Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Although we can't see it, energy is part of our day-to-day life and helps us do all kinds of things, from turning on the light in a room or charging our cell phones to transporting us to a far-away place. Understanding how it works, where it comes from, and what types of energy exist helps us use it more conscientiously, make informed decisions about consumption, and help our planet develop in a more sustainable manner.
Energy sources are natural or artificial resources that we use to obtain the energy we need for all kinds of activities that are part of the global society in which we live.
We can classify energy sources into two different categories — renewables and non-renewables — depending on how quickly they can be replenished in nature:
Renewable energy sources come from natural resources that are inexhaustible or are replenished quickly. They do not generate polluting emissions and facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. Do you know all the different kinds?
This energy source uses solar radiation to generate photovoltaic electricity or thermal energy to generate heat.
Modern windmills are already part of our landscape. They have turbines that use the movement of wind to generate electricity.
This type of energy is generated by releasing the water stored in reservoirs or rivers.
The heat found inside our planet can also be used to generate energy. Geothermal energy is probably the least known and exploited renewable energy source.
This energy source uses waste from organic animal or plant matter. One example is forest biomass, a sustainable energy alternative that is also a milestone of the circular economy.
This energy source uses the movements of the sea, such as waves, tides or currents.
Although these energy sources are also found in nature, they are finite. This means that we find them in limited quantities, and they undergo a slow transformation process that may take... millions of years! What's more, extracting and burning these resources generates large amounts of polluting emissions.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel composed mostly of methane. It is mainly used for heating or electricity production.
This mixture of hydrocarbons is used to produce plastics, chemicals, and fuels such as gasoline or diesel.
This fossil fuel is used in industrial processes and in power plants for generating electricity. When it is burned, high levels of carbon dioxide emissions are produced.
This type of energy is generated through the nuclear fission of uranium in nuclear power plants. Although it produces large amounts of energy, it also creates long-lasting radioactive waste that must be handled with great care.
Another way of classifying energy sources is based on their origin. In this case, we have primary and secondary energy sources.
We can find these energy sources in nature and they do not need to undergo a transformation process before being used. Oil, coal, uranium, solar energy, hydraulic energy, or wind energy fall into this category.
These sources are obtained by processing primary energy sources. Some examples are electricity, diesel, or biofuels.
Society as a whole plays a crucial role in increasing the use of renewable energy sources and advancing towards the ecological transition.
The commitment of institutions is also an essential element. One example is the European Union's goal to be climate-neutral, or to reduce net emissions to zero, by 2050. To achieve this, the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. It's up to all of us to make this happen
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