Non renewable sources of energy

Non

Renewable Energy

Resources

3rd Digital Assignment

by [Article Author]

Oil Coal

Natural Gas Nuclear Energy

Submitted by: Vinit Shahdeo

15BIT0335

NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 2

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished for thousands or even millions of years. Most sources of non-renewable energy are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created as the remains of marine creatures decayed millions of years ago, under huge amounts of pressure and heat.

Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels. For this reason, the time period that fossil fuels formed (about 360-300 million years ago) is

called the Carboniferous Period. All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Hundreds of millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs, Earth had a different landscape. It was covered with wide, shallow seas and swampy forests. Plants, algae, and plankton grew in these ancient wetlands. They absorbed sunlight and created energy through photosynthesis. When they died, the organisms drifted to the bottom of the sea or lake. There was energy stored in the plants and animals when they died.

Over time, the dead plants were crushed under the seabed. Rocks and other sediment piled on top of them, creating high heat and pressure underground. In this environment, the plant and animal remains eventually turned into fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum). Today, there are huge underground pockets (called reservoirs) of these non-renewable sources of energy all over the world.


Non-renewable energy resources

Type of

fuel

Where it is from Advantages Disadvantages

Coal

(fossil

fuel)

Formed from fossilized plants

and consisting of carbon with

various organic and some

inorganic compounds.

Mined from seams of coal,

found sandwiched between

layers of rock in the earth.

Burnt to provide heat or

electricity.

Ready-made fuel.

It is relatively cheap

to mine and to

convert into energy.

Coal supplies will

last longer than oil

or gas.

When burned coal gives off

atmospheric pollutants, including

greenhouse gases.

Oil (fossil

fuel)

A carbon-based liquid formed

from fossilized animals.

Lakes of oil are sandwiched

between seams of rock in the

earth.

Pipes are sunk down to the

reservoirs to pump the oil

out.

Widely used in industry and

transport.

Oil is a ready-made

fuel.

Relatively cheap to

extract and to

convert into energy.

When burned, it gives off


greenhouse gases.

Only a limited supply.

Natural

gas

(fossil

fuel)

Methane and some other

gases trapped between

seams of rock under the

earth's surface.

Pipes are sunk into the

ground to release the gas.

Often used in houses for

heating and cooking.

Gas is a ready-

made fuel.

It is a relatively

cheap form of

energy.

It's a slightly

cleaner fuel than

coal and oil.

When burned, it gives off


greenhouse gases.

Only limited supply of gas.

Nuclear Radioactive minerals such as

uranium are mined.

Electricity is generated from

the energy that is released

when the atoms of these

minerals are split (by nuclear

fission) in nuclear reactors.

A small amount of

radioactive material

produces a lot of

energy.

Raw materials are

relatively cheap and

can last quite a long

time.

It doesn't give off

atmospheric

pollutants.

Nuclear reactors are expensive to

run.

Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and

needs to be safely stored for

hundreds or thousands of years

(storage is extremely expensive).

Leakage of nuclear materials can

have a devastating impact on

people and the environment. The

worst nuclear reactor accident was

at Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986.


Non-Renewable Energy Resources


Advantages and Disadvantages

Fossil fuels are a valuable source of energy. They are relatively inexpensive to extract. They can also be stored, piped, or shipped anywhere in the world. However, burning fossil fuels is harmful for the environment. When coal and oil are burned, they release particles that can pollute the air, water, and land. Some of these particles are caught and set aside, but many of them are released into the air.

Burning fossil fuels also upsets Earth’s “carbon budget,” which balances the carbon in the ocean, earth, and air. When fossil fuels are combusted (heated), they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas that keeps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, a process called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is necessary to life on Earth, but relies on a balanced carbon budget. The carbon in fossil fuels has been sequestered, or stored, underground for millions of years. By removing this sequestered carbon from the earth and

releasing it into the atmosphere, Earth’s carbon budget is out of balance. This contributes to temperatures rising faster than organisms can adapt.


