Energy Sources: Renewable and Non-Renewable Explained

Energy Sources

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

Energy sources, or energy resources, encompass all materials and processes used by humans to generate primary energy. This energy can be used directly or transformed into other forms.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources are finite resources that are not replenished at the rate they are consumed.

Coal

Coal is a solid, black mineral formed from plant matter buried under layers of earth for millions of years. Earth’s coal reserves are estimated to last approximately 300 years.

Oil

Oil is a widely used energy source derived from microorganisms that lived in the sea millions of years ago. It is extracted by drilling wells onshore or offshore.

Natural Gas

Natural gas often forms alongside oil deposits. It is a mixture primarily composed of propane and butane. It is used in power stations and in homes for cooking and heating.

Uranium

Uranium is a metal that releases significant energy through nuclear reactions. In a nuclear reactor, this energy generates heat, which produces steam to drive a turbine connected to an electric generator.

Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy sources are naturally replenished and sustainable.

Energy from Water (Hydroelectric)

Electricity can be generated from the energy of water in hydroelectric plants.

Solar Energy

Solar energy, derived directly from the sun, can be used as a heat source (solar panels) or to produce electrical energy (photovoltaic panels).

Wind Energy

Wind turbines, consisting of blades that rotate with the wind, are used to generate electricity.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is derived from dead plants, plant residues, forest crops, and water purification byproducts.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy comes from the Earth’s internal heat and can be used to produce electricity or for heating purposes.

Electrical Power Generation

Power plants generate electricity from various energy sources, primarily non-renewable ones. The three common types of power plants are thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric.

Environmental Costs of Energy Production

Pollutant Substances

Pollutants can be categorized as primary or secondary.

• Primary pollutants: Carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.
• Secondary pollutants: Nitric acid, carbonic acid, and sulfuric acid.

Actions of pollutants include acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and oil spills.

Specific Environmental Issues

• Acid Rain: Acids formed from emissions fall to the ground as rain or snow, harming marine and land life and damaging buildings.
• Health Issues: Air pollution causes lung and breathing problems, heart issues, and eye irritation.
• Greenhouse Effect: Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, increasing the natural greenhouse effect.
• Water Pollution: Oil spills from tankers pollute waters and shores.