Energy Resources Definition, Uses, and Importance Explained

Energy resources include all materials or processes that can actively serve as a source of energy for various purposes. This article discusses energy resources definition, uses and importance; as follows;

 

-Energy Resources Definition: 6 Ways to Define Energy Resources

-Uses of Energy Resources

-Importance of Energy Resources

-Conclusion

 

 

Energy Resources Definition: 6 Ways to Define Energy Resources

Energy resources refer to any materials or processes that contain, and can release, energy.

The above can be paraphrased and simplified to state that an energy resource is any material or process that can serve as a source of energy.

Below is an alternative energy resources definition which mentions some types of energy resources;

Energy resources are elements or materials that contain and produce energy; and which may be of non-renewable or renewable type [1].

The next energy resources definition highlights some examples of energy resources;

Energy resources are materials, processes or elements which may be non-renewable; like fossil fuels and nuclear fuels; or renewable energy resources like solar, wind, bioenergy, hydro power, wave power, and geothermal heat transfer; that can release significant amounts of energy for various purposes [2].

Some of the purposes for which energy resources are used, are mentioned in the energy resources definition below;

Energy resources are materials that contain and release energy in any of various forms; and which can be used for heat production and electricity generation, among other purposes [4].

The following energy resources definition lists some disadvantages of energy resources;

Energy resources refer to all materials, systems and processes that act as sources of energy, and may cause challenges like resource depletion risk and various forms of environmental degradation that include oil spill, deforestation, climate change and general pollution [3].

Lastly, the energy resources definition is outlined based on efforts at achieving sustainability through energy conservation;

Energy resources are natural sources of energy, whose conservation can be achieved through measures like the use of energy efficient appliances, energy management systems, scheduled regulation, and energy storage systems like batteries.

 

Uses of Energy Resources

Uses of energy resources include electricity generation, heat production, and material conversion;

1). Electricity Generation (as one of the Uses of Energy Resources)

Generating electricity is one of the most important uses of energy resources.

In order for these resources to be used to generate electricity, certain methods, processes and technologies are required.

The required technologies for generating electricity from energy resources include; electric generators, power plants, fuel-driven turbines, wind turbines, solar panels and wave converters.

Electromagnetic induction and photoelectric conversion are among the processes needed to generate electricity from energy resources [5].

The power generated can be stored in batteries, and transmitted using infrastructure that include smart grids, microgrids and large-scale utility grids.

Uses of Energy Resources: Electricity Generation (Credit: Cjp24 2019 .CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Uses of Energy Resources: Electricity Generation (Credit: Cjp24 2019 .CC BY-SA 4.0.)

 

2). Heat Production

Heat production is another common use of energy resources.

It is also arguably the simplest use of energy resources, since heat can be released as waste energy while these resources are being utilized for other purposes.

All energy resources are capable of producing heat, either directly as is the case for solar ans geothermal energy resources, or as a result of combustion and conversion as is the case for biomass, fossil fuels, wind and wave energy resources.

 

3). Material Conversion (as one of the Uses of Energy)

Energy resources are needed to convert raw materials into finished products; or to convert materials from one form to another.

In some cases, energy resources are needed to extract energy from other energy resources. An example of this is biomass conversion, which involves the use of heat and chemical energy from fossil fuels, solar and other resources; to produce biofuel, which is a source of bioenergy.

Other examples of material conversion using energy resources can be found in manufacturing, where raw materials are converted by the application of heat, pressure, and chemical reactions; all of which are facilitated by energy resources.

Efforts to conserve energy resources used in material conversion, are the focus of circular economy, which applies measures like recycling to reduce the overall amount of energy used to extract, convert or treat raw materials.

Uses of Energy: Material Conversion (Credit: Babi Hijau 2008)
Uses of Energy: Material Conversion (Credit: Babi Hijau 2008)

 

Importance of Energy Resources

The importance of energy resources include;

1). Sustenance of Biological Systems

2). Facilitation of Product Manufacturing

3). Extraction of Natural Resources

4). Powering of Vehicular Transport

5). Industrial and Agricultural Processes

 

Conclusion

An energy resource is a material, element, system or process that contains and can release significant amounts of energy for various purposes like electricity generation and heating.

 

Uses of energy resources are;

1. Electricity Generation

2. Heat Production

3. Material Conversion

 

The importance of energy resources include; sustenance of biological systems, facilitation of product manufacturing, extraction of natural resources, powering of vehicular transport, industrial and agricultural processes.

 

References

1). Iss, N. (2011). “Study of Nigeria Energy Resources and Its Consumption.” Engineering. Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Study-of-Nigeria-Energy-Resources-and-Its-Iss/7b15a23c17f73e864e5f340bc1f9bfbc700325d6. (Accessed 17 November 2022).

2). Kilic, A. M. (2006). “Turkey’s Main Energy Sources and Importance of Usage in Energy Sector.” Energy Exploration & Exploitation 24(1):1-17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1260/014459806779388001. (Accessed 17 November 2022).

3). Maurya, P. K.; Ali, S. A.; Ahmad, A.; Zhou, Q.; Castro, J. S.; Khane, E.; Ali, A. (2020). “An introduction to environmental degradation: Causes, consequence and mitigation.” Environmental Degradation: Causes and Remediation Strategies (pp.1-20). Available at: https://doi.org/10.26832/aesa-2020-edcrs-01. (Accessed 17 November 2022).

4). Osueke, C. O.; Ezugwu, E. A. (2011). “Study of Nigeria Energy Resources and Its Consumption.” Engineering. Available at: https://www.ijser.org/viewPaperDetail.aspx?DEC1124. (Accessed 17 November 2022).

5). Turysheva, A.; Voytyuk, I.; Guerra, D. (2021). “Estimation of Electricity Generation by an Electro-Technical Complex with Photoelectric Panels Using Statistical Methods.” Symmetry 2021, 13(7), 1278. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13071278. (Accessed 17 November 2022).

Similar Posts