Sources of

Energy
 Index

What is Energy?
Renewable Energy and Non-Renewable Energy
Renewable Energies:
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Hydroeletric Energy
Biomass Energy

Non-Renewable Energies:
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear Energy

Advantages and disadvantages of using

energy sources
Energy in Portugal
 What is
Energy?

Firstly, to understand the other topics we have to know

what energy is. Energy is the capacity for doing work. It
may exist in potential, kinetic, thermal, helectrical, chemical,
nuclear, or other forms.
 Renewable Energy
and
Non-Renewable
Energy

Renewable energy sources, as the name

implies, are those that have the ability to be
replenished naturally, which does not mean
that all of them are inexhaustible. Some of
them, like wind and sunlight, are permanent,
but others, like water, can run out, depending
on how they are used by humans. It is worth
remembering that not all renewable energy
sources are clean, that is, they are free from
the emission of pollutants or large-scale
environmental impacts.

Non-renewable energy
sources are those that may
run out in the relatively near
future. Some energy
resources, such as oil, have
their depletion estimated for
a few decades, which
increases the strategic
character of these elements.
 Renewable
energies

Solar
Energy

Solar energy is the use of sunlight to generate electricity

and heat water for use. It is also an inexhaustible source of
energy, given that the Sun – at least in its current
configuration – will exist for billions of years.

There are two ways to use solar energy: photovoltaic and

thermal. In the first form, specific cells are used that
employ the “photoelectric effect” to produce electricity. The
second form, in turn, uses the heating of water both for
direct use and for the generation of steam, which will act in
the activation processes of energy generators. It is
important to remember that other types of liquids can also
be used.

Due to high costs, solar energy is still not widely used.

However, its use has been growing gradually, both with the
installation of plates in homes, industries and large
enterprises and with the construction of solar plants
specifically aimed at generating electricity.
 Renewable
energies

Wind
Energy

Wind is a renewable energy resource and therefore

inexhaustible. In some regions of the planet, its frequency
and intensity are sufficient to generate electricity through
specific equipment for this function. Basically, the winds
activate the turbines of the wind turbines, causing the
generators to convert the mechanical energy produced into
electrical energy.

Currently, wind energy is not so widespread in the world

due to the high cost of its equipment. However, some
countries, such as the United States, China and Germany,
have already substantially adopted this feature. The main
advantages of this energy source are the non-emission of
pollutants into the atmosphere and low environmental
impacts.
 Renewable
energies

Hydroeletric
Energy

Hydroelectric energy corresponds to the use of water from rivers to drive

electricity turbines. In Portugal, this is the main source of electricity,
alongside thermoelectric plants, given the great potential that the country has
in terms of availability of rivers suitable for generating hydroelectricity.

In hydroelectric plants, dams are built in the riverbed to impound the water
that will be used in the electricity generation process. In this case, the most
advisable thing is that the dams are built in rivers that present unevenness in
their lands in order to reduce the flooded surface. Therefore, it is more
advisable to install these plants in upland rivers, although it is also possible to
install them in rivers on the plains, but with greater environmental impacts.

 Renewable
energies

Biomass
Energy

The use of biomass consists in the burning of substances of organic origin for
energy production. It occurs through the combustion of materials such as
firewood, sugarcane bagasse and other agricultural residues, forest residues and
even animal excrement. It is considered a renewable energy source, because the
carbon dioxide produced during burning is used by the vegetation itself in
carrying out photosynthesis. This means that, as long as it is controlled, its use
is sustainable as it does not change the macro composition of the Earth's
atmosphere.

Biofuels, in a way, are considered a type of biomass, as they are also produced
from vegetables of organic origin to generate fuels. The best-known example is
ethanol produced from sugarcane, but there may be other compounds from
different plants, such as castor beans, corn and many others.

 Non-
Renewable
energies

Fossil Fuels

The burning of fossil fuels can be used both for the displacement of vehicles and for
the production of electricity in thermoelectric stations. The three main types are oil,
coal and natural gas, but there are many others, such as naphtha and oil shale.

Fossil fuels are the most important and disputed energy sources for humanity at the
moment. According to the International Energy Agency, about 81.63% of the entire
global energy matrix comes from the three main fossil fuels mentioned above. These
sources represent 74% of the Portuguese energy matrix. Thus, many countries
depend on the export of these products, while others take geopolitical measures to
obtain them.

Another widely discussed issue regarding fossil fuels refers to the high levels of
pollution generated by their burning. Many scholars point out that they are the main
responsible for the intensification of the greenhouse effect and for the worsening of
the problems linked to global warming.

 Non-
Renewable
energies

Nuclear
Energy

In nuclear energy – also called atomic energy –, electricity is produced by heating

water, which turns into steam and activates generators. In nuclear power plants,
heat is generated in reactors from the nuclear fission of uranium-235, a highly
radioactive material.

Although nuclear plants are less polluting than other similar stations, such as
thermoelectric plants, they are the subject of many controversies, as the leakage
of nuclear waste produced and the occurrence of accidents can generate serious
impacts and many deaths. However, with the emergence of the issue of global
warming, its use has been reconsidered by many countries.

Advantages and
disadvantages
of using
energy sources

Advantages:
It is a source of clean energy, abundant in several areas and is cost-
effective.

Disadvantages:
The harnessing of this type of energy still requires technological
advances that make its use economically feasible.

Advantages:
It is considered a clean source as it does not emit polluting gas0es into

the atmosphere..

Disadvantages:
The installation of wind turbines causes modification in the landscape
and harms the migratory route of birds.

Advantages:
It is a clean energy source, with low operating costs and short-term
renewal.

Disadvantages:
It causes environmental damage, impacting biodiversity and the
population residing in the location where the power plants are built.

Advantages:
It is a low-polluting energy source whose resources are renewable in
the short term.

Disadvantages:
Its use can impact water resources due to the demand for water used. It
may also cause an increase in deforestation to allocate areas for
agriculture.
Advantages and
disadvantages
of using
energy sources

Advantages: They have high energy efficiency: burning them releases large
amounts of energy. It is easy to locate reservoirs, extract and process. For
this reason, they are cheaper than alternative energy sources.

Disadvantages:
The intense use of this type of energy source has caused relevant
reduction of reservoirs. The burning of these fuels releases pollutant
gases into the atmosphere, damaging the ozone layer and intensifying
global warming.

Advantages:
The use of this energy source does not release greenhouse gases and does
not depend on climatic factors to make its use feasible.

Disadvantages:
It is an expensive energy source compared to other energy sources. Its
use presents a high potential risk of nuclear accidents.

 Energy in
Portugal

Portugal imports all the fossil fuels it consumes, but necessary for the
production of oil derived products (gasoline, diesel, lubricants, etc.) and for
the production of electricity (coal and natural gas thermoelectric plants).
Portugal's energy dependence is closely linked to the production of
hydroelectricity, being higher in years of lower hydro production. In 2017,
Portugal's energy dependence was 79.7%.

Portugal is also an exporter of energy products, presenting positive import

balances, in oil products (namely gasoline and diesel), electric energy,
biomass and biofuels.

Energy efficiency in my country:

Portugal has been investing more and more in the energy sector,
promoting its innovation and sustainability. Many of these investments are
related to the application of energy efficiency measures in buildings, such
as the installation of LED lighting systems or renewable energy use
systems, which allow for the reduction of energy bills and greenhouse gas
emissions. From another perspective, there are also energy management
systems that make it possible to control the consumption of the facilities,
enabling consumers to adapt their energy behavior.

Thank You
:)

Made by Tomás Silva 11ºA2