Non-Renewable Energy Resources: Fossil Fuels

Characteristics and Formation of Fossil Fuels

• Fossil fuels consist of coal, oil, and natural gas, derived from the remains of plants and animals millions of years ago.
• These resources store chemical energy and are classified as non-renewable because they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime.
• Approximately $3/4$ of the electricity generated in the UK is produced by power stations using fossil fuels.

Electricity Generation Process

• The generation of electricity from coal involves specific energy transfers through a series of stages:     * Coal: Stores chemical energy, which is transferred as heat.     * Water and steam: Stores heat energy, which is transferred as movement.     * Turbine: Receives movement energy and transfers it to the generator.     * Generator: Converts movement energy into electricity.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Advantages:     * Currently relatively cheap and easy to obtain.     * Compatibility with existing homes, offices, and transport infrastructure.
• Disadvantages:     * Finite supply that will eventually run out.     * Combustion of coal and oil releases sulphur dioxide ($SO_2$), which contributes to acid rain and respiratory issues.     * Combustion releases carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), enhancing the greenhouse effect and global warming.     * For a specific amount of energy, coal produces the most $CO_2$ while natural gas produces the least.

Defining Non-Renewable Resources

• A non-renewable energy resource has a finite supply and is consumed faster than it can be replaced.
• Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal are non-renewable because their formation period greatly exceeds the human lifetime.
• Biomass and wood are categorized as non-renewable if the plants and trees utilized are not actively replanted and regrown.