Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources, which implies that they are finite volumes that, once produced and used, are not reusable and cannot be generated by nature or human action on the scale they are used. Mankind has known about the existence of these fuels for thousands of years. However, it was not until the invention of the steam engine and the development of the Industrial Revolution that coal began to be used in significant quantities. Subsequently, with the invention of the automobile and the internal combustion engine, oil became the main source of energy for land and maritime transportation and enabled the development of aviation.
Importance of Fossil Fuels
The Three Types
Petroleum, through the technology associated with it (petrochemicals), provides an innumerable quantity of by-products that are used in by-products that are used in a highly diversified production of goods and services:
- Fuels for the production of energy and transportation.
- Chemical products for the manufacture of substances for industrial, pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and construction use, etc.
A large part of the products that surround us in our daily lives derive, directly or indirectly, from petroleum, the most widespread example being plastics, currently present in packaging, furniture, appliances, utensils, tools, construction elements in houses, toys, clothing, etc. It could be said that we live in the petroleum era. Although all this oil technology has brought us some comfort, it has also brought negative aspects:
- The widespread and indiscriminate use of fuels (fossil fuels) has contributed to greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
- The excessive production of plastics, together with non-rational consumption patterns, has caused serious pollution problems.
- Exploitation (extraction) both on land and at sea produces pollutants that have a high impact on ecosystems.
- The transport of increasing quantities of oil causes accidents in which large quantities of hydrocarbons are released into the environment, causing serious ecological problems.
Natural Gas – Natural gas is the cleanest fossil energy when it comes to waste and atmospheric emissions. The calorific value of natural gas depends greatly on its composition. The greatest values are between 8,500 and 10,200 kilocalories per cubic meter of gas. It is the most efficient fuel for generating electricity in thermal power plants, with an overall efficiency of 50.7%. If natural gas is used directly before transforming it into electricity, efficiency rises to 91.2%. It is easier and cheaper to store than coal and oil derivatives.
Coal – Coal or mineral coal is a fossil mineral fuel, a sedimentary rock very rich in carbon and with varying amounts of other elements, mainly hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen. Most coals were formed from plants that grew millions of years ago. It is a non-renewable resource. There are several types of coal: urba, lignite, hard coal, and anthracite. This type of fuel has had and still has different applications as an energy source; it is still used for some types of transportation or heating.
Conclusion
We are witnessing a boom in renewables. Large technology companies are applying them en masse; energy companies are also investing almost exclusively in them for the near future and pioneering companies. So what’s going on? Why isn’t the use of fossil fuels stopping? They are in decline, but it is slow because renewable energy sources are not yet capable of meeting the energy needs of all mankind.
