The Different Types of Energy
interessante articolo sui biocarburanti
The various forms of energy are the base materials that power is generated. They are converted into secondary forms like fuels and electricity. They are then transferred through various channels to create the power that powers our lives, industries, homes and cars. Energy sources are categorized as renewable and non-renewable.
Renewable (or clean energy) is energy that is produced from sources of natural resources that are continually replenished. Examples include solar power, wind power, water power and geothermal energy. Fossil fuels (coal natural gas and oil), are non-renewable since they form slower than we utilize them.
Solar energy can be harnessed on a single rooftop or in huge solar power plants. It can also be transformed into photovoltaic solar energy which produces electricity directly. Water can be harnessed in order to generate hydropower, or it can be tapped for wave and tidal energy. Geothermal energy is derived from reservoirs of hot water underground. Bioenergy is derived from organic sources, such as woody plants, animal dung and human waste.
Renewable energy is not only eco-friendly, but it is also much less than fossil fuels. The problem is that renewable energy requires a huge infrastructure to harvest and transport energy, which could result in difficult trade-offs due to economic, social and environmental reasons. The development of these technologies continues to increase and they are progressing over the more traditional fuels. In the long term renewable energy may be more cost-effective than oil and coal.
