Energy
Forms
Kinetic
Due to movement
Gravitational Potential
Due to height
Elastic Potential
Due to deformation
Chemical
Makes the chemical bonds in molecules
Electric
Due to directional electron movement
Nuclear
Holds protons and neutrons together in the atoms' nuclei
Light
Transmitted by waves
Thermal
Due to atomic/molecular movement
Sources
Non-renewable
Fossil Fuels
Oil
Comes from plankton
Adv.: efficient, easy to extract
Dis.: Pollution during extraction, transformation and usage
Natural Gas
Comes from plankton
Mostly methane
Adv.: Cleanest of three
Dis.: toxic for humans, risk of accidents
Coal
Comes from woody ferns
Adv.: cheap
Dis.: difficult extraction, highly polluting
Others
Nuclear
Fission
Released when splitting atoms
Produces heat
Adv.: efficient, clean
Dis.: radioactive waste, accident risk
Fussion
Released when joining atoms
Not yet under man's control
Renewable
Biomass
Produces
Heat when burnt
Bioalcohols (from wheat, corn, sugar beet, sugar cane) to be used in gasoline engines
Biofuels (from animal fats or plant oils (soy, sunflower, palm) to be used in diesel engines
Dis.: Polluting
Hydropower
Produces electricity from rivers' kinetic energy in hydroelectric stations
Dis.: Environmental impact, risk of accident
Adv.: Cheap, agricultural uses
Solar
Thermal
Produces heat with solar water heaters
Photovoltaic
Produces electricity with photovoltaic panels
Dis.: Inefficient
Adv.: Availability
Wind
Produces electricity from wind's kinetic energy in wind turbines (=aeolians, =aerogenerators) set in wind farms
Dis.: Irregular availability
Adv.: cheap, efficient
Geothermal
Produces electricity or heat from Earth's internal heat in geothermal stations
Tidal
Produces electricity from oceans' kinetic energy (tides) in tidal power stations