Natural Resources and Their Destruction

Study Notes

Natural resources support life and provide energy for both living organisms and machines.
They are derived from sunlight or Earth's natural processes.
Sunlight, the only external energy source, is essential for plants and algae (producers) to create food.
Sunlight generates heat, influencing wind patterns, waves, and ocean currents.
Electricity can be generated using harnessed sunlight.

The Philippines utilizes various energy sources, categorized into renewable and non-renewable.
Main energy sources for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao vary in percentage distribution.

Geothermal energy originates from heat produced within the Earth, derived from Greek terms for "earth" and "heat."
It is a renewable energy source, continuously produced from Earth's interior.
Operational geothermal power plants include Tiwi Geothermal Plant and Maibarara Geothermal Plant, among others.

Hydroelectric power, or hydropower, is generated from the energy of falling or moving water.
It is a reliable, mature, and competitive technology for electricity production.
Types of hydropower plants include impounding dams and run-off-river types.
Impounding dams supply energy during peak and off-peak hours, while run-off-river types vary based on watershed water volume.
Kinetic energy from falling water is converted into electrical energy via turbines and generators.
Notable operational hydroelectric power plants include Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant and Binga Dam.

Wind energy is a renewable resource, derived from solar energy, harnessed through wind turbines.
Wind turbines convert wind's kinetic energy into mechanical power, which is then transformed into electricity.
Significant wind energy facilities include Bangui Wind Farm and Caparispisan Wind Farm.

Solar energy is captured through technologies that convert sunlight into electrical energy via photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors.
Photovoltaic cells directly convert sunlight into electricity without emitting carbon emissions.
PV panels can be installed on rooftops for residential use, heating water, or storing energy in batteries.
Operational solar power plants include Calatagan Solar Power Plant and a Solar Farm in Cadiz City.