Sources of energy

• Sources of Energy

  • Wood
  • Water
  • Wind
  • Coal
  • Oil
  • Natural gas
• Fossil fuels were formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that lived about 300 million years ago and are buried deep underground
• Fossil fuels are used in factories to produce heat and in power stations to generate electricity
• The power stations in Singapore use oil and natural gas
• Changes in energy usage

  In the past, people led simple lives:

  mainly using fossil fuels for cooking and heating homes and had few machines.

  In the present:

  more electrical appliances, transport vehicles, power stations, and industries are used
• The burning of fuels in vehicles and factories has caused environmental pollution that can affect our health
• The earth's resources of fossil fuels are limited and once they have been used up, they are gone forever. They are non-renewable sources of energy
• Renewable sources of energy

  • Hydroelectricity
  • Tidal energy
  • Solar energy
  • Wind energy
  • Geothermal energy
  • Biomass
• Hydroelectricity


  Electricity produced from moving water, using water turbines and generators
• Tidal energy


  Electricity generated from the difference in water height at high and low tide, using turbines
• Solar energy


  Energy from the sun used for heating water, cooking food, and generating electricity
• Wind energy


  Electricity generated from the kinetic energy of wind using wind turbines
• Geothermal energy


  Electricity generated from hot water and steam escaping through geysers and hot springs
• Biomass


  Plant and animal material used to produce solid, liquid, or gaseous biofuels
• Air pollution

  Resulting from the burning of fossil fuels in power stations, factories and vehicles results in air pollution. Carbon dioxide is also produce, which contributes to global warming
• Impact on land

  Construction of hydroelectric dams often forces people and animals near the dam site to move to another place.

  The turbines in hydroelectricity and tidal power stations kill many fishes.

  Newer dams have fish-friendly turbines that do not kill fish, and 'fish ladders' to allow fish to swim upstream to lay their eggs.
• Impact on living things

  Forests are often cleared to grow crops for biofuels, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss.

  Wind turbines contribute to noise pollution, and sometimes cause, the death of birds.

  Surface mining for coal destroys the land