Coal

Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked depending on how much “carbonization” it has gone through. Carbonization is the process that ancient organisms

undergo to become coal.

Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked depending on how much “carbonization” it has gone through. Carbonization is the process that ancient organisms undergo to become coal. About 3 meters (10 feet) of solid vegetation crushed together into .3 meter (1 foot) of coal! Peat is the lowest rank of coal. It has gone through the least amount of carbonization. It is an important fuel in areas of the world including Scotland, Ireland, and Finland. Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. Anthracite forms in regions of the world where there have been giant movements of the earth, such as the formation of mountain ranges. The Appalachian Mountains, in the eastern part of the United States, are rich in anthracite. We mine coal out of the ground so we can burn it for energy. There are two ways that we can mine coal: underground mining and surface mining. Underground mining is used when the coal is located below the surface of the Earth, sometimes 300 meters (1,000 feet) deep—that’s deeper than most of the Great Lakes! Miners take an elevator down a mineshaft. They operate heavy machinery that cuts the coal out of the Earth and brings it above ground. This can be dangerous work because cutting coal can release dangerous gases. The gases can cause explosions or make it hard for miners to breathe. Surface mining is used when the coal is located very near the surface of the earth. To get to the coal, companies must first clear the area. They take away the trees and soil. The coal can then be cut out of the ground more easily. Entire habitats are destroyed during this process. About half the electricity in the United States comes from coal. It gives power to our lights, refrigerators, dishwashers, and most other things we plug in. When coal is burned, it leaves “byproducts” that are also valuable. We use the byproducts to make cement, plastics, roads, and many other things.



Coal is a reliable source of energy. We can rely on it day and night, summer and winter, sunshine or rain, to provide fuel and electricity. Using coal is also harmful. Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Coal miners are exposed to toxic dust and face the dangers of cave-ins and explosions at work.

When coal is burned, it releases many toxic gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. Mining for coal can also cause the ground to cave in and create underground fires that burn for decades at a time.


NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

ESTIMATED AGE

Fossil fuel Time

left

Oil 50 years

Natural gas 70 years

Coal 250

years

Nuclear energy is usually considered another non-renewable energy source. Although nuclear

energy itself is a renewable energy source, the material used in nuclear power plants is not. Nuclear energy harvests the powerful energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Nuclear energy is released through nuclear fission, the process where the nucleus of an atom splits. Nuclear power plants are complex machines that can control nuclear fission to produce electricity. The material most often used in nuclear power plants is

element uranium. Although uranium is found in rocks all over the world, nuclear power plants usually use a very rare type of uranium, U-235. Uranium is a non-renewable resource. Nuclear energy is a popular way of generating electricity around the world. Nuclear power plants do not pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases. They can be built in rural or urban areas, and do not destroy the environment around them.

However, nuclear energy is difficult to harvest. Nuclear power plants are very complicated to build and run. Many communities do not have the scientists and engineers to develop a safe and reliable nuclear energy program. Nuclear energy also produces radioactive material. Radioactive waste can be extremely toxic, causing burns and increasing the risk for cancers, blood diseases, and bone decay among people who are exposed to it.


How Nuclear

Energy is

produced

When the heaviest

element, uranium was

bombarded with

neutrons, it was

discovered that instead

of inducing radioactivity

as did other elements,

something different

happened. This process

was named fission.

When fission occurred,

not only were two

lighter elements and a

lot of radiation

produced, but also

more neutrons. It was

clear that these

neutrons could in turn

also cause fission,

producing more

neutrons and

developing a chain

reaction which might

spread throughout all

the uranium present.

In the fission of

uranium 235 nucleus,

the amount of energy

released is about

60,000,000 times as

much as when a carbon

atom burns. Most of the

energy from fission

appears as kinetic

energy as the fission

products shoot apart

and quickly share their

energy with their

surroundings, thus

producing heat. The

first reactors to produce

a usable amount of

power were built at

Calder hall in England.

