The world has a wide range of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels, like gas, oil and coal, made up over 81 percent of the energy consumed. Renewable sources such as solar power, wind power, biomass, and hydroelectricity are responsible for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another five percent. Different countries employ different energy sources to balance the environmental and economic demands.
Energy is present in nature in a number of forms: sunlight and wind, waves, oceans and more. These primary sources are transformed into more convenient forms of energy, like heat or electricity, when they are harnessed. Once these energies are used up, they become non-renewable energy sources.
The environment is damaged due to a wide range of fossil fuels along with other sources of energy that are not renewable. For instance mining for oil can destroy the forests of the planet. Fracking (hydraulic fracture) can result in earthquakes and water pollution. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.
Fortunately, a lot of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind, and hydropower can create, for instance, electricity without the need to dig for new sources.
Other sources of sustainable energy are emerging, such as waves and tidal power. In order to be utilized at an enormous scale, these technologies require effective distribution networks. They must be constructed which will require the use of non-renewable energy. These sources aren’t enough to meet the majority of our energy needs. It is important to be aware that prices for renewable energy equipment have decreased significantly in the past few years, and efficiency is growing quickly.