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What it is?

Nuclear energy is a form of energy that is released from the nucleus of atoms, and can be produced through fission or fusion. Fission consists of a nuclei splitting into different parts, while fusion joins them together, both of which release nuclear energy.

Where it is mostly used?

Nuclear energy is mostly used in central Europe, although the US is first in production and use of it.

How much it is used?

The US uses nuclear for about 18% of its total electricity expenditure, but France and Belgium use it for about 70% of their energy expenditure.

Whether its use is sustainable?

Nuclear fuels are finite and non renewable, but they have huge energy density, and would be more sustainable for the environment than alternatives like the burning of oil or coal.

Relative cost!

Building nuclear power plants is expensive, but the energy is generally cheaper than oil and coal energy.

Benefits  and disadvantages of this energy source?

The benefits of nuclear energy are that it is effective, sustainable compared to other energy, and relatively inexpensive once plants are built. However, the major disadvantage is its danger of exposure to radiation for people which is often deadly.

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What is it?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source containing many different compounds. It is mostly methane (CH₄) with smaller amounts of hydrocarbon gas liquids, and nonhydrocarbon gases (like carbon dioxide and water vapor). Millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals built up in layers which have been slowly buried by sand, silt, and rock. Over time, the pressure and heat transformed the carbon into coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

Where is it mostly used?

The nations that use the most natural gas are the United States, Russia, Iran, China, Canada.

In the US, natural gas is mainly used to generate electricity and space heating. In 2023, 42% of the U.S. electric power sector's energy consumption was natural gas.

How much of it is used?

In 2023, global natural gas consumption was four trillion cubic meters.

Whether its use is sustainable?

Compared to burning coal or petroleum, burning natural gas for energy results in fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide for the same amount of energy produced. However, since it is a fossil fuel, it is not renewable. Moreover, it is comprised of mostly methane, a strong greenhouse gas.

Relative cost?

Compared to other common energy sources, natural gas is generally considered to be relatively inexpensive. The average cost per unit of energy is significantly lower than electricity.

Benefits:

abundant and major source of energy (enough to last until 2100)

relatively clean fossil fuel

relatively inexpensive

natural gas industry is employs many

Disadvantages:

powerful greenhouse gas

non-renewable resource

there can be natural gas leaks

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What?

Wave energy refers to the process of harnessing the kinetic energy of ocen waves to generate electricity by using specially designed devices that capture the movement of the waves and convert it into usable power.

Technologies?

Various designs exist for wave energy converters, including oscillating water columns, point absorbers, attenuators, and overtopping devices, each with different approaches to capturing wave energy.

How?

As waves move, they push against devices floating on the water surface or partially submerged, causing them to move up and down, which then drives a turbine to generate electricity.

Where?

Wave energy is currently mostly explored and potentially used on the west coasts of continents, particularly in regions like the United Kingdom (including Scotland), Portugal, Australia, and the western coast of the United States, as these areas experience consistent, powerful ocean swells with high energy potential.

Cost?

Currently, wave energy is considered relatively expensive compared to other established renewable energy sources like solar and wind, with estimates placing the cost of wave energy at around $0.60 to $1.00 per kilowatt-hour, primarily due to its nascent technology stage and high development costs

Sustainable?

Wave energy is a renewable resource because it comes from the natural movement of water, which is free and has an infinite supply

Wave energy is a clean energy source that doesn't require fuel

Advantages and disadvantages?

Wave energy boasts advantages like being a clean, renewable energy source with zero emissions, but its major disadvantages include high construction costs, potential environmental impacts on marine life, and the challenge of reliable energy generation due to variable wave patterns

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1. What is Tidal Energy?

Tidal energy is a form of renewable energy that harnesses the kinetic and potential energy from ocean tides to generate electricity

2. Where is Tidal Energy Mostly Used?

Tidal Energy is used in coastal areas with high tidal ranges: France, UK, South Korea, Canada, China

3. How Much is Tidal Energy Used?

Tidal energy is still a niche energy source, contributing a very small percentage to the global energy mix.

4. Is Tidal Energy Sustainable?

Yes, it is sustainable. Tidal energy is renewable and predictable because tides are driven by natural celestial movements. It produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation.

5. Relative Cost of Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is expensive compared to other renewables. Around $150–$250 per MWh (megawatt-hour), which is significantly higher than wind or solar energy.

