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Energy Sources - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Hydroelectric power
        
        Sankey Diagram
        
        How does this energy derived from the Sun?
        
        In the water cycle, the sun drives the water cycle by heating water to evaporate it, and this evaporated water eventually falls as precipitation, creating rivers and reservoirs that hydroelectric power plants use to generate electricity. Solar energy's heat provides the potential energy for water, which is then converted to kinetic energy as it flows and spins turbines connected to generators.
        
        How does the hydroelectric power work?
        
        Hydroelectric power generates electricity by using the force of moving water to spin a turbine connected to a generator. A dam creates a reservoir, holding water with potential energy. This water flows through a penstock, a pipe or tunnel, and its force turns the turbine. The spinning turbine drives a generator, which produces electricity that is then fed into the electrical grid. After passing through the turbine, the water is returned to the river below the dam
        
        Advantages
        
        Steady, reliable energy with cheap long-term running; stores water for multiple uses
        
        Disadvantages
        
        Huge building cost and habitat harm; fails in dry seasons.
    - - Biomass energy
        
        How does the biomass energy work?
        
        Biomass energy works by converting stored chemical energy in organic matter—like wood, crops, and waste—into heat, electricity, or fuel through processes like direct combustion (burning) or thermochemical conversion. In direct combustion, biomass is burned to heat water and create steam, which spins a turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity. Thermochemical methods, such as pyrolysis and gasification, use heat to produce fuels like bio-oil or syngas from biomass.
        
        How does this energy derived from the Sun?
        
        Biomass energy is derived from the sun through photosynthesis, where plants use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into chemical energy stored in their organic matter. When this biomass is burned or converted into biofuels, this stored solar energy is released as heat and can then be used to generate electricity or fuel other processes.
        
        Sankey Diagram
        
        Advantages
        
        Turns waste into steady power; burns when needed.
        
        Disadvantages
        
        Releases smoke; uses land that could grow food.
      - Wind energy
        
        How does wind energy work?
        
        Wind turbines generate electricity by using the kinetic energy of wind to spin propeller-like blades. This rotation turns a shaft connected to a generator, which converts the mechanical (rotational) energy into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction. The process is similar to a fan in reverse, using wind to create power rather than using power to create wind.
        
        How does this energy derived from the Sun?
        
        Wind energy is derived from the sun because the sun's uneven heating of the Earth's surface creates differences in air temperature and pressure, which causes air to move. Warm air rises and cooler, heavier air rushes in to replace it, creating wind. This flow of air is a form of kinetic energy that can be harnessed by wind turbines and converted into electricity.
        
        Sankey Diagram
        
        Advantages
        
        Free fuel forever and clean; quick to set up.
        
        Disadvantages
        
        Only blows sometimes; needs backup power.
    - - How does the solar energy work?
        
        Solar energy works by using photovoltaic (PV) cells in solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. When sunlight (photons) strikes the cells, it excites electrons, creating an electrical current. This direct current (DC) is then converted into usable alternating current (AC) by an inverter for homes and businesses.
      - How dose this energy derived from the sun?
        
        Solar energy is derived from the Sun through nuclear fusion, a process where hydrogen atoms in the Sun's core collide and combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy in the form of light and heat. This energy travels to Earth as electromagnetic radiation and can then be captured and converted into usable power, most commonly electricity, using photovoltaic panels.
      - Sankey Diagram
      - Advantages & Disadvantages
        
        Disadvantages
        
        The main disadvantages of solar energy are the high upfront costs, intermittency due to weather and nighttime, and the need for expensive energy storage solutions like batteries
        
        Advantages
        
        Solar energy's main advantages are its environmental benefits and long-term cost savings. It is a clean, renewable resource that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and cuts greenhouse gas emissions, while also significantly lowering electricity bills over time due to free and abundant energy from the sun.
      - Sankey Diagram
  - - - Geothermal Energy
        
        How does the geothermal energy work?
        
        Geothermal energy works by tapping into the Earth's heat, which comes from the planet's formation and radioactive decay. This heat is stored in underground reservoirs of hot water and steam, which are accessed by drilling wells. The steam or hot water is then used to spin turbines connected to a generator to produce electricity.
        
        Why does this geothermal energy not originated from the Sun?
        
        Geothermal energy does not come from the sun because it is generated from the Earth's internal heat, which originates from two main sources: the residual heat left over from the planet's formation and the continuous decay of radioactive minerals in the Earth's core and crust. Unlike solar energy, which is a direct energy input from the sun's radiation, geothermal energy is a source of thermal energy from within the planet itself.
        
        Sankey Diagram
        
        Advantages
        
        Runs non-stop with almost no pollution; tiny land use.
        
        Disadvantages
        
        Only works in hot underground spots; expensive to drill.
- - - - How it works?
        
        Coal energy starts with mining coal, a rock rich in carbon, from underground or surface pits. The coal is crushed into powder and burned in a giant furnace, heating water into high-pressure steam. This steam blasts through turbines, spinning them fast to generate electricity via connected generators. Leftover ash is collected, and smokestack filters catch most pollutants before release. Modern plants recycle heat to boost efficiency, but burning still releases carbon dioxide and other gases. The whole process delivers steady power but relies on finite coal supplies.
    - - How it works
        
        Natural gas is burned to create high-temperature gases or steam, which spins a turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. This electricity is then sent through transmission lines and distributed to homes and businesses via local power grids. In addition to electricity generation, natural gas is also used directly for heating and cooking in homes and industries.
    - - How it works
        
        Oil energy works by converting the chemical energy in oil into heat and then into electrical energy through a process of combustion, where the oil is burned to create steam or to directly power an engine. In a typical power plant, this steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces electricity.
    - - Reliable power anytime; easy to store and transport.
    - - Pollutes air and warms planet; fuel runs out eventually.
    - - Chemical (fuel burn) → Heat → Steam/gas (kinetic) → Mechanical (turbine spins) → Electric
  - - - Nuclear energy works through a process called nuclear fission, where the nuclei of atoms, typically uranium, are split. This splitting releases a massive amount of heat, which boils water to create steam. The high-pressure steam then spins turbines connected to generators, producing electricity.
    - - Chemical (uranium) → Heat → Steam (kinetic) → Mechanical (turbine spins) → Electric
    - - Steady, massive energy from tiny fuel; almost no air pollution.
    - - Huge build cost and long delays; risky waste and rare accidents.