The world uses a variety of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels like gas, oil and coal, made up more than 81 percent of energy consumed. Renewables, including solar power, wind power hydroelectricity, and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy contributes another 5 percent. Different countries use different combinations of energy sources, and are able to balance economic needs with environmental concerns.
Nature provides energy in many forms including sun, wind waves, and ocean. When harnessed and transformed into more practical forms of energy, such as electricity or heat, these are called primary sources. These sources of energy become non-renewable sources of energy when they are exhausted.
A lot of fossil fuels and a few of the other nonrenewable energy sources are damaging the environment. For example, mining for oil can strip the https://leonardogiombini.it/2021/07/05/generated-post/ planet’s pristine forests. Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) could cause earthquakes and water pollution. The burning of coal releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.
Fortunately, a lot of the most promising sources of energy are renewable and sustainable. Solar, wind and hydropower could generate, for instance electricity without digging up new sources.
Other renewable energy sources are emerging, such as wave power and tidal energy. In order to be utilized at an extensive scale, these technologies require efficient distribution networks. This requires the use of non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. Therefore, these sources are not yet enough to supply the majority of our energy needs. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that costs for renewable energy-related equipment have fallen significantly over the last couple of years, and efficiency is rising rapidly.