Energy in All Its Forms
2 min read
refers to natural energy “sources”, including fossil fuels such as , oil and natural gas, and low-carbon energy sources such as nuclear and that emit little-to-no CO2. Renewable energy comes from sources like hydro, solar, wind, , and waste, and have the advantage of never running out. Primary energy sources are converted into and energy carriers, which are easier for humans to use. Examples include , , fuel and .
Energy in All Its Forms
Do you know all the different forms of energy?
Let’s start with
. This refers to all natural energy “sources” that humans subsequently convert into forms of energy that are easier to use.
Primary energy includes:
- fossil fuels
- low-carbon energy sources
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are formed from the transformation of organic matter buried in the ground for several millions of years:
, oil, natural gas.
Low-carbon energy sources
These sources can be harnessed while emitting little-to-no .
, this refers to using the released from splitting or plutonium atoms to generate .
, this energy can come from sources that will almost never run out (solar/ ) or be produced from movements generated by nature (wind/hydro) or from burning natural or man-made resources (waste/ ).
All of these primary energy sources are then converted into
and energy carriers, before being used by humans: electricity, heat, fuel,
.
Summary:
- 2 categories of primary energy:
- Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- Low-carbon energy sources - Low-carbon energy sources = nuclear + renewables (solar, geothermal, wind, hydro, waste and biomass).
- Primary energy converted into secondary energy: electricity, heat, fuel and hydrogen.
Where does energy come from?
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