With pure fissionable

material, atomic bombs

can be made. Of the

two bombs dropped on

Japan to end the World

War 2, one contained

plutonium and the other

very highly enriched

uranium 235.

Nuclear energy is a rare form of energy

http://conserve-energy-future.com/Images/NuclearPowerAdvantages.jpg

Nuclear Power Plants


Advantages of Nuclear Energy 1. Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: As per the reports in 1998, it has

been calculated the emission of the greenhouse gas has reduced for nearly half

due to the popularity in the use of nuclear power. Nuclear energy by far has

the lowest impact on the environment since it does not releases any gases like

carbon dioxide, methane which are largely responsible for greenhouse effect.

There is no adverse effect on water, land or any habitats due to the use of it.

Though some greenhouse gases are released while transporting fuel or

extracting energy from uranium.

2. Powerful and Efficient: The other main advantage of using nuclear energy

is that it is very powerful and efficient than other alternative energy sources.

Advancement in technologies has made it more viable option than others. This

is one the reason that many countries are putting huge investments in nuclear

power. At present, a small portion of world’s electricity comes through it.

3. Reliable: Unlike traditional sources of energy like solar and wind which

require sun or wind to produce electricity, nuclear energy can be produced from

nuclear power plants even in the cases of rough weather conditions. They can

produce power 24/7 and need to be shut down for maintenance purposes only.

4. Cheap Electricity: The cost of uranium which is used as a fuel in generating

electricity is quite low. Also, set up costs of nuclear power plants is relatively

high while running cost is low. The average life of nuclear reactor range from

4.-60 years depending upon its usage. These factors when combined make the

cost of producing electricity very low. Even if the cost of uranium rises, the

increase in cost of electricity will be much lower.

5. Low Fuel Cost: The main reason behind the low fuel cost is that it requires

little amount of uranium to produce energy. When a nuclear reaction happens,

it releases million times more energy as compared to traditional sources of


energy.

6. Supply: There are certain economic advantages in setting up nuclear power

plants and using nuclear energy in place of conventional energy. It is one of

the major sources of electricity throughout the nation. The best part is that this

energy has a continuous supply. It is widely available, has huge reserves and

expected to last for another 100 years while coal, oil and natural gas are

limited.

7. Easy Transportation: Production of nuclear energy needs very less amount

of raw material. This means that only about 28 gram of uranium releases as

much energy as produced from 100 metric tons of coal. Since it’s required in

small quantities, transportation of fuel is much easier than fossil fuels. Optimal

utilization of natural resources in production of energy is a very thoughtful

approach for any nation. It not only enhances the socio-economic condition but

also sets example for the other countries.


Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy 1. Radioactive Waste: The waste produced by nuclear reactors needs to be

disposed off at a safe place since they are extremely hazardous and can leak

radiations if not stored properly. Such kind of waste emits radiations from tens

to hundreds of years. The storage of radioactive waste has been major

bottleneck for the expansion of nuclear programs. The nuclear wastes contain

radio isotopes with long half-lives. This means that the radio isotopes stay in

the atmosphere in some form or the other. These reactive radicals make the

sand or the water contaminated. It is known as mixed waste. The mixed wastes

cause hazardous chemical reactions and leads to dangerous complications. The

radioactive wastes are usually buried under sand and are known as vitrification.

But these wastes can be used to make nuclear weapons.

2. Nuclear Accidents: While so many new technologies have been put in place

to make sure that such disasters won’t happen again like the ones Chernobyl

or more recently Fukushima but the risk associated with them are relatively

high. Even small radiation leaks can cause devastating effects. Some of the

symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. People who work at

nuclear power plants and live near those areas are at high risk of facing nuclear

radiations.

3. Nuclear Radiation: There are power reactors called breeders. They

produce plutonium. It is an element which is not found in the nature however

it is a fissionable element. It is a by-product of the chain reaction and is very

harmful if introduced in the nature. It is primarily used to produce nuclear

weapons. Most likely, it is named as dirty bomb.

