The world relies on a variety of different sources of energy. Fossil fuels–including natural gas, petroleum and coal accounted for more than 80 percent of the energy consumed in the year 2018. Renewables, such as solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for 14 percent. Nuclear energy is another 5 percent. Different countries employ different types of energy sources, and are able to balance economic needs with environmental concerns.

Nature provides energy in many forms such as wind, sun, waves, and ocean. When harnessed, and transformed into more convenient forms of energy, such as electricity or heat, these ibm solutions in technical and management directions are called primary sources. When those energies are exhausted, they are non-renewable energy sources.

A lot of fossil fuels and a few of the other nonrenewable energy sources are damaging the environment. For instance, mining for oil can destroy the forests of the planet. Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) can lead to earthquakes and water pollution. The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.

Fortunately, a majority of the most promising sources of energy are sustainable and renewable. Solar, wind and hydropower can create, for instance, electricity without digging for new sources.

Other sustainable energy sources are emerging, such as waves and tidal power. In order to be utilized at large scale, these sources of energy need to have effective distribution networks. These must be built using a source of non-renewable energy. In the end, these sources are not yet able to provide the bulk of our energy requirements. It’s vital to remember that the prices of renewable energy equipment have dropped dramatically in recent years and efficiency is growing.