Energy: Definition and Forms

The world is thriving for a better clean energy future. All the objectives of energy are to be cost-effective, eco-friendly, provide more economical advantages and serve humanity. The sustainable form of resource i.e renewable resources are a pioneering foundation to achieve fewer emissions and less pollution. 

Define Energy

As per scientists, energy can be defined as the ability to perform work. The emergence of modern civilisation is because people now learnt how to change energy from one form to another and then utilise it as per their requirements. We use energy to perform various tasks, such as walking, cooking food, electricity to light homes and workplaces, manufacturing, industrial processes, in the process of digestion, even while sleeping etc. energy is convertible into various forms.

The Different Forms of Energy 

Energy prevails in its various forms described as follows:

• Heat Energy
• Light Energy
• Motion Energy
• Electrical Energy
• Chemical Energy
• Gravitational Energy

The broad categories in which we classify energy for performing work is 

• POTENTIAL ENERGY: The energy possessed by a particle when it exhibits no motion or is at rest.
• KINETIC ENERGY: Quantitatively, it defines the energy of a moving particle. 

The sources from where we derive the energy can be categorised as:

• Renewable resources
• Non-renewable resources

Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are the category of resources that have abundant stores in nature i.e. virtually can never run out. It is the means of providing clean energy. Although renewable resources are inexhaustible in duration but have a limitation of providing a quantity of energy that is available per unit of time. They have a natural replenishment rate. These resources are also capable of emitting greenhouse gases and less pollution.

Most of the types of renewable resources are sustainable apart from some that are unsustainable.

Various renewable resources present in nature are:

1. Solar energy
2. Wind energy
3. Geothermal
4. Hydroelectric power
5. Biomass energy
6. Ocean- tidal and wave energy

What Renewable Energy Is?

Renewable energy is colloquially known as clean energy that can be extracted from sources that have natural replenishment capacity, are abundant in nature stores but flow limited. The measure of energy that is available per unit of time is somewhat limited in the context of renewable resources.

The following are the types of renewable energy:

Biomass Energy

The organic material is derived from plant and animal sources. The organic material referred to here has energy absorbed by the sun. So when we burn biomass what we get is heat energy. 

Examples of biomass energy are – 

• Wood and wood waste
• Ethanol (from corn and other plant sources): it is a renewable fuel because it is originated from biomass. The raw material used for deriving ethanol is called feedstocks. Examples of feedstock are corn, barley, sorghum, sugarcane beet etc.
• Municipal solid waste (MSW) /sewage: 
  • MSW comprises constituents like biogenic material, non-biomass combustible materials (plastics and other petroleum-derived synthetic materials and noncombustible materials (glass and metals). 
  • MSW is utilised in the production of energy at waste-to-energy plants and landfills.
  • The sole reason to burn MSW is to produce electricity.
  • Burning municipal solid waste alleviates the amount of sewage material that would probably get buried in landfills.
• Biodiesel
  • It is Biomass-based diesel fuel. For example, distillate fuel oil (i.e. diesel fuel and heating oil) constitutes biodiesel and renewable diesel.
  • It is known as biofuel owing to its use in diesel engines.
•  Biogas:
  •  It is an energy-rich gas formed by thermochemical conversion of biomass or by the anaerobic action of bacteria. 
  • It mostly contains methane gas (CH4) which is the same compound present in natural gas, and carbon dioxide (CO2).

• Landfill gas: The action of anaerobic bacteria present in the municipal solid waste landfills produce Biogas. The emitted gas is called as landfill gas.

Hydropower 

• The thousand years of utilising the force of water and streams to create mechanical energy are what led to the term hydropower. It was one of the oldest and first means of energy to generate electricity. 
• The greater the flow of the water stream and the higher the head, the larger is the amount of electricity a hydropower plant can produce.

Geothermal Power

• It is the heat that is produced deep inside the earth that occurs in a continuation. This characteristic qualifies geothermal power to be a renewable resource of energy. 
• The process of slow and gradual decaying of radioactive particles present in the earth’s core produces geothermal energy.
• Geothermal power finds its use in electricity generation, heating the buildings etc.

Wind Energy

• Wind energy is commonly used for electricity generation.

Solar Energy

• The sun is the ultimate source of energy for billions of years. Solar radiation has been utilised for thousands of years for its warmth and to dry grains, fruits etc. With recent advancements in technology, people developed instruments to collect solar energy for heat and to convert it into electricity.

Conclusion

The power and the industrial sector are increasingly replacing non-renewable fuels or dirty fuels with clean or renewable fuels as they are offering an edge over its ability to produce less pollution, relatively low carbon emissions and promise of a clean energy future. Renewable energy is the energy derived from renewable resources like geothermal sources, solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. These sources are more sustainable and eco-friendly. Additionally, they are cost-effective and more innovative ways to achieve a sustainable nature.