The world relies on a variety of energy sources. Fossil fuels–including natural gas, oil and coal–accounted for over 80 percent of the energy consumed in 2018. Renewables, including solar power, wind, biomass and hydroelectricity, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries have different mixes of energy sources, balancing the environmental aspects with economics.
Nature provides energy in many forms: sun, wind, waves and ocean. When harnessed, and transformed into more practical forms of energy, like heat or electricity, these are referred to as primary sources. These energies become non-renewable sources of energy once they have been exhausted.
The environment is damaged by a variety of fossil fuels as well as some other non-renewable sources of energy. Mining oil, for instance can cause the destruction of our forests that are virgin to the earth. Hydraulic fracture (fracking) can trigger earthquakes and water pollution. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
Fortunately there are many promising energy sources are sustainable and renewable. Wind, solar, and hydropower can, for example, generate electricity without digging up new sources.
Other sustainable energy sources are emerging, like wave power and tidal energy. To be utilized on an extensive scale, these technologies require effective distribution networks. These need to be built using a source of non-renewable energy. This means that these sources aren’t able to provide the bulk of our energy requirements. It’s vital to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment have dropped dramatically in recent years and the efficiency is rising.