The world uses many different energy sources. Fossil fuels — including natural gas, petroleum and coal accounted for more than 81 % of all energy consumed in 2018. Renewables, like solar power, wind, hydroelectricity, and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy accounts for another 5 percent. Different countries employ different mixes of energy sources, while balancing the needs of the economy with environmental concerns.
Energy is present in nature in a number of forms, including sunlight winds, waves oceans and more. When harnessed and converted into more convenient forms of energy, such as heat or electricity, they are called primary sources. Once these energies are exhausted, they turn into non-renewable energy sources.
The environment is damaged by many fossil fuels, and also other energy sources that aren’t wikipedia reference renewable. For example mining for oil can degrade the world’s forests. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can cause earthquakes and pollute the water. Carbon dioxide is released when coal is burned which causes global warming.
Fortunately some of the most promising energy sources are renewable and sustainable. Wind, solar and hydropower for instance, are able to generate electricity without having to dig for new supplies.
Other renewable energy sources are emerging, such as tidal and wave power. To be used at a large-scale, these technologies require efficient distribution networks. This requires the use non-renewable energy sources to construct these networks. These sources are not able to provide the majority of our energy demands. It’s important to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment have fallen dramatically in recent years and the efficiency of these equipments is growing.