The World Uses a Variety of Different Energy Sources

The world has a myriad of energy sources. Fossil fuels–including natural gas, petroleum and coal accounted for more than 81 % of the energy consumed in the year 2018. Renewables such as solar energy, wind power biomass, hydroelectricity and biomass dal protocollo di kyoto e oltre comprise 14 percent. Nuclear energy is another 5 percent. Different countries employ different energy sources to balance economic needs and environmental concerns.

Nature provides energy in many forms including sun, wind waves, and ocean. When harnessed and converted into more efficient forms of energy, like heat or electricity, they are known as primary sources. These energy sources become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.

Many fossil fuels as well as some of other energy sources that are not renewable have been causing environmental harm. For example mining for oil could strip the planet’s pristine forests. Fracking (hydraulic fracture) could cause water pollution and earthquakes. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.

Fortunately, many of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Hydropower, solar energy and wind power, for instance, can produce electricity without the need to search for new resources.

Tidal and Wave Power are also sustainable energy sources that are gaining popularity. However, in order to be utilized in a large-scale manner these technologies require effective distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energies to build these networks. As a result, these sources are not yet sufficient to meet the majority of our energy requirements. However, it’s important to keep in mind that prices for renewable energy equipment have decreased significantly over the last few years, and the efficiency is rising rapidly.