Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources: A Comprehensive Guide

Different Types of Energy and Their Transformation

Energy manifests in various forms and can be transformed from one type to another. This is due to the fundamental principle that matter is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed. Electricity consumption is significant due to its widespread domestic and industrial usefulness.

Sources of Electricity

Electricity generation relies on two main types of energy sources: renewable and non-renewable.

Renewable Energy Sources

• Hydropower: Utilizes the energy of falling water to generate electricity.
• Wind Power: Harnesses the kinetic energy of wind to produce electricity.
• Solar Power: Employs solar radiation to generate energy, including heat and electricity.
• Biomass Energy: Utilizes the energy stored in organic matter like wood and agricultural residues through combustion.
• Tidal Energy: Captures energy from the rising and falling tides by releasing water stored in a reservoir through turbines.
• Wave Energy: Extracts energy from the movement of waves to power generation facilities.
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Exploits temperature differences between surface and deep ocean waters.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

• Thermal Power: Generates electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and petroleum, resulting in gaseous pollutants.
• Nuclear Energy: Obtains energy from nuclear processes, typically through nuclear fission.

Electricity Transport and Distribution

Electricity can be transported as either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). AC is commonly used for home applications due to its ease and cost-effectiveness in long-distance transmission. High-voltage transmission lines minimize energy loss during transport. Transformers reduce voltage for consumption near populated areas.