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For centuries people have been using the power of the wind to move ships, pump water, and grind corn. Today, huge turbines are used to turn generators.

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The sun radiates energy because of nuclear fission reactions deep inside it. Its output is equivalent to that of 3x10^26 electric hotplates. Just a tiny fraction of this reaches the earth.

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Nucleus of the atom
Radioactive materials have atoms with unstable nuclei (centres) which break up and release energy. The material gives off the energy slowly as thermal energy. Energy can be released more quickly by splitting heavy nuclei (fission). Energy can also be released by joining light nuclei (fusion), as happens in the Sun.

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The gravitational pull of the Moon (and to a lesser extent, the Sun) creates gentle bulges in the Earth's oceans. As the Earth rotates, different places have high and low tides as they pass in and out of the bulges. The motion of the tides carries energy with it.

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In a reactor, nuclear fission reactions release energy from the nuclei of uranium atoms. This heats water to make steam for driving generators.

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In a tidal energy scheme, an estuary is dammed to form an artificial lake. Incoming tides fill the lake; outgoing tides empty it. The flow of water in and out of the lake turns generators.

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An artificial lake forms behind a dam. Water
rushing down from this lake is used to turn generators. The lake is kept full by river water which once fell as rain or snow.

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Deep underground, the rocks are hotter than they are on the surface. The thermal  energy comes from  radioactive  materials naturally present in the rocks. It can make steam for heating buildings  or driving  generators.

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Waves are caused by the wind (and partly by tides).
Waves cause a rapid up and down movement on the surface of the sea. This movement can be used generators.

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Weather systems
These are driven by energy radiated from
the Sun. Heated air rising above the equator causes belts of wind around the Earth. Winds carry water vapour from the oceans and bring rain and snow.

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Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) were formed  from the remains of plants and tiny sea creatures which  lived many millions of years ago. Industrial societies rely on fossil fuels for most of their energy. Many power stations burn fossil fuels.

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Some batteries (e.g. car batteries) have to be given energy by charging them with electricity. Others are manufactured from chemicals which already store energy. But energy is needed to produce the chemicals in the first place.

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Rotting animal and plant waste can give off methane gas. This is similar to natural gas and can be used as a fuel. Marshes, rubbish tips, and sewage treatment works are all sources of methane. Some waste can also be used directly as fuel by burning it.

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Wood is an important fuel in many countries. When wood is burned, it releases energy that the tree once took in fro

the Sun. In some countries, sugar cane is grown and fermented to make alcohol. This can

be used as a fuel instead of petrol.

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We get energy from the food we eat. The food may be from plants, or from animals which fed on plants.

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These use the energy in sunlight to produce small amounts of electricity.

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These absorb energy radiated from the Sun and use it to heat water.

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Plants take in energy from sunlight falling on their leaves. They use it to turn water and carbon dioxide from the air into new growth. The process is called photosynthesis. Animals eat plants to get the energy stored in them.