The world relies on a variety of energy sources. In 2018 fossil fuels like gas, oil and coal, comprised over 81 percent of the energy consumed. Renewable energy sources like wind power, solar energy biomass, hydroelectricity, and wind power comprise 14 percent. Nuclear energy is another 5 percent. Different countries utilize different sources of energy to meet environmental and economic requirements.
Nature’s energy can be found in a variety of forms such as wind, sun, waves and ocean. These primary sources can be transformed into more practical energy forms, such as electricity or heat, once they are harnessed. These sources of energy become non-renewable sources of energy when they are exhausted.
Many fossil fuels and some of the other sources of energy that aren’t renewable have been causing environmental harm. For instance mining for oil can destroy the forests of the planet. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can trigger earthquakes as well as water pollution. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately, a lot of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind and hydropower could produce, for instance, electricity without digging for new sources.
Other sources of sustainable energy are emerging, like tidal and wave power. However, to be used on a large scale they must have effective distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energies to build these networks. As a result, these sources aren’t able to provide the bulk of our energy needs. It’s important to remember that the cost of renewable energy equipment has decreased dramatically in recent times and the efficiency is rising.