homes vehicles, businesses, and homes. Wind is an energy source that is renewable and generates electricity through spinning turbines. Since the first people discovered how to harness the wind and harness it, we have been using it for millennia. We also use biochemical processes to create an ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used to create fuel) from waste and crop residues.
Hydropower is by far the most important renewable energy source in the United States, but wind and biofuels will soon overtake it. Hydropower uses the natural water cycle to harness water’s rapid flow, which in turn can be used to produce electricity.
