The world uses many different energy sources. Fossil fuels — including natural gas, petroleum and coal–accounted for more than 81 percent of all energy consumed in 2018. Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar power, hydroelectricity, and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5%. Different countries employ different combinations of energy sources, in order to balance the environmental aspects with economics.
Nature’s energy can be found in a variety of forms like sun, wind waves, and ocean. When harnessed and converted into more practical forms of energy, such as electricity or heat, these are called primary sources. When the energy source is used up, they become non-renewable energy sources.
The environment is damaged by many fossil fuels, along with other non-renewable sources of energy. For example mining for oil can degrade the world’s forests. Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) can result in water pollution and earthquakes. The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately, a majority of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind and hydropower could, for example, generate electricity without digging up new sources.
Tidal and Wave Power are the other sustainable energy sources that are emerging. However, to be used at a large scale these technologies need efficient distribution networks. This requires the use of non-renewable energy sources to build these networks. In the end, these sources aren’t sufficient to meet the majority of our energy requirements. It is important to keep in mind that the costs for renewable energy equipment have dropped significantly in the past few years, and their efficiency is growing quickly.