4. High Cost: Another practical disadvantage of using nuclear energy is that it

needs a lot of investment to set up a nuclear power station. It is not always

possible by the developing countries to afford such a costly source of alternative

energy. Nuclear power plants normally take 5-10 years to construct as there


are several legal formalities to be completed and mostly it is opposed by the

people.

5. National Risk: Nuclear energy has given us the power to produce more

weapons than to produce things that can make the world a better place to live

in. We have to become more careful and responsible while using nuclear energy

to avoid any sort of major accidents. They are hot targets for militants and

terrorist organizations. Security is a major concern here. A little lax in security

can prove to be lethal and brutal for humans and even for this planet.

6. Impact on Aquatic Life: Eutrophication is another result of radioactive

wastes. There are many seminars and conferences being held every year to

look for a specific solution. But there is no outcome as of now. Reports say that

radioactive wastes take almost 10,000 years to get back to the original form.

7. Major Impact on Human Life: We all remember the disaster caused

during the Second World War after the nuclear bombs were dropped over

Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even after five decades of the mishap, children are

born with defects. This is primarily because of the nuclear effect. Do we have

any remedy for this? The answer is still no.

8. Fuel Availability: Unlike fossil fuels which are available to most of the

countries, uranium is very scarce resource and exist in only few of the

countries. Permissions of several international authorities are required before

someone can even thought of building a nuclear power plant.

9. Non Renewable: Nuclear energy uses uranium which is a scarce resource

and is not found in many countries. Most of the countries rely on other countries

for the constant supply of this fuel. It is mined and transported like any other

metal. Supply will be available as long as it is there. Once all extracted, nuclear

plants will not be of any use. Due to its hazardous effects and limited supply,

it cannot be termed as renewable.


Natural Gas

Natural gas is another fossil fuel that is trapped underground in reservoirs. It is mostly made up of methane. You may have smelled methane before. The decomposing material in landfills also release methane, which smells like rotten eggs. There is so much natural gas underground that it is measured in million, billion, or trillion cubic meters.

Natural gas is found in deposits a few hundred meters underground. In order to get natural gas out of the ground, companies drill straight down. However, natural gas does not form in big open pockets. Natural gas is trapped in rock formations that can stretch for kilometers. To reach natural gas, some companies use a process called “hydraulic fracturing,” or fracking. Hydraulic means they use water, and fracturing means to “split apart.” The process uses high-pressure water to split apart the rocks underground. This releases the natural gas that is trapped in rock formations. If the rock is too hard, they can send acid down

the well to dissolve the rock. They can also use tiny grains of glass or sand to prop open the rock and let the gas escape. We use natural gas for heating and cooking. Natural gas can also be burned to generate electricity. We rely on natural gas to give power to lights, televisions, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances in our homes. Natural gas can also be turned into a liquid form, called liquid natural gas (LNG). LNG is much cleaner than any other fossil fuels.

Liquid natural gas takes up much less space than the gaseous form. The amount of natural gas that would fit into a big beach ball would fit into a ping-pong ball as a liquid! LNG can be easily stored and used for different purposes. LNG can even be a replacement for gasoline.



Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract, and is a “cleaner” fossil fuel than oil or coal. When natural gas is burned, it only releases carbon dioxide and water vapor (which are the exact same gases that we breathe out when we exhale!) This is healthier than burning coal. However, extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems. Fracturing rocks can cause mini-earthquakes. The high-pressure water and chemicals that are forced underground can also leak to other sources of

water. The water sources, used for drinking or bathing, can become contaminated and unsafe.


