Energy Resources and Renewable Sources

Energy Resources

• Energy resources are materials or elements used to produce energy, such as heat, electricity, or mechanical energy.
• These sources are categorized as renewable or non-renewable.

Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy comes from naturally replenishing sources like the sun, wind, and water.
• These resources are sustainable and do not deplete over time, unlike fossil fuels.
• They are environmentally friendly, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar Energy

• Description: Solar energy converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells in solar panels.
• Advantages: Abundant, environmentally friendly, low maintenance after installation.
• Disadvantages: High installation costs, energy production depends on weather and daylight.

Wind Energy

• Description: Wind energy converts the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity using wind turbines.
• Advantages: Sustainable, cost-effective in windy areas, produces no direct emissions.
• Disadvantages: Turbines can be noisy, require specific locations, and may impact bird and bat populations.

Hydroelectric Energy

• Description: Hydroelectric power uses flowing or falling water, often through dams, to generate electricity.
• Advantages: Reliable and renewable energy source, helps with water storage and irrigation.
• Disadvantages: Expensive to build dams, can displace communities, and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

Geothermal Energy

• Description: Geothermal energy is heat energy from the Earth, coming from reservoirs of hot water or steam below the Earth's surface.
• Advantages: Renewable source of energy from the Earth's mantle.
• Disadvantages: High upfront costs; a 1 megawatt capacity plant costs approximately $2-$7 million.

Biomass Energy

• Description: Biomass is a renewable energy source derived from plants or algae.
• Advantages: Zero carbon footprint, releases lower net carbon dioxide emissions than coal or gas.
• Disadvantages: Expensive to gather, transport and store; large-scale electricity production requires considerable land.

Non-Renewable Energy

• Non-renewable energy sources are finite and will eventually run out.
• Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
• Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels

• Description: Fossil fuels come from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago.
• Advantages: High energy density, efficient for power generation.
• Disadvantages: Cannot be replenished on human timescales, depleting over time; burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

Nuclear Energy

• Description: Nuclear energy releases energy from the nucleus of atoms. Two types: fission or fusion.
• Advantages: Low carbon footprint, reliable.
• Disadvantages: Risk of nuclear accidents; radioactive waste is harmful to humans and takes thousands of years to safely dispose of.