NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Energy Resources and Fossil Fuels Chapter 17, Section One

Fossil Fuels The remains of ancient organisms that changed into coal, oil, and natural gasThe remains of ancient organisms that changed into coal, oil, and natural gas Available in limited supplyAvailable in limited supply Negative environmental concerns: greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, increased CO2 levelsNegative environmental concerns: greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, increased CO2 levels

Fuels for different uses Four main uses: transportation, manufacturing, heating and cooling, generating electricityFour main uses: transportation, manufacturing, heating and cooling, generating electricity Use determines the type of fuelUse determines the type of fuel Different energy levels in different types: coal vs. jet fuelDifferent energy levels in different types: coal vs. jet fuel

Electricity: Power on demand Energy in fuel converted to electricity: easier to transportEnergy in fuel converted to electricity: easier to transport Two disadvantagesTwo disadvantages –Difficult to store –Other energy sources have to be used to generate it

Coal-Fired Power Plant

Energy Use Everything you use requires some energy to makeEverything you use requires some energy to make World patterns – Developed countries use much more energy the developing countriesWorld patterns – Developed countries use much more energy the developing countries US patterns – 3 rd highest in energy usage per person, lower taxes lead to little conservationUS patterns – 3 rd highest in energy usage per person, lower taxes lead to little conservation –Industrial: 38%; Transportation: 27%; Residential: 19%; Commercial: 16%

How fossil-fuel deposits form Coal formation – remains of plants that lived in swampsCoal formation – remains of plants that lived in swamps Layers of sediment compressed the plant material and heat and pressure from Earth’s crust caused it to change to coal Layers of sediment compressed the plant material and heat and pressure from Earth’s crust caused it to change to coal Oil and Natural Gas – decay of tiny marine organisms that built up on the bottom over millions of yearsOil and Natural Gas – decay of tiny marine organisms that built up on the bottom over millions of years Buried, heated, became energy-rich carbon moleculesBuried, heated, became energy-rich carbon molecules

Fossil-fuels in the United States

Coal Most of the world’s energy reserves are coalMost of the world’s energy reserves are coal Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive Needs little refining after miningNeeds little refining after mining Over half of electricity produced in US is from coal-fired plantsOver half of electricity produced in US is from coal-fired plants Different types of coalDifferent types of coal –Bituminous burns hotter and cleaner than lignite –Sulfur produced is a major air pollution problem due to acid rain

United States Electricity Generation

Petroleum Crude oil – oil pumped from the groundCrude oil – oil pumped from the ground Petroleum product – anything made from crude oil such as fuels, chemicals, and plasticsPetroleum product – anything made from crude oil such as fuels, chemicals, and plastics Hard to locate and extractHard to locate and extract Natural gas – 20% of world’s nonrenewable energy, used to be burned as a waste product from oil wells, less pollution than oilNatural gas – 20% of world’s nonrenewable energy, used to be burned as a waste product from oil wells, less pollution than oil

Fossil Fuels and the Future Today, 90 % of energy used in developed countries is from fossil fuelToday, 90 % of energy used in developed countries is from fossil fuel Reserves – deposits that can be extracted profitably at current prices with current technologyReserves – deposits that can be extracted profitably at current prices with current technology No new reserves discovered in last decade, many are under deep-ocean floor and will be very expensive to extractNo new reserves discovered in last decade, many are under deep-ocean floor and will be very expensive to extract