1. Fossil Fuels

2. Energy Use 85% nonrenewable energy Use of coal Use of oil Nuclear has leveled off Developing countries: depend on biomass (fuelwood, charcoal) for heating/cooking – Can’t afford fossil fuels!!!! 93% Nonrenewable World’s largest energy user 5% of world’s population uses 25% of world’s energy World U.S.

3. What are fossil fuels??? Composed of partially decayed organism remains Form too slowly to replenish NOT sustainable Ex: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas

4. Fossil Fuels Oil, Natural Gas & Coal Oil and Natural Gas are less dense than coal – Move upward through porous rock and become trapped Developed countries (like US!) consume 8X MORE energy than developing countries

5. Formation of Fossil Fuels Formation of coal – Over time, plants die and get covered by water and sediment – Heat & pressure convert material into carbon rich ore (COAL) & sedimentary rock Formation of Oil – Death of plants/animals: go through decomposition – Heat & pressure convert material to hydrocarbons (OIL) without oxygen in sediments that prevent decay

6. Formation of Fossil Fuels Formation of Natural Gas – Same as oil, just produced at higher temperatures

7. 2008: Energy Use in the US Comprised of – Oil 40% – Natural Gas 23% – Coal 20% – Nuclear Power 8% – Hydropower 3% – Biomass 3% – Geothermal, Solar & Wind 1%

8. We depend heavily on oil… You know it as: – Petroleum and crude oil Composed of various hydrocarbons Produced by decomposition of dead organic matter from plants/animals We import at least 52% of our oil

9. Oil Supplies Proven oil reserves – Identified deposits that can be extracted profitably with current technology Unproven reserves – Probable reserves: 50% chance of recovery – Possible reserves: 10-40% chance of recovery Proven and unproven reserves will be 80% depleted sometime between 2050 and 2100 13 countries have at least 60% of the world’s crude oil reserves Global oil production leveled off in 2005

10. Coal Solid fossil fuel Burned in power plants (inefficient) World’s most abundant fossil fuel Different steps of formation: – Peat: not a coal – Lignite: brown coal – Bituminous: soft coal – Anthracite: hard coal

11. Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Coal Advantages: – Plentiful – High net energy yield – Low cost Disadvantages: – Very high environmental impact – Severe air pollution Sulfur released as SO 2 Large amount of soot CO 2 Trace amount of Hg and radioactive materials

12. Natural Gas Mixture of gases 50-90% methane (Ch4) Versatile with high net energy – Heat space & water – Produce electricity More plentiful than oil Fairly low cost Issue of fracking (will examine in video)

13. Conventional Natural Gas VS Fracking Conventional Natural Gas – Lies above most reservoirs of crude oil – Makes US dependent upon unstable countries like Russia and Iran Fracking: – Official term: Hydraulic fracturing – Extraction from shale rocks using a combination of vertical and horizontal drilling – Water and other chemicals used to “fracture” rocks and release gas – Michigan sits on deposits of shale