Sources of Energy

Fossil Fuels

These are formed from ancient plants and animals that lived and were buried millions of years ago. It provides 90% of the world’s energy supply

Non-Renewable Resources

once they are used up, they cannot be replaced (coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy) they are limited supply and they cannot be used sustainably

Coal

they are mostly used as a source of fuel for power stains

Coal

found where forest trees, plants, and marshes existed before being buried and compressed millions of years ago

Anthracite (97%-86%)

• hard, brittle and black

• has high percentage of fixed carbon

• low percentage of volatile materials

Bituminous (85%-45%)

• high heating value and used to generate electric

• shiny and smooth at first glance but it has layer closely seen

• used in steel making

Subbituminous (45%-35%)

• black in color and dull

• has higher heating value than lignite

• fuel for steam-electric power generation

Lignite

• brown coal

• lowest grade of coal

• has lowest concentration of carbon

Oil/Petroleum (crude oil)

• found from algae buried in mud at the bottom of the sea and lakes

• used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating, asphalt and road oil, and feedstocks for making the chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials

Natural Gas

• naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas with mixture of methane

• from sedimentary rocks formation by forcing chemicals, water, and sand down a well under high pressure

• heating, cooking, and electricity

Renewable Sources

can naturally replenish themselves

Solar Energy

energy from the sun that is captured by solar panels, then it turns it into electricity (with inverter)

Wind Energy

wind turbines/mills capture the wind’s energy and turn it into electricity

Geothermal Energy

heat that comes from the Earth (not rocks) is turned into steam then into electricity

Hydropower

uses dams to collect water, then it flows through turbines then to electricity

Biomass

organic materials (wood, plants, waste) are burned to release energy and turn it into biogas

Nuclear Energy

tiny particles inside an atom are split apart (nuclear fission) released energy that generate electricity