Energy Resources: Uses, Advantages, & Disadvantages

Article: Types of Energy ResourcesEnergy resources can be classified as either nonrenewable or renewable. People must consider the advantages and disadvantages of each energy resources when decided which types to use.Nonrenewable Energy ResourcesA nonrenewable energy resource is used much faster than it can be replaced. Most of the energy used in the USA comes from fossil fuels. A fossil fuel is an energy resource that formed over millions of years from decayed organic material, or plant and animal remains.Coal is a solid fossil fuel. Coal is burned for power in many power plants. The heat it released is used to boil water, which turns to steam that is used to spin a turbine. The spinning turbine turns the generator, which changes mechanical energy into electrical energy, that is used in the power grid.Oil is a liquid fossil fuel, which can be refined into petroleum. It is often drilled from the seabed. The gasoline we burn in car engines is made from oil. Propane, which is often used for heating or cooking in homes, is also made from oil.Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is in the gas state of matter, and is often found alongside petroleum. Natural gas is used in stoves, furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, and other appliances in both homes and industrial settings. Natural gas can also be burned in power plants to generate electrical energy.The biggest advantage in burning fossil fuels is that they produces large amounts of energy. However, the burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution, releasing unwanted material, like excess carbon dioxide, into the environment. Scientists believe this excess has contributed to global warming and climate change in the last few hundred years.Mining coal destroys valuable terrestrial ecosystem, and cause cause pollution to nearby water systems. Drilling for oil in oceans can lead to oil spills, and also ecosystem at the drilling site.One other source of nonrenewable energy is nuclear power. Nuclear power plants produce energy by splitting the nucleus of atoms in a controlled reaction. Most nuclear power plants utilize uranium or plutonium atoms, which are a nonrenewable resource.Nuclear power does not cause air pollution. However, they do generate radioactive waste that must be safely stored for long periods of time while it undergoes radioactive decay. Water used to cool reactors releases thermal pollution into aquatic ecosystems. Cold water has more dissolved oxygen for aquatic organisms. The water used to cool the reactors is superheated, which decreases the level of dissolved oxygen.Renewable EnergyA renewable energy resource either can be replaced as it is used or cannot be used up. These resources, if used with care and conservation, can replace our dependency on nonrenewable resources.Solar energy is energy captured from the sun. The energy of the sun can be harvested for heat and electricity. Solar panels can be used to produce electricity, or to heat water for a home. Photovoltaic cells change light energy into electricity. When light strikes the atoms in the cell the electrons move, which produces an electric current.Solar cells require sunlight, which means they cannot produce electricity at night. Often building use power from a power grid at night, or they have solar batteries, which store extra electricity for use at a later time.Solar power plants are often large fields with many solar panels. These can be called solar farms. Solar power plants can also utilize solar reflectors. Solar reflectors direct reflected light on fluid-filled pipes, which heat to become steam and spin a turbine.Solar energy does not cause pollution, or use nonrenewable fossil fuels. The sun provides an infinite amount of energy, which means we cannot exhaust this resource. However solar panels are very, and the creation of solar farms can interfere with terrestrial habitats.Wind turbines harvest the energy of moving air. The blades of the turbine are attached to a shaft, which spins a generator. Wind farms use a large number of turbines to produce electricity. These are especially useful in the Great Plains and Midwest regions of the US. Wind turbines are also being mounted offshore, to utilize winds from oceans.Wind energy does not cause air pollution, or contribute to global warming. However, wind farms are very loud. Also, birds, bats, and other fowl can be harmed or killed by the spinning turbines.Hydropower utilizes the energy of moving water. Hydroelectric power plants have been built on many rivers in the US and around the world. The moving water flows under a dam, spinning turbines that are connected to a generator. This produces electricity. Waterfalls can also be utilized.Hydropower does not cause air pollution. Yet the construction of dams to create reservoirs floods terrestrial ecosystems, and can interfere with aquatic animal migration. Hydropower also causes thermal pollution to water. Water that is moved by the turbines becomes heated by movement, which can decrease the dissolved oxygen downstream.Biomass is material from living things that can be used for energy. Most often this involves the burning of wood or discarded plant material. Fermented crops, like corn, can also be used to produce a biofuel called ethanol. Biomass reduces our dependency on fossil fuels, but it does require the use of plants, and can raise the cost of crops. It also release carbon dioxide when burned.Geothermal energy relies on heat energy within the Earth. Pipes buried underground are heated by volcanically active rock layers, which turns water to steam and spins a turbine. Geothermal energy is only useful in areas that have volcanically active ground, like Iceland. While geothermal power does not cause air pollution, the systems are expensive, they can be dangerous, and can also be damaged by rock movement. Energy Resource Sort Using the article, sort the facts about the energy resources into the correct group. Coal Solid fossil fuel that is burned for power. Mining causes habitat damage, and can pollute water systems. Oil Liquid fossil fuel, refined into petroleum. Drilling disturbs ecosystems and can lead to spills. Natural Gas Gas fossil fuel found alongside oil. Burned in many homes to generate energy for appliances. Nuclear Power Released the energy stored in atoms by splitting the nucleus. Can generate radioactive waste, and thermal pollution to the water used to cool reactors. Solar Collects the energy of the sun in photovoltaic cells. Is expensive to install, and doesn't work at night. Wind Utilizes the mechanical energy generated by moving air. Turbines are loud, and can harm flying wildlife. Hydropower Moving water spins turbines to generate electric current. Floods terrestrial ecosystems, interferes with aquatic animal migration, and causes thermal pollution to the water. Biomass Organic material from plants can be burned for energy, or refined into ethanol. Causes air pollution when burned, and increases the cost of crops. Geothermal Heat energy within the Earth is used to transform water into steam to spin turbines. Can be damaged by moving rock, and is limited to volcanically active areas. Which resources DO NOT cause air pollution when used for energy?SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Biomass Coal Geothermal Hydropower Natural Gas Nuclear Power Oil Solar Power Wind Energy Which resources are fossil fuels?SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Biomass Coal Geothermal Hydropower Natural Gas Nuclear Power Oil Solar Power Wind Energy Which resources ARE renewable?SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Biomass Coal Geothermal Hydropower Natural Gas Nuclear Power Oil Solar Wind Energy