Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Renewable Energy

A source of energy that can be replaced when needed easily.

Nonrenewable Energy

A source of energy that cannot be replaced once used.

Solar Energy

Heat from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

Hydropower

Electricity generated from the energy of moving water

Wind Power

power obtained by harnessing the energy of the wind.

Biomass Energy

renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol

Geothermal Energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from the Earth

Nuclear Power

electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor.

Coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material burned to produce energy.

Natural Gas

A gas with high methane content, found along with various fossil fuels and is used as a fuel.

Petroleum Products

anything that is made from crude oil, such as fuels, chemicals, and plastics

Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids

occur as liquids under higher pressures and as gases at atmospheric pressure. They are found in crude oil and natural gas, which consist of mixtures of hydrocarbons (molecules of carbon and hydrogen).

Pros of Solar Power

-will never run out

-generates less pollution

-can use anywhere there is sun

Cons of Solar Power

-weather dependent

-expensive

-toxic materials used to make panels

Pros of Hydropower

high efficiency (80%), cheap electricity, low pollution, flood control, water source, recreation

Cons of Hydropower

expensive, floods area, fills with sediment, stops critter migration

Pros of Wind Power

-will never run out

-generates less noise pollution

-fairly low set up and maintenance costs

Cons of Wind Power

• intermittent source

• not enough wind everywhere

• bird mortality

• power lines needed to transmit the electricity

Pros of Geothermal Energy

high efficiency, low cost, low impact

Cons of Geothermal Energy

Patterns of geothermal activity shift

Water contains salts and minerals that corrode equipment, Hard to transport

Pros of Biomass Energy

-Easy to get

-Low Cost

Cons of Biomass Energy

-Taken from the environment

-Can give off harmful gas

-Bad for Ozone

Pros of Nuclear Power

-Low pollution

-Low operating cost

-More proficient than fossil fuels

-Always available

Cons of Nuclear Power

-High cost to build

-Nuclear Accidents

-National Risk

-Radiation

Pros of Coal Power

cheap; abundant; efficient

Cons of Coal Power

pollution; dangerous to mine

Pros of Natural Gas

Inexpensive, clean, no waste, better for cooking and fuel

Cons of Natural Gas

expensive to move, dangerous, still pollutes

Pros of petroleum

relatively cheap, easily transported, high-quality energy

Cons of petroleum

reserves will be depleted soon; pollution during drilling, transport and refining; burning makes CO2