We require various energy sources to work and live. Geothermal, solar, wind and biomass are among the sources. These sources aren’t just major sources of electricity, but they can also be used to heat and transport. They can also emit greenhouse gases when burned to produce electricity. This leads to the need for more green energy sources.
Fossil fuels are the most popular form of energy. They include coal, oil and natural gas. They were formed millions of years ago when prehistoric animals and plants passed away and were then buried beneath layers of sedimentary rock. When the conditions were right they were gradually transformed into carbon-rich compounds which, when ignited produce energy. These fossil fuels are not renewable since they will be exhausted 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 gives light and heat. It is used for our homes as well as for businesses and automobiles. Wind is a different renewable energy source that generates electricity through spinning turbines. We have been using it since we first discovered how to harvest the wind for millennia. We use biological processes create the ethanol (a alcohol-like substance that is clear and transparent which can be used as fuel) from waste and crops.
Hydropower is the largest renewable energy source in America, but biofuels and wind will soon take over. Hydropower draws on nature’s hydro cycle to harness the power of fast-flowing water, which is then used in turn to produce electricity.