Energy sources can be broadly classified into two
categories: conventional and non-conventional (often referred to as renewable).
- Conventional
Energy Sources: These are traditional energy sources that have been
used for many years and form the majority of our current energy mix. They
are usually non-renewable and include:
- Fossil
Fuels: This includes coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels are
formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of
years ago. They are burned to produce heat, which can be used directly or
converted into electricity.
- Nuclear
Energy: This is produced by nuclear reactions, either through nuclear
fission (splitting atomic nuclei) or nuclear fusion (combining atomic
nuclei). Currently, all commercial nuclear power plants use nuclear fission,
typically of uranium or plutonium.
- Non-Conventional
(Renewable) Energy Sources: These are newer sources of energy that are
continually replenished and are generally more sustainable. They include:
- Solar
Energy: This is energy from the sun. It can be harnessed using solar
panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity.
- Wind
Energy: This is generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind
into electrical energy using wind turbines.
- Hydro
Energy (Hydropower): This is produced by converting the energy of
moving or falling water into electricity using a turbine and a generator.
- Geothermal
Energy: This is heat energy from the Earth's interior, which can be
used to produce electricity or to heat and cool buildings.
- Biomass
Energy: This is produced by burning organic materials like wood,
agricultural crops, or organic waste. It can also be converted into other
fuel forms like ethanol and biodiesel.
- Tidal
and Wave Energy: These are forms of hydropower that convert the
energy of tides and ocean waves into electricity.
Non-conventional energy sources are becoming increasingly
important due to concerns about climate change and the environmental impacts of
conventional energy sources. Many of these renewable energy sources produce
little to no greenhouse gas emissions and have a much smaller environmental
impact than conventional sources.