The world relies on a variety of different energy sources. In 2018, fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, comprised more than 81 percent energy consumed. Renewable sources such as solar energy, wind power biomass, hydroelectricity and biomass make up 14 percent. Nuclear energy is 5 percent. Different countries employ different energy sources to balance the needs of their economy and environmental concerns.
Nature is a rich source of energy in a number of forms: sunlight winds, waves oceans, and more. When harnessed and converted into more efficient forms of energy, like electricity or heat, these are known as primary sources. These energy sources become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
Many fossil fuels and some of the other sources of energy that aren’t renewable are causing harm to the environment. For instance mining for oil may degrade the world’s forests. Hydraulic fracture (fracking) can cause earthquakes and pollution of water. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burnt which causes global warming.
Fortunately some of the most promising sources of energy are renewable and sustainable. Hydropower, solar power and wind for instance, are able to produce electricity without the need to search for new resources.
Tidal and Wave Power are the other sustainable energy sources that are emerging. To be used at large scale, these sources of energy require efficient distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. This means that these sources aren’t sufficient to meet the majority of our energy needs. It’s vital to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment have dropped dramatically in recent years and that efficiency is increasing.