6. Benefits and Disadvantages of Tidal Energy

Benefits: It is renewable and predictable, unlike solar and wind energy, tides are highly predictable. It is environmentally friendly, and has a long lifespan

Disadvantages: High Initial Costs: Building tidal energy infrastructure requires significant upfront investment.

Limited Locations: Tidal energy can only be generated in coastal areas with strong tidal movements.

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What is it? Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that uses heat from inside the Earth. This heat can be used to create electricity or for direct heating in homes, buildings, and even industries.

Where is it mostly used? The United States is the largest producer of geothermal electricity, especially in states like California, Nevada, and Utah. Geothermal Energy is also used in Iceland to heat almost all of their houses.

How much is it used? Geothermal energy isn’t used as much as other sources of energy, but it is currently growing in popularity. Right now It provides about 0.5% of the world’s electricity.

Is it Sustainable? Geothermal energy is sustainable because the Earth’s heat won’t run out anytime soon.

Benefits:

Renewable, Geothermal energy doesn’t run out as long as it’s managed well

Clean, It doesn’t produce much pollution or greenhouse gases

Disadvantages:

High Start Up Cost, Drilling and finding the right spot can be really expensive.

Environmental Risks, Drilling can cause issues like earthquakes, land sinking, or releasing harmful gases.

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What it is?

it is a type of renewable energy that is generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electrical power.
Where it is mostly used?

Used in places with constant wind and the infrastructure/materials needed to build the wind power machines. Ex: Denmark, world leader of wind power
How much it is used?

In 2023, the global wind industry installed a record 117 gigawatts, 50% increase from the previous year. Globally, by 2024, wind power may potentially account for over 10% of global monthly electricity output during peak months.
Whether its use is sustainable?

Yes, wind is a renewable source. This mechanism doesn't require water, doesn't directly emmit GHGs, and the use of the power is efficient. Also, by creating these it benefits the economy as jobs are created and countries don't have to rely on imports for fuel.
Relative cost!

To install these it is often an expensive investment but the operating and maintenance costs are significantly lower that others like power plants.
Benefits  and disadvantages of this energy source?

benefits

cost effective

miminal environmental impact

renewable source

job creation

disadvantages

wind is inconsistent

land use

aesthetic value

loud

high initial costs

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What it is?

Biomass is a renewable energy source that comes from living or recently living matter. Biomass includes things such as trees, crops, algae, waste (animal, human, garden, landfill, etc.) and hemp. It can be used to generate energy such as heat, electricity and fuels for transportation.

Where it is mostly used?

Biomass is used mostly in European countries such as Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.

How much it is used?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, biomass makes up roughly 5% of the US's energy consumption and around 10% of the global energy consumption.

Whether its use is sustainable?

It is sustainable because it is renewable because of how easy it is to replenish the feedstock material

Relative cost!

In comparison to other sources of energy, biomass is on the more expensive side. The cost of biomass greatly depends on the scale of the project and the feedstock type.

Benefits and disadvantages of this energy source?

Biomass has both advantages and disadvantages. It is renewable, carbon friendly, reduces waste and can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. But because of its high demand for wood, it can increase deforestation which causes environmental issues. Furthermore it is quite an expensive process.

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1. What is it?

Hydroelectric power is a renewable energy source that generates electricity by harnessing the energy of flowing water, usually from rivers or dams. The water turns turbines connected to generators, producing electricity.

2. Where is it mostly used?

Hydroelectric power is primarily used in countries with abundant water resources, such as:

China (largest producer)

Brazil

Canada

United States

Norway (gets over 90% of its electricity from hydropower)

3. How much is it used?

Globally, hydropower contributes about 16% of the world's electricity and accounts for 60% of renewable energy production. In some countries, it is the primary energy source.

4. Is it sustainable?

Yes, hydroelectric power is sustainable as long as water levels are maintained. However, it can be affected by climate change (droughts) and environmental impact from dam construction.

5. Relative cost

The initial cost of building a dam is very high, but once operational, hydroelectric plants have low running costs. The cost per kilowatt-hour is generally cheaper compared to fossil fuels over time.

6. Benefits and disadvantages

Benefits:
- Renewable and reliable energy source
- Low greenhouse gas emissions
- Provides water storage for irrigation and flood control
- Long lifespan of power plants

Disadvantages:
- High initial construction costs
- Can disrupt local ecosystems and fish migration
- Risk of displacement of communities due to dam construction
- Vulnerable to droughts and climate change

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What is it?

Wind energy is a renewable source of energy that uses wind to generate power/electricity to power homes.
Where it is mostly used?

