Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are organic materials derived from living things. They are used for energy production but their depletion and pollution are concerning. World energy consumption is mostly from fossil fuels, with non-fossil fuels providing a smaller percentage.
Fuel is a material that can produce heat as it is consumed, for example by burning. Fossil fuels, also called mineral fuels, are organic combustible materials, derived from the remains of living things. They include coal, lignite, natural gas, peat and oil. Artificial fuels, such as gasoline and kerosene, are made with these natural fuels. Fossil fuels can take many forms: methane is a gas, oil is a liquid and coal is a solid.
Some fossil fuels are referred to as carbonaceous fuels, which are derived from plant waste. The carbonaceous fuel with the lowest carbon content is peat, which is estimated to cover about 2% of the earth’s surface in wetlands known variously as bogs, peat bogs, fens, and bogs. Fuel peat is different from moss peat, which is used in agriculture.
Lignite is the carbonaceous fuel with the next highest amount of carbon. Also called lignite, it is brownish or yellowish and has more moisture than coal. It is found in North America and Germany.
Coal, which has the highest carbon content, still has a range among its five types. They are, in ascending order, black lignite or sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, semi-bituminous coal, semi-anthracite and anthracite. Note that semi-bituminous coal is high-grade bituminous coal, while semi-anthracite is low-grade anthracite coal. Of these, anthracite is the nearly pure carbon.
Natural gas is composed of gaseous hydrocarbons mixed with other components. Its main component is methane, which makes up 80-95% of its content. Other gases included may be butane, ethane and propane. It is found both near oil deposits, and separately.
Crude oil, or petroleum, is another of the fossil fuels. It is found in deposits in rock formations within the Earth and is mined for use as fuel oil, gasoline, and other products such as wax, plastic manufacturing, lubricants, and sulfuric acid, among others. Saudi Arabia is both one of the largest producers and largest exporters of crude oil in the world.
In 2006, world energy consumption was 86% fossil fuels or their derivatives. This included 36.8% oil, 26.6% coal and 22.9% natural gas. The remaining energy was provided by non-fossil fuels such as hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, and energy generated from solar, tidal, and wind power. World energy consumption is increasing every year.
Since there is a limited amount of fossil fuels available, their depletion is a cause for concern. The fact that these fuels release pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, when burned is another cause for concern. The possibility that their burning contributes to global climate change or global warming has been hotly debated.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
