Tag: Energy resources

Oil, also known as petroleum, is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms and plants that died millions of years ago. What is oil made of is a complex question with a simple answer: primarily hydrocarbons, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon compounds.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, fossil fuels still account for over 80% of total U.S. primary energy consumption, but not everything in our daily lives is used for energy. Understanding which of the following is not used for energy is key to distinguishing between fuel sources and essential materials.

Oil has historically been the dominant energy source, consistently accounting for the highest percentage of global primary energy consumption. Despite growing momentum in renewables, fossil fuels—including oil—continue to meet the majority of the world's energy demands due to their long-established infrastructure and wide range of applications.

The world's energy consumption has grown by an estimated 186% between 1973 and 2010, demonstrating our increasing reliance on power. Understanding what are the sources of physical energy is fundamental to grasping how our world functions, from the most basic biological processes to large-scale industrial operations. These sources range from finite resources formed over millennia to naturally replenishing options that hold the key to a sustainable future.