The World Uses a Variety of Different Energy Sources

The world uses many different energy sources. Fossil-based fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal–accounted for over 81 % of the energy consumed in the year 2018. Renewable energy sources, such iDeals Data Room as wind, solar power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy is another 5 percent. Different countries employ different combinations of energy sources, and are able to balance economic needs with environmental concerns.

Nature provides energy in many forms: sunlight winds, waves oceans, and more. When harnessed and converted into more convenient 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.

The environment is damaged by many fossil fuels in addition to other non-renewable sources of energy. For example mining for oil could strip the planet’s pristine forests. Fracking (hydraulic fracture) can cause water pollution and earthquakes. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burnt which causes global warming.

Fortunately, some of the most promising energy sources are sustainable and renewable. Hydropower, solar power and wind, for instance, can produce electricity without having to search for fresh supplies.

Tidal and Wave Power are also sustainable energy sources that are gaining popularity. However, in order to be used on a large scale, these technologies must have effective distribution networks. These must be built which will require the use of non-renewable energy sources. This means that these sources are not yet sufficient to meet the majority of our energy requirements. However, it’s important to keep in mind that costs for renewable energy equipment have decreased significantly in the past couple of years, and efficiency is growing rapidly.