We require various energy sources to live and work. Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass are some of the sources. These sources are not only major sources of electricity, but they can also be used to heat and transport. They can also emit greenhouse gases when they are burned to create electricity. This means that there is a need for greener sources of energy.
The most common type of energy is the fossil fuels, comprised of coal, oil, and natural gas. They began to form millions and millions of years ago when prehistoric plants and animals died and were covered by layers of sedimentary rock. Under the right conditions they were gradually transformed into carbon-rich substances which, when burned create energy. These fossil fuels will not be renewable as they will be depleted in our lifetimes or in a number of years.
Renewable energy sources however are continuously replenished. The sun is the main source of renewable energy because it is a source of heat and light. It is used for our homes, businesses, and cars. Wind is a different renewable energy source, which generates electricity through spinning turbines. We have been using it since people first began to harness the wind for millennia. We also use biological processes to create ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used to create fuel) from waste and crops.
In the list of sources hydropower is the biggest renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are expected to become the dominant source in the near future. Hydropower makes use of the natural water cycle to harness the power of water’s rapid flow, which in turn is used to generate electricity.