We require different sources of energy to work and live. They include wind, solar and geothermal as well as biomass sources. These sources are not only the primary source of electricity, but they can also be used for heating and transport. The main challenge with these sources of energy is that they can cause greenhouse gas emissions if they are burned to produce electricity. This creates a need for more green energy sources.
Fossil fuels are the most widely used type of energy. They comprise oil, coal and natural gas. They were formed thousands of years ago when prehistoric animals and plants died and were buried under layers of sedimentary rocks. In the right conditions, these fossil fuels were slowly transformed into carbon-rich materials which, when ignited create energy. The fossil fuels cannot be renewable because they will be depleted in our lifetimes, or in many lives.
Renewable energy sources, on the other hand are constantly replenished. The most important renewable energy source is sunlight, which gives warmth and light. We utilize it for our homes as well as for businesses and automobiles. Wind is another renewable energy source that generates electricity by spinning turbines. Since the first time people realized how to harness the wind we have been utilizing it for millennia. We utilize biological processes to create ethanol (a alcohol-like substance that is clear continue reading this and transparent that can be used as fuel) from the waste of crops and other materials.
Of all these sources hydropower is by far the most important renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are likely to take the lead soon. Hydropower relies on nature’s cyclic water cycle to harness the power of fast-flowing water, which is used for electricity generation.