We require a variety of energy sources to live and work. Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass are a few of the sources. In addition to being the primary source of electricity they can also be used to transportation and heating. The main issue with these energy sources is that they could cause greenhouse gas emissions when they are burned to produce electricity. This leads to the need for greener sources of energy.
Fossil fuels are the most popular form 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 beneath layers of sedimentary rocks. If the conditions were right, these fossil fuels were slowly transformed into carbon-rich materials that, when burnt create energy. These fossil fuels will not be renewable as they will run dry in our lifetimes or over the course of many lives.
Renewable energy sources however are constantly replenished. The primary renewable energy source is sunlight, which gives light and heat. It is used for our homes vehicles, businesses, and homes. Wind is another renewable energy source, which produces electricity by spinning turbines. We have been using it since people first began to harness the wind for millennia. We use biological processes create an ethanol (a alcohol-like substance that is clear and transparent that can be used as fuel) from waste and crops.
Hydropower is the most important renewable energy source in America, but wind and biofuels will soon surpass it. Hydropower relies on nature’s cyclic water cycle to harness the power of flowing water, which is then used in turn to generate electricity.
