Non Renewable Energy Resources -1

Environmental Management

What are two types of Energy resources?

Energy resources can be classified in to two types they are 1) non-renewable and 2) renewable.

2) Non-renewable (Exhaustible அழிந்துபோகக்கூடிய) energy resources?

Energy obtained from sources that cannot renew themselves over a short period of time is known as non-renewable energy. This type of energy sources are available in limited amount in nature.

Examples of for Non-renewable energy sources are given below:

• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas
• Nuclear Power

In the above first three energies are called as conventional(வழக்கமான) engergy sources.

They are used for 90% of the world's production of commericial energy.

Nuclear power energy is only 10%

Renewable (Inexhaustible அழியாத அல்லது வற்றாத) energy sources?

These energy resources are avilable in unlimted amount in nature and they can be renewed over a short period of time. These type of energy resources are inexpensive and they can be harvested contiuously. This type of resources provides non-conventional energy (மரபு சாரா அற்றல்கள் )sources which inlcude

• biofuel
• bio mass energy
• geothermal energy
• Hydroelectric energy
• Tidal energy
• solar energy
• wave energy
• Wind energy

Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels are found inside the earth's crust and are energy rich substances formed by natural process, such as anaerobic decomposition of burried dead organisms, over millions of years.

As the accumlating sediment layers produce heat and pressure, the remains, of the organisms are gradually transformed into hydrocarbons.

Example: Petroleum , coal and Natural gas.

• Coal and Petroleum
• Coal and Petroleum are natural resources.
• They are called Fossil Fuels
• They are formed from the degradation of Biomass buried deep under the earth millions of years ago

Uses of Coal and Petroleum

• Coal is used for generation of electricity at Thermal power plants.
• Petroleum also known as crude oil is processed in oil refineries to produce petrol and diesel
• Petrol and Diesel are used to run automobiles, trucks, trains, ships and airplanes.
• Kerosene and Liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) are obtained from petroleum. they are used as domestic fuel for cooking food.

Steps to conserve coal and Petroleum Resources

It is necessary to conserve or save coal and petroleum resources for the future use.

• If electricity is saved, it will inturn reduced the use of coal
• Using bicycle for covering short distances instead of using cars, scooters, or motorcycles,
• Using pressure cooker can reduce the consumption of kerosene and LPG whil cooking food. Solar cooker and solar heater can be used wherever possible
• Motor vehicle should be desingned with fuel effcient to increase efficency and also reduce air pollution