| In modern western world the demand for energy | | | | Natural Gas |
| has increased dramatically in the past century and it | | | | Natural gas is also used to produce electricity. The |
| will grow even further and harder in the near future | | | | electricity is produced through steam turbines and |
| than ever before. The need for energy rises with | | | | gas turbines. Because the gas contains methane the |
| upcoming markets that also need more energy. | | | | combustion emits less harmful gasses that have a |
| Energy is needed for cars, buses, and other means | | | | negative effect on global warming. Thus natural |
| of transportation, but also to run our appliances and | | | | gasses are better for the environment compared to |
| provides us light. Energy is also important for our | | | | petroleum and coal. |
| safety. At night or in the dark a lot can be stolen | | | | There is also another use for it and that is as fuel for |
| without proper lightning. Energy is therefore needed | | | | cars. It is much cheaper that gasoline and produces |
| for our development and safety. | | | | less harmful gasses. The disadvantage of running |
| The way we use energy today comes from | | | | your car on natural gas is that you need more fuel |
| knowledge that has it's foundations in the past | | | | compared to gasoline and the car needs more |
| century and before. Great men like Newton and | | | | maintenance. In countries like Argentina, Brazil, |
| Philips have set the path for us today to make | | | | Pakistan, Italy, The Netherlands and India it is used as |
| proper use of energy. The sources which we use for | | | | a fuel for cars. |
| our energy demand are known as non-renewable | | | | Crude oil |
| energy resources. These sources will be discussed | | | | This fuel is the most talk about for the past year(s). |
| here in the article. | | | | The prices for crude oil have gone through the roof |
| Definition of Non-Renewable Energy Resources | | | | and will be rising even more. The demand is increasing |
| The name really explains it very well. Non-renewable | | | | while there is less crude oil available. The term black |
| energy resources are natural resources that cannot | | | | gold is now more applicable than ever before. |
| be recycled or re-grown. These natural resources are | | | | The oil itself is very think in consistency and has a |
| fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. It also | | | | dark brown or greenish colour characteristic. It is a |
| includes mined resources such as the elements used | | | | complex mixture of different hydrocarbons. |
| in the production of electricity (uranium and plutonium, | | | | Crude oil or petroleum has various uses. It can be |
| for instance). These resources replenish itself in a | | | | used as fuel or cars and different industrial machines. |
| quicker rate. | | | | It is also used as a raw material for products like |
| Fossil fuels are very versatile. One of their functions | | | | plastics, solvents, fertilizers and pesticides. |
| is to generate electricity. In order to generate | | | | Although the need for crude oil is high and the |
| electricity, fossil fuels are burned through the process | | | | demand is rising the available crude oil is decreasing. |
| of combustion. The energy produced from the | | | | That leaves us no other option than to look for |
| combustion process is used to power a turbine. The | | | | alternatives. |
| turbine is responsible for the conversion of energy | | | | Non-renewable energy plays a very important role in |
| produced from combusted fossil fuels into electricity. | | | | our daily lives. Non-renewable energy will be needed |
| Coal | | | | today and in the future. Because this energy source |
| Coal is one the most used fossil fuels. It is consider | | | | cannot be recycled or re-grown the reserves are |
| too be the most important energy source to | | | | limited. The consequences of the shortages of fossil |
| produce electricity. The U.S. produces 50% of its | | | | fuels are experienced today and tomorrow. We will |
| energy supply through the combustion of coal. The | | | | need to use these fossil fuels wisely and will need to |
| coal itself is a brownish-black sedimentary rock which | | | | shift our focus to other renewable energy source. |
| contains carbon and other assorted elements. It is | | | | These are the sources that we need to focus on |
| extracted from the ground through underground | | | | today and years to come. |
| mining or open-pit mining. | | | | |