Oil or Petroleum

Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. It is also called oil or crude oil. Petroleum is trapped by underground rock formations. In some places, oil bubbles right out of the ground. At the LaBrea Tar Pits, in Los Angeles, California, big pools of thick oil bubble up through the ground. Remains of animals that got trapped there thousands of years ago are still preserved in the tar! Most of the world’s oil is still deep under the ground. We drill through the

earth to access the oil. Some deposits are on land, and others are under the ocean floor. Once oil companies begin drilling with a “drill rig,” they can extract petroleum 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Many successful oil sites produce oil for about 30 years. Sometimes they can produce oil for much longer. When oil is under the ocean floor, companies drill off shore. They must build an oil platform. Oil platforms are some of the biggest manmade structures

in the world! Once the oil has been drilled, it must be refined. Oil contains many chemicals besides carbon, and refining the oil takes some of these chemicals out. We use oil for many things. About half of the world’s petroleum is converted into gasoline. The rest can be processed and used in liquid products such as nail polish and rubbing alcohol, or solid products such as water pipes,

shoes, crayons, roofing, vitamin capsules, and thousands of other items.



There are advantages to drilling for oil. It is relatively inexpensive to extract. It is also a reliable and dependable source of energy and money for the local community. Oil provides us with thousands of conveniences. In the form of gasoline, it is a portable source of energy that gives us the power to drive places. Petroleum is also an ingredient in many items that we depend on.

However, burning gasoline is harmful to the environment. It releases hazardous gases and fumes into the air that we breathe. There is also the possibility of an oil spill. If there is a problem with the drilling machinery, the oil can explode out of the well and spill into the ocean or surrounding land. Oil spills are environmental disasters, especially offshore spills. Oil floats on water, so it can look like food to fish and ruin birds’ feathers.


Future of Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources have fueled the world’s industrial complex for

far too long. It has reached a point where the word is facing rapid starvation in

this sector. There are also other associated effects too which also need to be

carefully looked at just to make sure things are running as intended. However,

this is not the case. With increased exploitation of these fossil fuels, there are

many associated environmental effects like land pollution and air pollution

which in turn affect both animal and plant life. The far-reaching consequences

of non-renewable sources are inexplicable and the trend has to be reversed

soon before it is too late to do anything.

Carbon is a major source of fuel in non-renewable energy sources. When

combustion takes place, carbon is mixed with oxygen and form carbon dioxide.

It pollutes the environment and is responsible for global warming. In last few

years, the concentration of carbon dioxide has only increased in the

atmosphere. Not to mention, climate change, acid rain and change in seasons

are some other effects that has been observed by many people. With so many

problems, scarce resources and rising prices, these resources cannot be used

for lifetime. The need of the hour is to look for some alternative sources of

energy and protect our environment from such harmful gases.


Alternative to Non-Renewable Energy Sources

There are many active groups that are finding other alternative sources of

energy. For instance, there has been increased exploitation and tapping of

renewable energy sources. Worldwide there are several renewable energy

projects that are undergoing to harness this energy as it is clean, replenished,

sustainable and widely available.

Most people argue that even these projects consume fossil fuel in some indirect

way to produce electricity. Manufacturing of turbines, generators, blades, solar

panels, transformers and several other small components are done in factories

which use fossil fuels to produce them. But, renewable energy experts say that

energy produced by these plants is much higher than the energy consumed

during making of these components.

Although, these energy sources have been in use since last few decades but it

is only in the last few years that renewable energy has speed up the pace. Huge

investments have been going in these projects and several companies across

the world are setting up wind farms, solar farms and hydropower plants across

several countries. Nuclear energy has also gain momentum.

Though it is not considered as renewable source due to the fact that it releases

some toxic substances in the form of radioactive waste but it is sustainable

form of energy. Even after several years, share of renewable energy in world

power production is less than 20%. It is however believed that by 2020,

renewable energy will have a major share in world’s electricity production.

Coal mining as predominant as it is, should be limited to save the environment

from many other associated effects aside from pollution. This was the major

energy source in the early 19th century before plans were made to tap into

renewable energy sources. Oil exploration was once the best trade and

investment to make.

Nowadays, any discovery is just an environmental disaster in

waiting. Geothermal power is another one that gives out lots of energy. The

one bad thing is it is a non-renewable source of energy that has vast

environmental effects.


Submitted By:

Vinit

Shahdeo

15BIT0335 B.tech-IT

VIT University

Vellore

THANK YOU

Non renewable sources of energy

Education

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