DEFINITION OF ENERGY

Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, electrical, or other forms.

TYPES OF ENERGY

We can classify the energy sources in several ways:

-By his origen: it can be primary or secundary.

-By the use in each country: conventional or non-conventional.

-By the enviromental impact: polluting or non-polluting.

But the most famous classification is depending of his availabity in nature and capacity for regeneration:

             

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable energies are sources inexhaustibles and abundants. It means, it's renewed in a shorter period of time than the one that is consumed. They are hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and tidal or waves (ocean energy) energy.

NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

They are not renewed in the short term, therefore, become exhausted. They are nuclear energy and fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas).

HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY

The water that produces hydraulic energy is stored in reservoirs and lakes at a high altitude, so it has a potential gravitational energy. At a given time, it falls down to a lower level. The energy released is transformed into kinetic energy and then into electrical energy at a hydraulic power plant.

Hydroelectric power plants from José M. Rivas

SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy is a renewable energy obtained by the use of electromagnetic radiction from the sun. It is possible to transform it into thermal or electric energy.

Solar energy from José M. Rivas

WIND ENERGY

Windy energy is the energy produced by the wind to generate mechanic power or electricicty.

Wind power from José M. Rivas

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy that makes use of the heat inside the earth.

Geothermal energy from José M. Rivas

BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass is the utilization of organic materials as sources of energy by means of combustion, anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis.

Biomass energy from José M. Rivas

TIDAL ENERGY

Tidal energy is the energy that makes use of tides to generate electricity.

These power plants are in a experimental stage and their level of production is still very low.

Tidal power from José M. Rivas

FOSSIL FUELS

A fossil-fuel power station is a power station wich burn fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or oil to produce electricity.

Fossil fuel thermal power plants from José M. Rivas

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy is the energy released, either spontaneously or artificially, in nuclear reactions.

Nuclear power plants from José M. Rivas