Primary energy

Primary energy is energy found in nature that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process.

Primary energy is energy contained in raw fuels and any other forms of energy received by a system as input to the system. The concept is used especially in energy statistics in the course of compilation of energy balances. Primary energy includes non-renewable energy and renewable energy.

Examples of primary energy sources

• Solar energy
• Wind power
• Fossil fuels
• Nuclear fuels (Some nuclear fuels, such as plutonium are not found in nature in any quantity, thus are secondary energy sources.)
• Geothermal power
• Tidal power^[1]
• Wave power
• Biomass
• The Sun

Conversion to secondary energy

Primary energies are transformed in energy conversion processes to more convenient forms of energy, such as electrical energy, refined fuels, or synthetic fuels such as hydrogen fuel. In energy statistics these forms are called secondary energy. Secondary energy is an energy form which has been transformed from another one. Electricity is the most common example, being transformed from such primary sources as coal, oil, natural gas, and wind.

References

• Kydes, Andy (Lead Author); Cutler J. Cleveland (Topic Editor). 2007. "Primary energy." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth June 1, 2006; Last revised August 14, 2007; Retrieved November 15, 2007].

See also

Energy portal

• Energy development
• Future energy development

External links

• The Encyclopedia of Earth - Primary energy