The world is awash with a variety of energy sources. Fossil fuels — including natural gas, petroleum and coal–accounted to more than 81 percent of all energy consumed in 2018. Renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind power, biomass, and hydroelectricity make up 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries use different sources of energy to meet environmental and economic requirements.
Energy is found in nature in many forms: sunlight winds, waves ocean and many more. When harnessed and transformed into more efficient forms of energy, like heat or electricity, they are called primary sources. These energy sources become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
Many fossil fuels and some of the other nonrenewable energy sources are damaging the environment. For instance, oil mining, can destroy the forest ecosystems of the planet. Hydraulic fracture (fracking) can cause earthquakes and pollution of water. The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately, some of the most promising sources of energy are renewable and sustainable. Hydropower, solar power and wind for instance, could produce electricity without the need to search for new sources.
Other renewable energy sources are emerging, like tidal and wave power. To be used on a large-scale, these technologies require efficient distribution networks. This requires the use of non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. In the end, these sources aren’t enough to supply the majority of our energy requirements. It is important to be aware that prices for renewable energy equipment have come down drastically over the last few years, and their efficiency is growing quickly.