Electricity is generated from various sources that can broadly be classified into renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Renewable Energy Sources
These include natural resources that can be replenished, such as:
- Wind
- Solar
- Hydropower
- Bioenergy (biomass)
- Geothermal (especially in the US)
Renewable sources are generally cleaner, greener, and often cheaper forms of electricity generation.
Non-Renewable Energy Sources
These include fuels that are finite and usually extracted from the earth, such as:
- Coal
- Fossil fuels (oil and natural gas)
- Nuclear power (using uranium or other radioactive materials)
Non-renewable sources are usually generated by power plants and are sometimes relied on when renewable sources can't meet demand. Electricity is produced in power stations or farms using these sources and then delivered through a network to homes, businesses, and other places where it is used. Overall, the trend is to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity generation due to its environmental and economic benefits, though non-renewable sources remain part of the energy mix for now.