Wind energy is used mostly in China, although it is also used in many other countries like the U.S., through wind turbines.
How much it is used?

Wind energy provides around 10% of the total electricity in the U.S. Therefore, it's used a lot but not so much in comparison to other energy sources.
Whether its use is sustainable?

Wind energy and turbine usage is considered sustainable because it uses a renewable source (wind), and it doesn't release harmful pollutants.
Relative cost!

$30-$39 per megawatt-hour (MWh) which is considered relatively low.
Benefits  and disadvantages of this energy source?

Benefits: Clean, renewable, cheap.

Disadvantages: Unpredictable wind patterns, noise pollution, limited suitable locations.

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What it is?

energy from the sun

captured by solar panels or solar thermal systems

Where is it mostly used?

Places with a lot of sun like Australia, Spain, India, and Southwest US

produced by China, US, Japan, and Germany

How much it is used?

4-5% of global electricity generation

Whether its use is sustainable?

very sustainable because it relies on the sun which is an abundant resource

solar panels have a long lifespan of 20-30 years

limitation of sustainability: resource extraction to make solar panels

Relative cost

can be expensive to install but there are long-term savings on energy bills

Benefits

renewable and inexhaustible source

Low operating and maintenance costs.

Can be used in remote or off-grid locations

Disadvantages

depends on sunlight and weather conditions

Energy storage can be expensive

Manufacturing and disposal of solar panels have environmental impacts

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What is it: Oil energy comes from petroleum, a fossil fuel formed over millions of years. It is refined into fuels like gasoline, and diesel, used in energy production and manufacturing.

Where is it used:

Transportation: Cars, trucks, ships, planes.

Electricity and heating: Power plants and residential heating.

How much is used: 100 million barrels are consumed daily, with the US, China, and India being the top consumers.

Sustainability: Oil is not sustainable because of its environmental damage, and impact on climate change.

Cost: Oil prices vary ($50-120) per barrel depending on economic and geopolitical factors.

Benefits: 1. High energy efficiency.

2. Supports jobs and economies.

Disadvantages:

1. Environmental harm( pollution, emissions, spills).

2. Health risks from emissions.

3. Non-renewable.

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What it is?

generated by burning coal, a sedimentary rock rich in carbon and hydrocarbons.

Where it is mostly used?

used to produce heat or electricity.

How much it is used?

coal is about 27% of the world's primary energy consumption and is a major source of electricity generation, contributing to roughly 36% of global electricity production.

Whether its use is sustainable?

not considered sustainable due to its environmental impacts.

the burning of coal releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2)

contributes to climate change, and other pollutants that affect air and water quality.

Relative cost!

the cost can vary based on the location, mining, transportation, and regulations regarding emissions.

Benefits and disadvantages of this energy source?

benefits: abundant supply, cheap source of energy, reliable

disadvantages: negative environmental impacts, non renewable, mining hazards, water usage

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Geothermal energy is heat energy generated and stored beneath the Earth's surface. It is derived from the natural heat of the Earth's core and can be harnessed by tapping into hot water reservoirs or steam found underground. This energy is used for electricity generation, direct heating

Where is it used?

Geothermal energy is most commonly used in countries with significant volcanic activity and tectonic plate movements.

Over 90% of homes in Iceland use geothermal heating.

The United States is the largest producer of geothermal electricity, especially in California and Nevada.

New Zealand - Has numerous geothermal power plants.

How much is it used?

Globally, geothermal energy contributes about 16 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, which is less than 1% of the world's energy consumption.

Is its use sustainable?

Yes, geothermal energy is considered sustainable as long as it is managed properly. The heat from the Earth is virtually limitless, but it must be extracted at a rate that allows reservoirs to naturally replenish.

Relative cost

Cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) ranges from $0.05 to $0.10, which is competitive with solar and wind.

Benefits of geothermal energy

Renewable and sustainable – As long as the Earth exists, geothermal energy will be available.

Reliable and consistent – Unlike solar or wind, geothermal energy provides continuous power 24/7.

Efficient – Geothermal power plants have a high capacity factor, often above 90%, meaning they operate almost at full capacity year-round.

Disadvantages of geothermal energy

High initial costs – Drilling and exploration can be expensive.

Environmental concerns – Drilling can cause land instability, and there’s a risk of releasing harmful gases from underground.

Location-dependent – Geothermal resources are only available in certain areas with volcanic or tectonic activity.