energy chart ( environment science)

Coal

Formed from the remains of trees and ferns preserved 280+ million years ago.

Coal Major Use

Provides heat energy and used to be the dominant fossil fuel in a power plant.

Coal Environmental Benefits

Can be collected via surface mining, needs little refining and can be burned immediately.

Coal Environmental Drawbacks

Burning coal releases pollution (particulates), carbon dioxide (GHG), sulfur compounds, and trace amounts of heavy metals like Mercury.

Oil

Formed from the preservation of ocean dwelling phytoplankton 50+ million years ago.

Oil Major Use

Provides heat energy and some electricity in power plants, mainly for transportation.

Oil Environmental Benefits

Contains more energy than coal so less is required to burn for the same amount of heat/electricity.

Oil Environmental Drawbacks

Burning oil releases pollution (particulates), carbon dioxide (GHG), sulfur compounds, and trace amounts of heavy metals like Mercury.

Biomass

Burning carbon compounds that were once living tissue or came from a living organism.

Biomass Major Use

Heating and cooking.

Biomass Environmental Benefits

Burns cleaner than fossil fuels and is easier and less expensive to acquire.

Biomass Environmental Drawbacks

When burned indoors, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs can be pollutants.

Natural Gas

Separates from crude oil over time because it is less dense and rises to the top of the entrapment.

Natural Gas Major Use

Provides heat energy and is the most dominant fossil fuel used in a power plant.

Natural Gas Environmental Benefits

Releases the least amount of carbon dioxide and impurities.

Natural Gas Environmental Drawbacks

Fracking can damage land, leak methane, and contaminate ground or water with chemicals.

Nuclear Fission

Uses the instability of radioactive nuclei to generate heat when atoms are split.

Nuclear Fission Major Use

Used for generating electricity in power plants.

Nuclear Fission Environmental Benefits

No air pollution or carbon dioxide is produced.

Nuclear Fission Environmental Drawbacks

Generates radioactive waste that must be stored.

Passive Solar

Captures sunlight to be used immediately and cannot be stored.

Passive Solar Major Use

Heating and cooking.

Passive Solar Environmental Benefits

No pollution, carbon emissions released.

Solar Thermal

Water is pumped to the solar collector to be heated and then pumped back to a storage facility.

Solar Thermal Major Use

Heating homes and swimming pools.

Solar Thermal Environmental Benefits

No pollution, carbon emissions, no harvesting of fossil fuels.

Photovoltaic Cell

Semiconductor material is exposed to sunlight causing the electrons to become excited and create an electrical current.

Photovoltaic Cell Major Use

Electricity.

Hydroelectric

Harnessing the kinetic energy of moving water to turn a turbine.

Hydroelectric Major Use

Electricity.

Tidal

Use the motion of naturally moving water due to the moon's gravity to turn turbines.

Tidal Major Use

Electricity.

Geothermal

Uses the heat generated from the natural decay of elements.

Geothermal Major Use

Heating and electricity.

Hydrogen Fuel

Hydrogen atoms are stripped of their electrons to create a flow of current.

Hydrogen Fuel Major Use

Electricity for transportation.

Wind Energy

Harnessing the kinetic energy of moving air to turn a turbine.

Wind Energy Major Use

Electricity.