Different energy sources provide us with the power we need to live and work. They include wind, solar and geothermal as well as biomass sources. These sources aren’t only major sources of electricity, but they can also be used for heating and transport. The biggest issue for these energy sources is that they can cause greenhouse gas emissions when used to generate electricity. This creates a need for more sustainable energy sources.
The most common type of energy is the fossil fuels, made up of coal, oil, and natural gas. They were formed millions of years ago when prehistoric plants and animals died and were covered by layers of sedimentary rock. In the right conditions the fossil fuels slowly transformed into carbon-rich materials which, when ignited create energy. These fossil fuels cannot be recycled because they will run out in our lifetimes, or in many lifetimes.
Renewable energy sources, on the other hand are continuously replenished. The most important renewable energy source is sunlight, which supplies heat and light. We utilize it for our homes, businesses, and cars. Wind is a different renewable energy source that generates electricity by spinning turbines. We have been using it since we first began to harness the wind for millennia. Finally, we use biochemical processes to create an ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used as a fuel) from waste and crops.
Among these sources hydropower is by far the most important renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are likely to be the next to take over. Hydropower makes use of the natural water cycle to harness water’s swift flow, which in turn can be used to produce electricity.
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