Title: What are energy resources?
Course: Archive > Section: Energy saving

Energy

What are energy resources?

All life on earth is sustained by energy from the sun. Plants and animals can store energy and some of this energy remains with them when they die. It is the remains of these ancient animals and plants that make up fossil fuels. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are non-renewable. So is the uranium used in nuclear power stations. Non-renewable energy sources are not replaced as we use them. This means they will eventually run out.
Fossil fuels are ready-made fuels. It is relatively cheap to convert them into energy. Coal supplies will last longer than oil or gas. As for nuclear, a small amount of radioactive material produces a lot of energy, but nuclear reactors are expensive to run. Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and needs to be safely stored for hundreds or thousands of years. Burning fossil fuels gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases, and relying on them for energy generation is unsustainable.
While demand for energy rises, non-renewable sources such as oil and coal are running out and scientists are exploring the potential of renewable sources of energy for the future. Renewable energy resources are sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again. Solar, wind and geothermal are potentially infinite energy supply. They are also sustainable ways of generating energy, but the manufacture and implementation of solar panels and wind farms can be costly. Geothermal power stations can also be expensive to set up and only works in areas of volcanic activity. Biomass is a cheap and readily available source of energy, but when burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases. If crops are not replanted, biomass is a non-renewable resource.

The energy gallery

Non-renewable energy sources

Type of energy | Where it is from | Pros | Cons
Coal
fossilised plants
Ready-made fuels.

Relatively cheap to convert them into energy.

Coal supplies will last longer than oil or gas.

A small amount of radioactive material produces a lot of energy.
Give off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.

Nuclear reactors are expensive to run.

Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and needs to be safely stored.
Oil | fossilised animals
Natural gas | methane and other gases
Nuclear | uranium

Renewable energy sources

Type of energy | Where it is from | Pros | Cons
Solar | sunlight | Potentially infinite energy supply. Ready-available. Biomass is cheap. | Manufacture and implementation of solar panels and wind farms can be costly. Geothermal power stations can be expensive to set up and only works in areas of volcanic activity. Biomass gives off atmospheric pollutants when burned.
Wind | wind
Geothermal | natural heat of the earth
Biomass | decaying plant or animal waste

Energy today

Which energy resource is the best?

Solar and wind power are not only safer for the environment, but also potentially limitless, as it’s unlikely that we’ll ever run out of wind or sunlight. But they do depend on windy and sunny days, and, in general, neither of these methods alone could produce and store enough energy to meet all of our needs. That said, there are other kinds too (like wave, tidal and hydropower), and we do need to use renewable sources of energy like these if we are to keep producing electricity once the coal, oil and gas are gone. Especially if we don’t want to use nuclear.

So what’s the answer?

No single method is best – the real solution is probably for each country to use a combination of energy-producing methods best suited to its climate and its energy needs. Britain, for example, could use wind, wave, solar and hydroelectricity, whilst sunny African countries might get by on solar alone.

But for the time being, we’ll probably have to go on using nuclear and gas-fired power stations until the technology for renewable energy can be improved, as, right now, we probably couldn’t meet our energy needs with solar and wind power.