Energy

Sources of Energy - Upload Knowledge

If we are going to move away from using fossil fuels for energy, the Union of Concerned Scientists explains that no single solution can meet our needs. Instead, we need to rely on a diverse group of clean and renewable energy technologies. Thankfully, we already have a diverse group of these technologies available right now including solar, wind, geothermal, and to some extent, biomass. However, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, only 7% of our energy currently comes from these sources.

The rest of our energy production is heavily polluting the air, with the exception of nuclear power, which only indirectly pollutes the air, but which produces extremely hazardous by-products. According to Power Scorecard, electricity generation in the United States currently produces 63% of our nation’s sulfur dioxide emissions, which contributes to acid rain and respiratory problems, 33% of our mercury emissions which is linked with neurological and developmental disorders, and then a huge portion of our greenhouse gas emissions with 22% of the nation’s nitrous oxide emissions and 39% of the carbon dioxide emissions.

One of the keys to increasing the use of these alternative energy technologies is to spread education about them and explain why these technologies are actually effective. Also, if you’re thinking about buying “green” power from your school’s utility company or investing in an on-site renewable energy source, it’s important to learn the pros and cons of each energy source’s economic impacts and environmental impacts. In this section, we will guide you toward understanding the basics of how the clean and renewable technologies work, as well as more controversial energy technologies, and upcoming technologies. We’ll also explain why different renewable technologies are appropriate to different regions of the country.

Renewable & Cleaner energy sources:
     Biomass
     Geothermal
     Solar
     Wind
     Hydro
Controversial Energy Sources being touted as clean:
     Coal & Clean coal
     Nuclear
Standard Non-renewable energy sources:
     Oil & Natural Gas
Some other upcoming technologies for energy generation, transportation, and storage:
     Fusion Energy
     Hydrogen & Fuel Cells