Energy is a vital resource on our world. It powers the wheels of industry, lights and warms our homes, and helps prepare our food for consumption. Their are a variety of sources for energy, however their are a limited number of highly effective sources. These chief sources of energy throughout the world are, in order of importance, fossil fuels, water power and solar energy.

Fossil Fuels

A fuel is any substance which on burning produces a large amount of heat.
Fossil fuels are made from the buried remains of plants that dies millions of years ago. When these plants were alive, they converted the energy from the sun into chemical energy by photosynthesis. Burning of fossil fuels releases the trapped chemical energy in the form of heat and light energy.
Coal and petroleum are fossil fuels, petrol diesel and kerosene are obtained from petroleum.

Uses of Fossil fuels:
1. Coal is used in the production of electricity.
2. Coal is used in the production of steel.
3. Petrol and diesel are used in scooters, cars, trains, airplanes etc.
4. Coal, kerosene and natural gas are used for cooking.

Water Power:

Water is stores in dams at heights has high potential energy. When the water is allowed to fall under gravity, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy spins the turbine and generates electricity. Electricity generates in this way is called hydroelectric power.

Solar Energy:

Solar radiation is most easily and abundantly available to us. But with our current technology we use only 15% of the solar energy in an area to be converted into electricity.

Uses of solar energy:

1. Photosynthesis: Plants use the sun’s energy to make food.
2. Solar heaters and cookers: Simple devices called flat plate collectors heat buildings and water by absorbing the sun’s heat.
3. Solar cells: These generate electricity on a small scale for domestic use in remote villages. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s energy comes from hydroelectricity.
   In a hydroelectricity power station, the energy of failing water is used to drive a turbine. The turbine in turn drives an electric generator.
4. Nuclear energy: Nuclear energy is the most powerful form energy. Nuclear energy is released either by splitting the nucleus of an atom nuclear fission or by joining the nuclei of two atoms nuclear fusion. In nuclear power station, energy is released by nuclear fission. This energy is used to produce electricity. The sun emits this energy as well.
5. Wind power: Wind has been the source of energy for thousands of years. Modern wind turbines harness the power of the wind to spin electric generators. The winds themselves are driven by energy from the sun.
6. Tidal power: The energy in the ocean tides can be converted into hydroelectric power.
7. Biomass energy: Energy derived from plants, such as burning wood, is called biomass energy. Biogas is a source of cheap energy for many villages of developing countries. Biogas comes from garbage, sewage, manure and organic waste. When the bodies of dead plants and animal rot, they give off a gas which is an invaluable source of energy. This gas, called biogas, is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.

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