Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels refer to materials
formed by decomposition of biological materials. They are formed in span of
several years through decomposition of ancient animals and prehistoric plants. Various
processes initiate fossil fuel formation; these include anaerobic decomposition
of buried remains of organisms.
According to Global Britannica (2013),
fossil fuel formation occurs in the earth crust. They were formed 3 billion
years ago due to the impact of geologic process that acted on the organic
remains of the organisms. They occur in several forms, which include coal,
natural gas, tar, bitumen, heavy oils, petroleum and oil shale among other
occurrences. Exposure of fossilized
remains of plants in the earth crust can also result in the formation of fossil
fuels. In life, the importance of fossil fuels cannot at any time be
overemphasized. Fossil fuels can in reality be viewed as an engine used to
propel life activities of the human beings in the universe. Fossil fuels are a
major source of energy in the universe. They have a wide application in the
entire human life. All the daily life activities such as transport and
communication all depend on fossil fuels.
These activities cannot be initiated without energy. For example, a vehicle
or an aeroplane used for transport can only move once the engine is propelled
by energy. This energy originates from fossil fuels, e.g., coal. It is
necessary to note that most forms of media communication require energy. For example,
telephones, televisions and computers require energy. This energy should
otherwise be initiated by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are also entirely used in
production of other sources of energy such as electricity. Therefore, their
significance in human life cannot be overstated. Nevertheless, fossil fuels in
the world are faced with a major crisis.
Fossil fuels have several impacts
in our environment. They have been blamed to be the source of carbon dioxide
that has predisposed the world to global warming. Global warming is believed to
be a major concern in affecting the climate change. According to Clifford (2013), climate change
could results in change of weather patterns such as wind and cause extreme rise
in temperatures in the globe hence endangering human life. Fossil fuels have
also been blamed for environmental pollution. Pollution of environment is
dangerous to both human and plant life. Through spillage of oils in water bodies such
as ocean, lakes and even rivers, water life is put at risk. Pollution of air
through burning of fossil fuels has also been a major concern. Pollution of air
has been blamed for increased cases of respiratory ills among the people and
animals in the world. Burning of fossil fuels also releases carbon monoxide
that is believed to form acid rain that endangers the life of world plants in
their natural ecosystem.
Nevertheless, despite this negative
impact of fossil fuels in our environment and human health, they have a greater
and broad positive impact in our economy. According to the Environmental Centre
(2013), fossil fuels are the developing blocks of industrial and modern
society. The very many comforts and
luxuries we enjoy in our lives such as a plastics, electricity and heat are
primary sources of fossil fuels. The use and application of these fossil fuel
products has promoted the development of transport and enhanced the labour
sector. Through the energy produced by fossil fuels, mechanical innovation has
resulted to decrease in use of slave labour. International travel has also been
enhanced by use of aircraft. International trade has been a major boost to the
economy of many countries. Through international trade, countries can export
and import various product. This has supplemented the economic growth of these
countries to a greater level. However,
fossil fuels as non renewable sources of energy are facing crisis due to their
finite reserves (Dulabab,
2013). With increased fossil fuel use and consequent rise in extraction, there
is a risk of exhaustion of deposits. Therefore, there is need to focus on
renewable energy sources, e.g., geothermal energy, hydro-electric and solar
energy.
Possible Energy Solutions
There exist fears that fossil fuels
deposits are running out and therefore, some other alternative forms of energy
should be put in place prior to exhaustion of the fossil fuel deposits.
However, this has raised concerns and controversy concerning which alternative
forms of energy should be embraced. Fossil fuels being non renewable sources of
energy, there is demand to focus on other sources of energy such as nuclear
energy and renewable sources of energy such as hydro-electric power, solar
energy and geothermal energy.
According to EPA (2013), nuclear energy refers to energy
created when uranium is split into atoms in a process known as fission. Energy
released is employed in making of steam used in generation of electricity.
Nevertheless, just like fossil fuels, uranium is a non-renewable source of
energy extracted through mining or chemical leaching. Upon mining, uranium is
concentrated into uranium oxide pellets and then is transported to energy
production plants where nuclear fission is employed in creation of heat used in
generation of steam. The steam obtained is employed in turning of turbines in
extensive production of electricity. Despite nuclear energy being an untapped
energy resource, it has raised several concerns about its impact on the environment
and human health at large. Fossil fuels associated with uranium mining are
linked to generation of radioactive waste, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxides and
carbon dioxide which are health hazardous. Nuclear is also linked to heavy
water use for steam production and cooling for example from lakes. This is
deemed to affect aquatic life. Also, heavy metals and salts build up in water
bodies as well discharge of extreme hot water to water bodies endangers aquatic
life.
.
Energy Sources in China: Case study
According to Business Insider (2013), China
reports 21 percent of world energy consumption. This is driven by the fast
growing economy. Although the country has invested heavily on renewable sources
of energy such as thermal power, hydro-electricity and solar energy, coal
remains the largest energy source due to its abundant. However, china’s energy
consumption is expected to grow immensely. The increased use of fossil fuel energy
in china has highly resulted to environmental pollution. Nevertheless, according
to a Chinese Organization
(2013), in 2011, there was a slight decline in fossil fuel consumption. This
was an 8 percent decline.
China has plans of increasing use of renewable
sources of energy to increase its electricity source to about 2o gigawatts.
This is through use of hydropower and solar energy. The country also plans to launch
renewable portfolio standard that ensure that all electricity producers produce
minimum level of energy from renewable energy sources. The china government is
focusing on sources of energy such as solar, biomass and wind through adoption
of more policies that will ensure development of renewable sources of energy.
References
Business Insider(2013). China energy use. Retrieved on
20th May from
www.businessinsider.com/china-energy-use-2012-8?op=1
China Organization (2013). Use of fossil fuels to decline. Retrieved on 20th May from
http://www.china.org.cn/business/2012-02/10/content_24601666.htm
Clifford, S. (2013). Environmental
Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels. Retrieved
on 20th
May from http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/npre201/coursematerial/environmental_effects/lecture19.html
Dulabab (2013).
Fossil fuels. Retrieved on 20th
May from http://www.dulabab.com/energy-transportation/fossil-fuels/
Environmental centre (2013). Fossil
fuels. Retrieved on 20th May from
http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy-climate/energy-101/fossil-fuels
EPA (2013). Nuclear
energy. Retrieved on 20th
May from
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/nuclear.html
Global Britannica. (2013). Fossil
fuels. Retrieved on 20th May from
http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/214545/fossil-fuel
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