DIFFERENT SOURCES OF ENERGY

From the moment we wake up, when we eat, travel, communicate, relax, work and play, we
use electricity. Our country produces millions of megawatts of electricity yet it is still not
enough. Some areas in our country still do not have electricity. Learning about the science
behind power production should make us better consumers. Electricity can be broken down
to two major groups: renewable and non-renewable sources. The main source of energy
from the different regions of the Philippines are listed below.
a) Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons such as coal, oil and natural gas, sourced from the
organic remains of prehistoric organisms. When these fuels are burnt, the energy
released can be harnessed to produce electricity, power vehicles, heat homes, cook
food and much more. They are also used in the production of important materials
such as plastics.
b) Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure,
municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste. Biogas is a
renewable energy source.
c) Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. The word geothermal comes from the
Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is a renewable
energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth. People use
geothermal heat for bathing, to heat buildings, and to generate electricity.
d) Hydrothermal energy utilizes moving water to turn turbines. This is the main source
of electricity in Mindanao, generating around 45% of electricity in the region. Dam
are installed in strategic locations where there is a substantial drop in elevation. One
of the environmental concerns related to hydroelectric power is displacement of
marine species.
e) Batteries are a chemical source of energy that produces direct current, DC. Some are
rechargeable; some are not.
f) Solar cells also called photovoltaic cell, any device that directly converts the energy
of light into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect.
g) Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals, and it is a
renewable source of energy. Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. Plants
absorb the sun's energy in a process called photosynthesis. When biomass is burned,
the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat. Biomass can be burned directly
or converted to liquid biofuels or biogas that can be burned as fuels.

Assessment
Directions: Answer the following:
1. Enumerate renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Explain how the energy is
produced.
2. Give two advantages and disadvantages of one source of electricity of your choice. Briefly
explain your answers.