What's it all about?

Power Source

Natural energy comes from a Power Source. There are many types of power sources. Most energy comes from fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) which were formed when ancient plants, and animals like the dinosaurs, died hundreds of millions of years ago. As their bodies decayed they were mixed with the sand and mud and buried deep in the earth. Compression and heat over thousands and thousands of years changed them into fossil fuels.

Let's take a look at the types of power sources that are used:

	Oil and Gas are used to produce electrical energy, mechanical energy, and heat energy. Oil and gas are pumped from wells deep in the ground and under the ocean. They are then sent through pipelines to be refined or cleaned. A sedimentary rock called shale may also contain oil. When oil-containing shale is heated at high temperatures, oil can be extracted.
	Wood and Coal are used to produce mechanical, electrical and heat energy. Coal is mined underground near the earth's surface. It is burned in its natural form to produce heat. Coal can also be converted to a liquid or gas form. Hydrogen is added to a heated and pressurized mix of coal to produce an oil-like liquid or gaseous product.
	Water Power (hydropower) can produce mechanical and electrical energy. Dams are used to contain flowing river water forming lakes and reservoirs. As water flows downhill it is channeled to a turbine or water wheel. The force of the flowing water turns the turbine or wheel, which turns a generator to make the electricity. Water power has been used for hundreds of years to create mechanical energy for grinding, pumping and running machinery.

Sun Power (solar energy) gives us heat and light energy. The sun makes energy from nuclear fusion. Billions of times each second, hydrogen atoms collide with each other and produce helium. Every second 4.7 million tons of hydrogen become energy.

Solar cells absorb the sunlight and special photovoltaic cells produce electricity that can be used directly or stored in batteries for later use.

Nuclear Power is used to make electricity. Inside a reactor atoms from a fuel called uranium are split by neutrons (nuclear fission). This energy is released as heat which changes water into steam that turns turbine generators.

Wind Power is used for mechanical and electrical energy. Wind has been used for hundreds of years to help ships sail and turn windmills to pump water for irrigation.

Geothermal is heat energy from deep in the earth using special pipes buried underground. In some areas of the world steam is collected and used to turn turbine generators. In many areas pumps circulate water that is cooled in summer and heated water from the always-mild earth temperature several feet below the surface. This water is used in heat pumps that can cool and heat homes and buildings and can provide hot water.

Biomass is energy that comes from plants and organic matter such as wood, crops like corn and sugarcane, manure, aquatic plants and even landfill gas from garbage and sewage. This organic matter has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. Some products we can make from biomass are electricity, liquid and gaseous fuels, heat, and chemicals. Biomass is a "renewable fuel" so that helps us conserve the use of fossil fuels which are non-renewable.