Fossil Fuel

1. Fossil Fuel There are 3 major forms of fossil fuel. Coal which is a sedimentary rock that is used as a human resource for consumption, Oil which is a liquid substance that does not mix with what but may mix with other organic solvents and Natural Gas lighter than air and highly flammable.

2. The good and bad about fossil fuel Good Bad • Fossil fuels are immensely popular for their high calorific value, which means burning 1 gm of fossil fuel produces abundant energy. Thus, they are considered to be high efficient. • Fossil fuels are highly stable in nature compared to other fuels. • Fossil fuels are cheaper than non-conventional forms of energy, as it is easy to extract and process them. • Transportation of liquid or gaseous fossil fuels is very easy. • Fossil fuels are tried and tested, so there is a huge potential for sustainable development. • Although fossil fuels like oil and natural gas are available in abundance, their over exploitation has resulted in their substantial depletion. • Fossil fuels are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane which are negatively impacting the ozone layer, a protective cover above the earth that is essential for the survival of all species. • Fossil fuels also emit harmful gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide which produce acid rain . • Formation of fossil fuels takes millions of years.

3. Non-Renewable • A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be reproduced, grown, generated. We are using fuels made from about 300 million years ago and when they are gone there wont be no more. • It’s good that that we don’t waste fossil fuels because we can’t make them again so we save them by finding new renewable resources.

4. Renewable Energy Sources • Solar Energy • Hydroelectric Energy • Wind Energy • Biomass Energy

5. Solar Energy Good Bad • The use of solar energy to produce electricity allows the user to become less dependent on the worlds fossil fuel supplies. • Another great pro of solar energy is the cost. Although the initial investment of solar cells may be high, once installed, they provide a free source of electricity, which will pay off over the coming years. • Solar panels can be installed on top of many rooftops, which eliminates the problem of finding the required space for solar panel placement. • The major con of solar energy is the initial cost of solar cells. Currently, prices of highly efficient solar cells can be above $1000, and some households may need more than one. This makes the initial installation of solar panels very costly. • Solar energy is only able to generate electricity during daylight hours. This means for around half of each day, solar panels are not producing energy for your home. • The weather can affect the efficiency of solar cells

6. Hydroelectric Energy Good Bad • Unlike many other forms of energy, power generation is almost instantaneous in case of hydroelectricity. In a hydroelectric power plant, starting the turbine or stopping it is a process that hardly takes a few minutes (sometimes even seconds). • Also, the large volume of water in the reservoir often serves the purpose for recreational activities such as water sports, etc., which make the location a tourist spot as well. • Hydroelectric power is completely independent of fossil fuels or other perishable resources. It does not involve any combustion or burning of fuel, coal, etc. and therefore, does not release any toxic chemicals in the atmosphere and nor does it create any harmful byproducts. • One of the major cons of hydroelectricity is the need for a large enough reservoir. Constructing a large reservoir is a major challenge, both in terms of time and money. Also, it often involves relocation of families who happen to be residing in the area that has been approved for the construction of the reservoir • Regardless of how strong and unbreakable a reservoir may seem, there is always the theoretical risk of the reservoir giving way in the event of unexpected heavy and prolonged torrential rain. Although such incidents are rare, if they indeed do happen, they can cause mass damage to livelihood.

7. Wind Energy Good Bad • Wind is in constant supply, unlike coal, oil, and gas, which are finite natural resources. • Unlike fossil fuel prices, which fluctuate due to factors beyond our control, wind power comes with a relatively fixed price, one likely to drop considerably over time • You can increase production capacity as your needs grow • About 80% goes to machinery, and 20% to site preparation and installation. After that, however, there are minimal operating and routine maintenance expenses (no fuel to purchase!) • Today's large wind turbines make less noise than the background noise you hear in your own home (45 dB versus 50 dB)! (1) • Wind turbines must be situated nearby existing infrastructure (transmission lines), or else costs escalate.

8. Biomass Energy Good Bad • It is an inexhaustible and renewable energy source. The products obtained are biogas and biofuel. Heat and electricity are generated during biomass energy production. • There is plethora of organic waste and agricultural waste generated everyday. Biomass is produced from these wastes, which makes biomass an easily available resource. • It helps in solid waste management by keeping us pollution free. Incineration of biological wastes everyday, cuts down the levels of expulsion of carbon into the atmosphere. Thus, it maintains an ecological balance of carbon present in the environment. • Some of the gases like carbon-dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are emitted into the atmosphere during biomass production which may damage the ozone layer. It may contribute to global warming. • The process of extraction of biomass is very expensive. This is the reason in many places the projects of biomass energy extraction are never completed. • Although, biomass can produce 10 times more energy than the sun or wind, it is also known to release the highest levels of gases that contribute to global warming.