Power Sources
From Wendy Lyons Sunshine, former About.com Guide
Electric power can be generated from a wide range of natural resources, including fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), renewable energy (solar, wind, wave, geothermal, and biomass), and nuclear energy.
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are finite energy supplies formed underground, including coal, oil, and gas.
- Oil and gas in brief
- U.S. Shale gas industry boom
- Natural gas raises environmental concerns
- Waste water byproducts of shale gas drilling
Renewable Energy
Some renewable power sources, like wind, solar, and ocean energy, have no fuel cost and provide an ongoing source of clean energy. Other renewable sources come from biomass and microbe-produced gases.
- Photovoltaics 101
- How to build a wind farm
- Energy integration key to reliable renewables
- Installing Renewable Energy Systems
- Four types of geothermal subsystems
- U.S. lags in offshore wind energy development
- Options for solar at home
- Military plugs in to solar power
- International hydrogen research center
- Best practices for wind energy integration
Nuclear Power
About 14% of the world's energy and 20% of U.S. energy is supplied by nuclear power.