Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity and the amount of electricity generated from wind has grown significantly in recent years.  Like old fashioned windmills, today’s wind machines (also called wind turbines) use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. The wind flows over the blades creating lift, like the effect on airplane wings, which causes them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. Today’s wind machines are much more technologically advanced than those early windmills. But modern wind machines have still the problem of what to do when the wind isn’t blowing. To solve this problem, small...

"Geo" means "from the earth," and "thermal" means "heat," so this type of energy is found under the earth. The hot lava from a volcano and the hot steam from a geyser both come from underground heat and we can use that same type of heat in our homes. A geothermal heater is very energy-efficient because almost none of the energy used is wasted. We can also use geothermal energy to make electricity. A geothermal power plant works by tapping into steam or hot water reservoirs underground; the heat is used to drive an electrical generator. If you need for information, please click in the next link: https://www.alliantenergykids.com/EnergyandTheEnvironment/RenewableEnergy/022401

Coal is a black combustible sedimentary rock composed of carbon and hydrocarbons. Coal is a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to create. The energy in coal comes from the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, when the Earth was partly covered with swampy forests. A high percentage of the coal consumed is used in the electric power sector. The remaining coal is used as a basic energy source in many industries including steel, cement, and paper. The major uses of coal are: For electric power Power plants burn coal to make steam. The steam turns turbines (machines for generating rotary mechanical power) that generate...

  The sun has produced energy for billions of years.  Solar energy is the sun’s rays (solar radiation) that reach the Earth. This energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.      When converted to thermal (or heat) energy, solar energy can be used to: Heat water — for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools Heat spaces — inside homes, greenhouses, and other buildings Heat fluids — to high temperatures to operate a turbine to generate electricity   Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways: Photovoltaic or “solar cells” change sunlight directly into electricity. Solar thermal/electric power plants...

The creation of natural gas   Millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals decomposed and built up in thick layers.  This decomposed matter from plants and animals is called organic material (it was once alive).  Over time, the mud and soil changed to rock, covered the organic material and captured it below the rock.  Pressure and heat changed some of this organic material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas (tiny bubbles of odorless gas).  The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas (or compound) composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.    Natural gas   The search for natural gas begins...

The creation of petroleum Millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals decomposed and built up in thick layers.  This decomposed matter from plants and animals is called organic material (it was once alive).  Over time, the mud and soil changed to rock, covered the organic material and captured it below the rock.  Pressure and heat changed some of this organic material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas (tiny bubbles of odorless gas).  The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas (or compound) composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.    Petroleum After crude oil is removed from the ground, usually it...

  Nuclear power is produced when the atoms that make up enriched uranium are split. Uranium is mined from the ground, just like coal or copper or silver ore. The uranium is then formed into pellets that are put in tubes inside a nuclear reactor. Fission also creates radiation, which in high doses can hurt people.  Altough many people do not know it, there are two different types of nuclear power plants, which make energy in different ways:   Boiling-water reactors turn water into steam in the reactor core, and the steam turns the plant´s turbine and generator.  Pressurized-water reactors do not turn water to steam in the reactor core. The water passing through...

    Hydro comes from the Greek word for water, so Hydroelectric power, or hydroelectricity, is generated by the force of falling water. It is one of the cleanest sources of energy, and it is also the most reliable, as it costs the least. That means that hydroelectric power plants are able to provide electricity at a reasonable cost to families, schools, farms, factories, and businesses.  If you need more information, click in the next link:    https://www.tvakids.com/electricity/hydro.htm  

  For generating electrical power from the ocean we can find different types of power. These are the ones that are most well-developed: Tidal power Wave power Ocean thermal energy conversion We are going to learn about the first two types of ocean energies!     Tidal energy   Tidal turbines are a new technology that can be used in many tidal areas. They are basically wind turbines that can be located anywhere there is strong tidal flow.They will be heavier and more expensive to build but will be able to capture more energy.   Wave energy There is tremendous energy in the ocean waves. There are no big commercial wave energy plants, but...