How many types of energy sources are currently available to mankind?

At present, human life is closely related to energy, if the current available energy sources for human beings suddenly disappear, then most of our current energy-driven tools will lose power and become a useless piece of junk.

Today let me introduce you to some of the energy sources currently available to mankind.

Currently available energy sources for human beings are coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, solar energy, hydro energy, wind energy, etc.

Coal, coal has occupied a long time in the history of human development, since the birth of the steam engine, the use of coal has gradually increased, mankind has not found a new source of energy has been relying on coal or wood burning to obtain the required energy, but because coal is more serious pollution of the environment coupled with the birth of new energy, so the use of coal gradually less and less people.

Petroleum, mainly hydrocarbons, is a mixture of different hydrocarbons. There are many products derived from petroleum, and gasoline is the most common energy source. It is mostly used to power cars and motorcycles or for other large machinery and equipment.

Natural gas, one of the safer gases, does not contain carbon monoxide, is lighter than air, and once it leaks, it immediately spreads upward and is less likely to accumulate to form explosive gases. The use of natural gas as an energy source reduces the use of coal and oil, thus greatly improving environmental pollution; as a clean energy source, natural gas can reduce sulfur dioxide and dust emissions, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50%, and help reduce acid rain formation, soothe the earth's greenhouse effect, and fundamentally improve environmental quality. Natural gas as a motor fuel has the advantages of high calorific value per unit, low exhaust pollution, reliable supply and low price, and has become the world's clean fuel development direction, while natural gas vehicles have become the fastest growing and most used new energy vehicles, but the domestic motor fuel is still mainly gasoline. However, for the greenhouse effect, natural gas, like coal and oil, will produce carbon dioxide. Therefore, natural gas cannot be considered as a new energy source.

Solar energy, water energy, wind energy is the world's known clean energy, mainly by the heat of the sun, water kinetic energy, wind kinetic energy through specific machinery into electricity stored for human use, is currently more environmentally friendly energy. The disadvantage, however, is that in some areas the efficiency of power generation is low and the output cannot keep up with the demand of people.

Nuclear energy, nuclear energy (or atomic energy) is the energy released from the nucleus of an atom through a nuclear reaction. Nuclear power is mainly generated by the energy released from the nucleus of an atom by a nuclear reactor to drive the relevant machinery. The disadvantages are the high investment cost, the inconvenient disposal of nuclear waste and the release of nuclear radiation to the outside environment in case of an accident, which can cause harm to the ecology and the public.

Therefore, there is no free lunch, and every energy source has more or less some advantages and disadvantages. How to use these energy sources reasonably depends on how the user uses them.