National and global energy resources

The main energy resources available for use on Earth include: fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), nuclear fuel, biofuel, wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.

A renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be) replenished as it is used.

The uses of energy resources include: transport, electricity generation and heating.

Non-renewable - Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, gas) - Nuclear Fuel

Renewable - Biofuel - Wind - Hydroelectric - Geothermal - Tidal - Solar - Water waves

Renewable energy is energy which can be replenished as it is used (e.g. wind will never stop).

- Non-renewable energy is used more for large-scale energy supplies due to the large energy output per kilogram of fuel – renewable resources cannot provide such a large amount of energy as easily.

Environmental Impact - Extraction of Energy:

• Fossil fuels involve destroying landscapes

• Wind turbines can be considered an eyesore -

Use of Energy Sources:

• Fossil fuels release harmful emissions

• Solar, wind directly create electricity with no emissions

Patterns and Trends of Energy Use:

- During industrial revolution, fossil fuels became an important source of energy as it was easy to mine, and provided a lot of energy

- Only recently has renewable energy become more suitable – technology has had to develop a lot since industrial revolution to be able to harness such energy sources efficiently

- It is easier to use energy resources due to increasing pressure to cope with the public’s increasing power demands but harder to solve environmental issues due to political, social, ethical and economic considerations