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Energy and Resources Factfile |
 Energy and Resources |
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Non-renewable Resources
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| 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.
Oil platform
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. The rate at which such fuels are being burned is resulting in a
rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global
warming taking place – that is, Earth’s average temperature rises.
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”.
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.
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
Coal is 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, the main gas responsible for
global warming.
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
Nuclear power plants provide about 17% of the world’s electricity. 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.
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