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| - | Almost all of the sources of energy that we use on Earth came originally from the Sun, but the following three did not: These non-solar sources of energy are geothermal, tidal and nuclear. |
| - | Geothermal Geothermal energy originates in the hot interior of the Earth and tends to emerge along fault lines in the Earth's crust, often in the form of hot springs and geysers which can be used to heat water and drive steam turbines to make electricity. |
| - | Tidal The movement of the Moon and Sun around the Earth creates the tides and this tidal movement has energy which can be tapped using hydraulic turbines - rather than the far more common steam turbines. Mostly, this is done by using expensive dam-like structures to trap water at high tide and then release it at low tide to drive turbines. Although they are both linked to the sea, this is a different energy source from 'wave power'. |
| - | Nuclear Nuclear energy can be tapped by splitting uranium heavy atomic nuclei [glossary entry]atoms. Uranium can be found in certain rocks. This process is called nuclear fission and releases enormous amounts of energy which can then be used to heat water and drive steam turbines to make electricity. |
 Credits: Gudmundor Omar Fridleifsson |
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