Different energy sources supply us with the power we need to live and work. These include solar, wind and geothermal as well as biomass sources. These sources aren’t only an important source of electricity, but they can also be used to heat and transport. These energy sources produce greenhouse gases when used to generate electricity. This leads to the need for more sustainable energy sources.
Fossil fuels are the most common type of energy. They include oil, coal and natural gas. They were formed millions of years ago when prehistoric plants and animals died and were covered by layers of sedimentary rock. When the conditions were right these fossil fuels gradually transformed into carbon-rich compounds that, when burned generate energy. These fossil fuels are non-renewable since they will be exhausted in our lifetimes or even in a number of lifetimes.
Renewable energy sources are constantly replenished. The sun is the most important source of renewable energy as it provides both warmth and light. We use it for our homes as well as for businesses and automobiles. Wind is a different renewable energy source, which generates electricity through spinning turbines. We have used it since humans first discovered how to harvest the wind for millennia. Finally, we use biochemical processes to create alcohol (a clear alcohol that can be used to create fuel) from crops and waste.
Among these sources hydropower is the most significant renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are predicted to become the dominant source in the near future. Hydropower draws on nature’s hydro cycle to harness the power of swiftly flowing water, which is used to generate electricity.