Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burned in power stations to generate electricity.
The heat from burning these fossil fuels is used to turn water into steam. The steam then drives turbines which rotate generators to produce electricity.
The main types of power stations are:
Coal-fired power stations – These were once the most common type of power station, but their numbers have been reduced due to environmental concerns.
Oil-fired power stations – Oil is not a very popular fuel for power stations because it is more expensive than coal and produces more carbon dioxide emissions.
Natural gas-fired power stations – Natural gas is a clean-burning fossil fuel that is becoming increasingly popular for use in power stations.
Nuclear power stations – Nuclear power stations do not burn any fossil fuels, but they do produce radioactive waste.
Fossil fuels are burned in a power plant to generate electricity. The heat from the burning fossil fuels produces steam, which drives a turbine. The turbine turns a generator, which produces electricity. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas have been used for many years to generate electricity.
Fossil fuels are running out. The world is running out of oil. There is no doubt about it. The only question is when.
The problem is that fossil fuels are the world’s most important energy source. They provide more than 80% of the world’s energy. The world’s proven reserves of oil are enough to last for just 40 years at current production levels. And the reserves of coal and natural gas are even smaller.
The world is not running out of energy. It is running out of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are non-renewable. They cannot be replaced. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.
Renewables cannot replace fossil fuels overnight.
It will take many years to build enough renewable energy capacity to meet the world’s needs.
In the meantime, the world will have to find ways to use less fossil fuels. That means using energy more efficiently and finding alternative sources of energy.
The good news is that the world is already making progress on both fronts. We are using energy more efficiently and we are increasingly turning to renewable energy.
