The world has a wide range of different sources of energy. Fossil-based fuels such as natural gas, petroleum and coal–accounted for over 81 % of the energy consumed in 2018. Renewables, like solar power, wind, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries employ different combinations of energy sources, while balancing environmental and economic requirements.
Nature is a rich source of energy in many forms, including sunlight winds, waves oceans and more. When harnessed, and transformed into more convenient go to these guys forms of energy, such as electricity or heat, these are called primary sources. These energies become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
The environment is harmed by a variety of fossil fuels along with other sources of energy that are not renewable. For instance mining for oil could take away the planet’s forests. Fracking (hydraulic fracture) can lead to earthquakes and water pollution. The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately some of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Hydropower, solar power and wind for instance, are able to generate electricity without having to search for fresh supplies.
Other sustainable energy sources are emerging, including waves and tidal power. However, in order to be used on a massive scale these technologies need efficient distribution networks. This requires the use of non-renewable energies to build these networks. These sources are not able to satisfy the majority of our energy requirements. It is important to keep in mind that costs for renewable energy equipment have decreased drastically over the last couple of years, and efficiency is growing rapidly.