Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are
hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. The theory that hydrocarbons were formed from these remains was first introduced by
Mikhail Lomonosov in 1757. In common dialogue, the term
fossil fuel also includes
hydrocarbon-containing
natural resources that are not derived from animal or plant sources. These are sometimes known instead as mineral fuels. The utilization of fossil fuels has enabled large-scale industrial development and largely supplanted water-driven mills, as well as the combustion of
wood or
peat for heat.
Encyclopedia
Fossil fuels are
hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. The theory that hydrocarbons were formed from these remains was first introduced by
Mikhail Lomonosov in 1757. In common dialogue, the term
fossil fuel also includes
hydrocarbon-containing
natural resources that are not derived from animal or plant sources. These are sometimes known instead as
mineral fuels. The utilization of fossil fuels has enabled large-scale industrial development and largely supplanted water-driven mills, as well as the combustion of
wood or
peat for heat.
Fossil fuel is a general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.
When generating
electricity, energy from the combustion of fossil fuels is often used to power a
turbine. Older generators often used steam generated by the burning of the fuel to turn the turbine, but in newer power plants the gases produced by burning of the fuel turn a
gas turbine directly.
With global modernization in the 20th and 21st centuries, the thirst for energy from fossil fuels, especially
gasoline derived from oil, is one of the causes of major regional and global conflicts. A global movement toward the generation of
renewable energy is therefore underway to help meet the increased global energy needs.
The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of
carbon dioxide, which is one of the
greenhouse gases that allows
radiative forcing and contributes to
global warming. A small portion of hydrocarbon-based fuels are
biofuels derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide, and thus do not increase the net amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
A limited resource
While the development of
renewable energy such as
hydroelectricity, of nonrenewable energy such as
nuclear power, and scientific advances have reduced the dependency on fossil fuels, demand has increased nonetheless. Petroleum is also a source of petrochemicals, for which demand has also increased.
The principle of
supply and demand suggests that as hydrocarbon supplies diminish, prices will rise. Therefore higher prices will lead to increased alternative,
renewable energy supplies as previously uneconomic sources become sufficiently economical to exploit. Artificial gasolines and other
renewable energy sources currently require more expensive production and processing technologies than conventional petroleum reserves, but may become economically viable in the near future. See
future energy development.
Levels and flows
Levels of primary energy sources are the reserves in the ground. Flows are production. The most important part of primary energy sources are the
carbon based
fossil energy sources.
Oil, coal, and gas stood for 79.6% of primary energy production during 2002 .
Levels
- Oil: 1,050,691 to 1,277,702 million barrels 2003-2005
- Gas: 6,040,208 - 6,805,830 billion cubic feet 6,805.830*0.182= 1,239 BBOE 2003-2005
- Coal: 1,081,279 million short tons
Flows during 2002
- Oil: *7.9/365= 77 MBD
- Gas: *7.9/365= 47 MBOED
- Coal: *7.9/365= 52 MBOED
Years of production left in the ground with the most optimistic reserve estimates
- Oil: 1,277,702/77/365= 32 years
- Gas: 1,239,000/47/365= 72 years
- Coal: 4,786,000/52/365= 252 years
Note that this calculation assumes that the product could be produced at a constant level for that number of years and that all of the reserves could be recovered. In reality, consumption of all three resources have been increasing. While this suggests that the resource will be used up more quickly, in reality, the production curve is much more akin to a bell curve. At some point in time, the production of each resource within an area, country, or globally will reach a maximum value, after which, the production will decline until it reaches a point where is no longer economically feasible or physically possible to produce. See
Hubbert peak theory for detail on this decline curve with regard to petroleum.
The above discussion emphasizes worldwide energy balance. It is also valuable to understand the ratio of reserves to annual consumption by region or country. For example,
energy policy of the United Kingdom recognizes that Europe's R/C value is 3.0, very low by world standards, and exposes that region to energy vulnerability, since the United Kingdom, by instance, relies on fossil fuels as its primary source.
Environmental effects
In the United States, more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides,
sulfur dioxide, VOCs, and heavy metals are produced.
Environmental regulation uses a variety of approaches to limit these emissions, such as command-and-control , economic incentives, or voluntary programs.
Fossil fuel subsidies
In economic terms, pollution from fossil fuels is regarded as a negative [externality] and should be taxed. This 'internalizes' the cost of pollution and makes fossil fuels more expensive, thereby reducing their use and the amount of pollution associated with them. Although European nations do impose some pollution taxes, they also give billions of subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, offseting the taxes.
although taxation may be one opinon on reducing their use its not conclusive
by any measure.
References
See also
External links
-
- - essay by James L. Williams of WTRG Economics and A. F. Alhajji of Ohio Northern University
- - Michael Parfit
- - article by Mark Bradley
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