What is non-renewable energy?
Non-renewable energy is energy from fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas) and uranium. Non- renewable energy is obtained from limited natural resources. Fossil fuels are mainly made up of Carbon. It is believed that fossil fuels were formed over 300 million years ago. This time is referred to as ‘Carboniferous Period
The good thing is about fossil fuels is:
Unlike many renewable sources of energy, fossil fuels are relatively less expensive to produce. This is probably why it is in higher demand as it tend to cost less.
The bad thing about fossil fuels is:
Fossil fuels are made up mainly of carbon. When they are burned they produce a lot of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that hurt the environment.
What is coal?
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons. Coal is made of the remains of ancient trees and plants in warm, moist climates hundreds of millions of years ago.
What is Petroleum (Crude Oil)?
Crude oil is usually found in underground areas called reservoirs. They are discovered by oil prospecting scientists. We use the term ‘petroleum products after crude oil is refined in a factory. Crude oil exists either deep down in the earth’s surface or deep below the ocean beds. Oil drills mounted in the oceans are known as offshore drills Saudi Arabia, USA, Russia, China and Iran are among the top crude oil producers in the world, and USA is the world’s biggest consumer of crude oil, followed by China.
A great amount of all the total crude oil in the world is processed as gasoline; it can also be processed into liquid products such as rubbing alcohol or solid products such as nail polish, water pipes, etc. Spills from offshore drills and fuel tankers harm marine life.
What is Natural Gas?
Unlike other fossil fuels, natural gas is clean burning and emits lower levels of potentially harmful byproducts into the air.
The main ingredient in natural gas is methane. Natural gas supplies about 23.8 percent of the world’s energy. Gas is extracted by drilling wells deep into the ground, through many layers or rock to reach the gas deposits. In recent time, shale gas has become very popular a process called Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking).
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