DC

ENERGY RESOURCES

ENERGY RESOURCES

  • RENEWABLE ENERGY

  • Can be replenished or regenerated on human time scale. 


  1. Geothermal Energy - thermal energy generated and stored on Earth; the rate of change in temperature with depth is called Geothermal Gradient.


Hot Water > Steam > Turbine/Generator > Cooling Tower > Injection Well


  1. Hydroelectric Energy - generation of electricity by the conversion of energy of running water; energy essentially due to gravity.

  2. Solar Energy - energy coming from the sun or solar power.

  3. Wind Energy - energy coming from the wind or the use of windmills.

  4. Biomass - oldest source of energy which is defined as the biological material derived from living and recently deceased organisms.


  • NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

  • Cannot be replenished or regenerated on human time scale. 


  1. Fossil Fuels - the world’s primary energy source.

  2. Coal 

- Black combustible rock made up of elemental carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and varying amounts of sulfur

- Formed from the remains of plants that once grew in swamps and forests millions of years ago.

  1. Oil 

- Also known as Petroleum which comes from “petra” - rock, “oleum” - oil 

- Naturally occurring liquid composed of complex hydrocarbons found in geological formations beneath the Earth’s surface.


  1. Natural Gas

- Hydrogen mostly made up of methane (CH4) 

- Lighter and more flammable than air. 

- Formed from large quantities of microscopic aquatic organisms such as algae and planktons. 


  1. Nuclear Power Plant - type of power plant that uses the process of nuclear fission in order to generate electricity through the use of nuclear reactors.