Sources of Energy
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
Energy is essential for human life to exist on our planet. It is the usage of energy that gives us electricity, furniture, utensils, cooking gas, roads, etc. The resources that we use to extract energy from are referred to as the sources of energy. Sunlight, rivers, and wind are sources of energy. However, we tend to use fossil fuels like coal and petroleum more frequently than sunlight or wind as energy sources. This has to do with a few characteristics that a good energy source should come with. Coal and petroleum rates high on these characteristics when compared to sunlight and wind energy.
Characteristics of a Good Source of Energy
A good energy source should have the following characteristics:
A good energy source should have a high calorific value, which means the output energy should be more than the input energy.
Easily accessible.
Economical.
It can be stored and transported with ease.
It should be safe to use.
Types of Sources of Energy
There are two types of energy sources:
Renewable Sources of Energy: Renewable sources of energy are that source of energy that comes from natural processes and hence, gets replenished all the time. Examples of renewable sources of energy are solar (sun) energy, tidal energy, wind energy, etc. They are also called non-conventional sources of energy.
Non-renewable energy - Non-renewable energy sources are generally referred to as fossil fuels, namely, coal, natural gas, and petroleum. These fossil fuels will be exhausted within a few centuries and cannot be regenerated. However, human beings are heavily dependent on fossil fuels even now, and it accounts for about 80% of our energy requirements. Hence, these energy sources are also referred to as conventional sources of energy.
Non-Renewable Sources of Energy
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
Some of the common non-renewable sources of energy are:
Coal - Coal is formed after various organic matter, generally dead plant matter, is subjected to high pressure and heat for millions of years. It is used to generate electricity and power up a variety of machines.
Petroleum - Petroleum is also formed after organic matter, generally animal-based organic matter, is subjected to high heat and pressure for millions of years. It helps to run vehicles, machinery, and generate electricity.
Natural Gas - When a variety of plant and animal-based organic matter is subjected to frequent pressure and heat over many thousands of years, they form natural gas.
Biomass - Biomass energy is the energy extracted from firewood, farm wastes, cow dung, stalks of plants, wood burnt in limited air, etc. It requires proper planning like planned planting of trees.
How Long will an Energy Source Last Us?
[Image will be Uploaded Soon]
It is important to ask whether energy sources will last throughout our survival on Earth. Since we are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, most of us should ask whether this energy source will last for long. As per most scientists, fossil fuels would not last for a long time. After a few centuries, we would exhaust all the natural resources like fossil fuels on Earth. If we consider the rate at which we are using fossil fuels, then it seems that we might exhaust these resources within 100 years. So, it is important for us to move to non-conventional sources of energy like sunlight, the flowing rivers, and winds that have continued to enrich the earth and will continue to do so as these are renewable energy and get replenished instantly. Hence, we should start making a move towards renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, and tidal energy and lower our dependence on fossil fuels if we wish for these energy sources to last us for a longer period of time.
Why Do We Still Use Fossil Fuels?
There are a couple of reasons why we are still using fossil fuels:
Great Source of Energy: Fossil fuels are an amazing source of energy. Fossil fuels are often described as ‘energy-dense’ which means it contains a lot of energy in just a small amount. It is economical, as well. On the other hand, setting up solar panels or windmills across fields is extremely expensive, and the outcome is not as satisfactory when compared with the investment.
Readymade Products: One of the greatest advantages of fossil fuels is that they are readymade. Once the fossil fuel is collected, it is ready to be used as fuel. So, there is no excess cost or effort involved to convert that fossil fuel into proper energy. However, non-conventional sources of energy require a lot of work put into it so that the energy could be converted into accessible, usable energy.
Well-established: Since humans have always depended on the pure high energy source of fossil fuels, it is difficult to reach that level of energy requirement using alternative sources as of now. Plus, we have established proper channels to draw fossil fuels and use its energy and set up the power-generating structures according to that. Hence, it is difficult to make a shift from fossil fuels to non-conventional sources of energy.
FAQs on Exhaustion of Energy Sources
1. What is the main difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?
The primary difference lies in their rate of replenishment. Renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, are naturally replenished on a human timescale and are considered inexhaustible. In contrast, non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, exist in finite quantities and take millions of years to form, meaning they can be completely depleted.
2. What are exhaustible sources of energy and what are some primary examples?
Exhaustible energy sources are those that are limited in supply and cannot be replaced once they are consumed. They are also known as non-renewable resources. The primary examples of exhaustible energy sources include:
- Coal: A fossil fuel used extensively in thermal power plants.
- Petroleum (Crude Oil): Refined to produce petrol, diesel, and other fuels for transportation and industry.
- Natural Gas: A cleaner-burning fossil fuel used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
- Uranium: The fuel used for nuclear energy production.
3. Why are fossil fuels specifically classified as non-renewable or exhaustible?
Fossil fuels are classified as non-renewable because of their formation process. They are created from the decomposition of ancient organic matter (plants and animals) buried deep within the Earth over millions of years under immense heat and pressure. Since the rate of their consumption by humans is vastly faster than their rate of formation, they are considered a finite resource that will eventually run out.
4. What are the major consequences of the exhaustion of traditional energy sources?
The depletion of traditional, non-renewable energy sources has several significant consequences:
- Energy Scarcity: As supplies dwindle, energy becomes more expensive and harder to access, potentially leading to an energy crisis.
- Economic Instability: Industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels face rising operational costs and disruptions.
- Environmental Damage: The intensified search for remaining reserves often leads to more destructive extraction methods, harming ecosystems.
- Geopolitical Tension: Competition for control over the world's remaining fossil fuel reserves can increase international conflicts.
5. How does the overuse of fossil fuels directly impact the environment?
The overuse of fossil fuels causes severe environmental damage. Burning coal, oil, and gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a greenhouse gas that is the primary driver of global warming and climate change. It also releases pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which lead to acid rain and cause respiratory health problems in humans.
6. Is nuclear energy a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels?
Nuclear energy is a complex case. It is considered a non-renewable source because it relies on uranium (specifically U-235), which is a finite resource mined from the Earth. While it does not produce greenhouse gases during operation, making it cleaner than fossil fuels in that regard, it generates hazardous radioactive waste that is difficult and costly to store safely for thousands of years. Therefore, it is not considered a truly clean or renewable solution.
7. Why is it so challenging to completely stop using exhaustible energy sources immediately?
Transitioning away from exhaustible energy sources is difficult for several key reasons:
- Infrastructure Dependence: Our global transportation, power grids, and industries are fundamentally built to run on fossil fuels.
- High Energy Density: Fossil fuels pack a lot of energy into a small volume, making them ideal for vehicles and continuous power generation.
- Cost and Scalability: Shifting the entire global energy system to renewables requires massive investment and time to build the necessary infrastructure.
- Intermittency of Renewables: Sources like solar and wind are not always available (e.g., at night or on calm days), whereas fossil fuels can provide a constant, reliable power supply.
