Diverse energy sources provide us with the energy we require to live and work. These include solar, wind and geothermal as well as biomass sources. In addition to being a major source of electricity, these sources can also be used to transport and heat. The main issue with these energy sources is that they could cause greenhouse gas emissions if they are burned to generate electricity. This leads to the need for more sustainable energy sources.
The most commonly used type of energy is the fossil fuels, which include coal oil, natural gas. They were formed thousands of years ago when prehistoric animals and plants passed away and were buried under layers of sedimentary rocks. When the conditions were right the fossil fuels gradually transformed into carbon-rich substances which, when burned generate energy. These fossil fuels cannot be recycled as they will run out in our lifetimes, or in many lifetimes.
Renewable energy sources are replenished regularly. The sun is the largest source of renewable energy, as it provides both heat and light. We use it to power our homes vehicles, businesses, and homes. Wind is an energy source renewable that produces electricity by spinning turbines. We have used it since humans first began to harness the wind for millennia. Finally, we use biological processes to create an ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used as a fuel) from waste and crop residues.
As a result hydropower is the most significant renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are expected to become the dominant source in the near future. Hydropower relies on nature’s cyclic water cycle to harness the power of fast-flowing water, which is then used in turn to produce electricity.