Non-renewable Resources
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource, such as coal, natural gas, crude oil and propane, which takes thousands or millions of years to form naturally and cannot be replaced once it, has been used.
Non-renewable energy resources have high carbon content because they were formed from the buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. The fuels then release this carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Oil Rig
Oil
Oil was formed from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago in a marine environment before dinosaurs. Over the years, layers of mud covered the remains. Heat and pressure from these layers helped the remains turn into what we today call crude oil. The word “petroleum” means “rock oil” or “oil from the earth”.
One barrel of crude oil, when refined produces 19.4 gallons of finished motor gasoline, as well as other petroleum products. Most of the petroleum products are used to produce energy. For instance, many people across the USA use propane to heat their homes and fuel their cars. Other products made from petroleum products including crayons, dishwasher liquids, tires, ammonia, ink and heart valves.
Advantages – efficient source of energy, diverse source of energy (used in power stations, engines and cars), easily transported via pipelines, tankers and lorries.
Disadvantages – releases CO2, danger of oil spills in seas and oceans.
Gas Burner
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a mixture of flammable gases found in the earth’s crust and for many years it was discarded as worthless. Even today, some countries still get rid of it by burning it in giant flares, so large they can be seen from the Space Shuttle. Yet, it is one of the most valuable fuels we have.
Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons and is highly flammable and burns almost completely. There is no ash and very little pollution. It is usually transported from its source by pipeline, although it may be liquefied for the transport and storage and is often used in remote areas where other fuels are expensive or scarce.
Advantages – efficient source of energy, little waste is produced, cleaner than other fossil fuels and easy to transport.
Disadvantages – releases CO2 and is highly flammable.
Coal Rail Trucks
Coal
Coal is a black mineral substance formed from the compaction of ancient plant matter in tropical swamp conditions and it is the most abundant of the fossil fuels. However, trapped inside coal are traces of impurities like sulphur and nitrogen. When coal burns, these impurities are released into the air. While floating in the air, these substances can combine with water vapour and form droplets that fall to earth as weak forms of sulphuric and nitric acid – scientists call it “acid rain”.
Coal, like all fossil fuels, is formed out of carbon. All living things – even people – are made up of carbon. But when coal burns, its carbon combines with the oxygen in the air and forms carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a colourless, odourless gas, but in the atmosphere, it is one of several gases that can trap the earth’s heat.
While coal may sound like a dirty fuel to burn, in the last 20 years scientists have developed ways to capture the pollutants trapped in coal before the impurities can escape into the atmosphere. Today, we have technology that can filter out 99 % of the tiny particles and remove more than 95% of the acid rain pollutants in coal.
Advantages – available in many countries, large reserves still remain mostly untouched.
Disadvantages – burning coal creates pollution and is linked to acid rain and the onset of global warming through the release of CO2 emissions, mining can be dangerous and damaging to the local environment.
Nuclear Power Station
Nuclear
Nuclear power plants provide about 17% of the world’s electricity. Some countries depend more on nuclear power for electricity than do others. In France, for instance, about 75% of the electricity is generated from nuclear power, while in the USA nuclear power supplies about 15% of the electricity overall. There are more than 400 nuclear power plants around the world.
Nuclear power stations, unlike coal, do not produce sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. However, radioactive waste is very dangerous for thousands of years and safe storage is expensive.
Advantages – nuclear power is cleaner and more efficient than fossil fuels, no release of CO2 emissions or link to acid rain.
Disadvantages – The nuclear debate is a controversial one as many people are concerned about the safety of nuclear power and what can be done with toxic waste.