In a strict sense energy technologies are technologies to convert one form of energy into another in order to solve a problem…
Energy technology is about the transformation of energy from one form to another. It is about harnessing and storing energy in various different forms.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed but rather transformed.
Often the technology for harnessing the energy looks at whether the store or origin of the energy is either:
- Renewable (sometimes also called sustainable)
- Non-renewable (fossil fuels, coal, gas)
An oil platform for extracting crude oil, an energy source. image: wikipedia
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Renewable generally means sourcing energy from places that are essentially provided with continuous energy. Typically this is wind energy, solar energy or water wave energy. Tidal energy is also sometimes considered. Geothermal energy.
A solar power tower concentrating sunlight onto a focal point tower. image: wikipedia
Non-renewable often means sources of energy that are not easily replaced. Such as crude oil, gas hydrocarbons. Although these terms sometimes become marketing terms.
Note that wikipedia defines energy technology within a sustainable or environmentally friendly context. Here is what it says:
Energy technology is an interdisciplinary engineering science having to do with the efficient, safe, environmentally friendly and economical extraction, conversion, transportation, storage and use of energy, targeted towards yielding high efficiency whilst skirting side effects on humans, nature and the environment.
For people, energy is an overwhelming need and as a scarce resource it has been an underlying cause of political conflicts and wars. The gathering and use of energy resources can be harmful to local ecosystems and may have global outcomes.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Energy_technology&oldid=599669557