Energy Sources: Types, Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages

Sports activities scenario includes sector Oumana and the motherland transformed into products, elaborated with collaboration.

Raw Materials

Raw materials: Origin of agricultural products (organic cotton, linen), livestock (skin, wool), and forestry exploitation (cork oak).

Mineral products: Products derived from the earth's crust include metallic minerals (lead, copper, zinc), non-metallic minerals (quartz, sulfur, kaolin), and energy minerals (carbon, petroleum, uranium).

Energy Sources

Sources of energy: Natural resources provide the energy necessary for industry to transform raw materials into products. They are classified into two types according to their duration and preferred use.

By Duration

• Non-renewable: Resources that cannot be replenished at human timescales, such as charcoal, petroleum, and gas.
• Renewable: Inexhaustible resources such as sun, water, and wind.

By Use

• Traditional: Sources used for a long time.
• Alternative: Sources that have only recently been used.

Main Energy Resources

Coal

Coal is a combustible mineral formed through the decomposition of plants underground. It is used to produce electricity and for the manufacture of steel and gas, and to obtain chemical products. Major producers include China, the USA, India, and Russia.

Petroleum

Petroleum is a mineral that is the first mixture of hydrocarbons, formed through the decomposition of plants, organisms, and animals. It is used to obtain fuels, lubricants, asphalt, and more.

• Advantages: Easy extraction and transport.
• Disadvantages: It is a not very renewable resource and is contaminating.

Major producers include Saudi Arabia, the USA, Russia, Iran, and Mexico.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons, and the first of its kind. Its origin is the same as petroleum. It is used to obtain electricity.

• Advantages: High calorific value, low cost, and low contamination.
• Disadvantages: It is a non-renewable resource.

Major producers include Russia, the USA, and Canada.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear fission is obtained by splitting radioactive mineral atoms. It is used to obtain electricity.

• Advantage: High energy yield from small amounts of fuel.
• Disadvantages: Very contaminating waste and risk of accidents.

Countries with major producers and accidents include the USA, France, and Japan.

Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy is obtained from water stored in dams or artificial barriers on natural river courses. It is used to move mills and forges.

• Advantages: Instantaneous, inexhaustible, and clean.
• Disadvantages: Flooding and alteration of rivers.

Major producers include Canada, the EU, Brazil, and China.