Non-Renewable Energy Sources Info. Reading
Megawatts are used to measure the output of a power plant or the amount of electricity required by an entire city.
1 megawatt (MW) = 1,000 kilowatts = 1,000,000 watts. Force x distance = work (energy) Work (energy) / time = watts (electricity)
http://www.dec.ny.gov/ or search NYS DEC <- TABLETS “start here for your additional facts research”
Nonrenewable energy is energy which is taken from the sources that are available on the earth in limited
quantity and some types may very well runout in the next fifty to sixty years. Nonrenewable sources are not
necessarily always environmentally friendly and have negative effects on human health. They are called
nonrenewable because they cannot be regenerated within a short span of time relative to human life times.
Nonrenewable sources exist in the form of fossil fuels, natural gas, oil and coal.
1) Oil (Petroleum) or Petrol for short.
Oil was formed from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of
years ago in marine (ocean water) environments before and during the
dinosaurs. Over the years, the remains were covered by layers of mud. Heat
and pressure from these layers helped the remains turn into what we today call
crude oil. The word “petroleum” means “rock oil” or “oil from the earth.”
Where does Oil come from?
Crude oil is a smelly, yellow-to-black liquid, and rich in energy and is usually found in deep
underground areas called reservoirs. Scientist and engineers explore a chosen area by studying
rock samples from the earth to determine if oil might be found below. Measurements are taken
and if the site seems promising, drilling begins. Above the hole, a structure called a ‘derrick’ is
built to house the tools and pipes going into the well. When finished, the drill well, will bring a
steady flow of oil to the surface.
Pros of Non-renewable
Nonrenewable sources are cheap and easy to use. You can easily fill up your car, power your
motor vehicle and drive anywhere.
You can use a small amount of nuclear energy to produce large amounts of power.
Nonrenewable energy has little or no competition at all. For example: if you are driving an electric
car and your battery goes dead, where do you plug it in again?
Nonrenewable energy is considered less expensive, by some, when compared to the cost of
converting our nation’s industries and economy into one based solely on renewable energy.
Cons of Non-renewable
Nonrenewable sources of energy will expire someday soon. If we as Americans want to maintain
our current standard of living today, Americans of tomorrow (the next generation) will have to
suffer some day down the line.
The speed at which theses resources are being consumed is going to increase as the world
population grows. This can have serious environmental changes and in turn environmental
consequences.
Nonrenewable sources release toxic gases into the air when burnt, which are the cause of acid
rain and the major cause for global warming today.
Since these sources are going to expire soon, prices of these sources are soaring day by day.