Types of Energy Sources

Nadia Reese

Energy: What is it used for?

• Heats our homes• Makes electricity• Fuels cars, trucks,

buses and planes• Products made

from oil and gas– Backpacks– Toys– Glasses– Clothing

Energy: Where Would We Be Without It?

• No heat in our homes• No electricity• No fuels for cars, trucks,

buses and planes• No products made from

oil and gas– Backpacks– Toys– Glasses– Clothing

NO

NO

Non-Renewable and Renewable• Non-renewable– Energy sources that are NOT replaced by nature as

quickly as they are used. Examples: oil, gas, coal (fossil fuels) and nuclear energy

• Renewable– Energy sources that are easily and quickly replaced by

nature.– Examples: hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal

biomass

Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear energy is energy that comes from the nucleus of a U-235 atom. U-235 is split through fission and it releases energy. Uranium is mined from the ground.

Nuclear Power Plant

Fossil fuels were formed from decayed organisms a long time ago under tremendous pressure.

Where Are the “Fossils” In Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels were forming way before dinosaurs lived

Where Are the “Fossils” In Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels are the remains of once living organisms that have been buried and compressed under many layers of sediment.

Coal

• Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed from dead PLANT matter. Coal is removed from Earth through mining.

Coal Power Plant

Petroleum (Oil)• Petroleum or crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel

formed from dead plants AND animals. Petroleum must be pumped up from underground with drill rigs. Petroleum has to be refined before it can be used.

Petroleum Refinery

Natural Gas

• Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel. Natural gas forms on top of petroleum and is collected by drilling wells.

Natural Gas

Hydroelectric Power

• Hydroelectric energy is energy that comes from moving water to create electricity.

Wind Energy• Wind energy is energy from moving air to create

electricity.

Solar Energy

• Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun. Solar energy can be used create heat OR to create electricity.

Biomass

• Biomass is organic material made from plants and animals. Biomass contains stored energy from the sun.

Source: The National Energy Education Project

Biomass Plant

Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal energy is heat from within the Earth. The heat as steam or hot water and is used heat buildings or generate electricity.

Geothermal Plant