Energy Sources and Classifications
Our choices for the sources of energy we choose to fulfill our energy service needs have costs and benefits. Here we provide some definitions to understand these tradeoffs.
Energy Service
Something useful provided by energy. Examples include hot water, transportation, and lighting.
Primary Energy Source
A source of energy as found in nature (solar energy, petroleum, coal, wind).
Secondary energy source
A source of energy converted from primary sources into a more convenient form (electricity, gasoline).
Tradeoffs
Ancient peoples used renewable sources of energy. After the industrial revolution, fossil fuels became dominant. The consequences of this widespread fossil fuel use became apparent.
Classifications of energy
Several categories of energy were created as a shorthand for the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources.
- fossil fuel energy
- clean energy
- green energy
- sustainable energy
- low-carbon energy
- renewable energy
Renewable Energy
Energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.
Sustainable Energy
Sustainability: patterns of economic, environmental, and social progress that meet the needs of the present day without reducing the capacity to meet future needs. (Masters and Rudolph)
Sustainable energy: patterns of energy production and use that can support society’s present and future needs with the least life-cycle economic, environmental, and social costs and consequences. (Masters and Rudolph)
Energy Resilience
We are observing an increase in the impact of climate-related disasters. These disasters can interrupt our energy supply, placing burdens on communities.
The categories above are relevant to the impact of the energy system on the climate. The term resilience refers to the impact of the climate on the energy system. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) defines resilience as the capacity to anticipate, adapt to, and rapidly recover from disruptive incidents. These disruptive incidents include fires and floods, but also include malicious actors performing physical and cyber attacks.