Different types of non renewable enegry resources and their advantages & disadvatages: 1. Coal 2. Natural Gas 3. Oil 4. Nuclear Energy

1. Non
Renewable
Energy
Resources
3rd Digital Assignment
by [Article Author]
Oil
Coal
Natural Gas
Nuclear Energy
Submitted by: Vinit Shahdeo
15BIT0335

2. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 2
Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be
replenished for thousands or even millions of years. Most sources of non-
renewable energy are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created as the remains
of marine creatures decayed millions of years ago, under huge amounts of
pressure and heat.
Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and
natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels. For this reason, the
time period that fossil fuels formed (about 360-300 million years ago) is
called the Carboniferous Period.
All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Hundreds of millions of years ago,
even before the dinosaurs, Earth had a different landscape. It was covered
with wide, shallow seas and swampy forests.
Plants, algae, and plankton grew in these ancient wetlands. They absorbed
sunlight and created energy through photosynthesis. When they died, the
organisms drifted to the bottom of the sea or lake. There was energy stored
in the plants and animals when they died.
Over time, the dead plants were crushed under the seabed. Rocks and
other sediment piled on top of them, creating high heat and pressure
underground. In this environment, the plant and animal remains eventually
turned into fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum). Today, there are
huge underground pockets (called reservoirs) of these non-renewable
sources of energy all over the world.

3. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 3
Non-renewable energy resources
Type of
fuel
Where it is from Advantages Disadvantages
Coal
(fossil
fuel)
 Formed from fossilized plants
and consisting of carbon with
various organic and some
inorganic compounds.
 Mined from seams of coal,
found sandwiched between
layers of rock in the earth.
 Burnt to provide heat or
electricity.
 Ready-made fuel.
 It is relatively cheap
to mine and to
convert into energy.
 Coal supplies will
last longer than oil
or gas.
 When burned coal gives off
atmospheric pollutants, including
greenhouse gases.
Oil (fossil
fuel)
 A carbon-based liquid formed
from fossilized animals.
 Lakes of oil are sandwiched
between seams of rock in the
earth.
 Pipes are sunk down to the
reservoirs to pump the oil
out.
 Widely used in industry and
transport.
 Oil is a ready-made
fuel.
 Relatively cheap to
extract and to
convert into energy.
 When burned, it gives off
atmospheric pollutants, including
greenhouse gases.
 Only a limited supply.
Natural
gas
(fossil
fuel)
 Methane and some other
gases trapped between
seams of rock under the
earth's surface.
 Pipes are sunk into the
ground to release the gas.
 Often used in houses for
heating and cooking.
 Gas is a ready-
made fuel.
 It is a relatively
cheap form of
energy.
 It's a slightly
cleaner fuel than
coal and oil.
 When burned, it gives off
atmospheric pollutants, including
greenhouse gases.
 Only limited supply of gas.
Nuclear  Radioactive minerals such as
uranium are mined.
 Electricity is generated from
the energy that is released
when the atoms of these
minerals are split (by nuclear
fission) in nuclear reactors.
 A small amount of
radioactive material
produces a lot of
energy.
 Raw materials are
relatively cheap and
can last quite a long
time.
 It doesn't give off
atmospheric
pollutants.
 Nuclear reactors are expensive to
run.
 Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and
needs to be safely stored for
hundreds or thousands of years
(storage is extremely expensive).
 Leakage of nuclear materials can
have a devastating impact on
people and the environment. The
worst nuclear reactor accident was
at Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986.

4. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 4
Non-Renewable Energy Resources

5. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 5
Advantages and Disadvantages
Fossil fuels are a valuable source of energy. They are relatively inexpensive
to extract. They can also be stored, piped, or shipped anywhere in the
world.
However, burning fossil fuels is harmful for the environment. When coal and
oil are burned, they release particles that can pollute the air, water, and
land. Some of these particles are caught and set aside, but many of them
are released into the air.
Burning fossil fuels also upsets Earth’s “carbon budget,” which balances the
carbon in the ocean, earth, and air. When fossil fuels are combusted
(heated), they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide
is a gas that keeps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, a process called the
“greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is necessary to life on Earth,
but relies on a balanced carbon budget.
The carbon in fossil fuels has been sequestered, or stored, underground for
millions of years. By removing this sequestered carbon from the earth and
releasing it into the atmosphere, Earth’s carbon budget is out of balance.
This contributes to temperatures rising faster than organisms can adapt.

6. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 6
Coal Coal is a black or brownish rock.
We burn coal to create energy.
Coal is ranked depending on how
much “carbonization” it has gone
through. Carbonization is the
process that ancient organisms
undergo to become coal.

7. Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked
depending on how much “carbonization” it has gone through. Carbonization is
the process that ancient organisms undergo to become coal. About 3 meters (10
feet) of solid vegetation crushed together into .3 meter (1 foot) of coal!
Peat is the lowest rank of coal. It has gone through the least amount of
carbonization. It is an important fuel in areas of the world including Scotland,
Ireland, and Finland.
Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. Anthracite forms in regions of the world
where there have been giant movements of the earth, such as the formation of
mountain ranges. The Appalachian Mountains, in the eastern part of the United
States, are rich in anthracite.
We mine coal out of the ground so we can burn it for energy. There are two ways
that we can mine coal: underground mining and surface mining.
Underground mining is used when the coal is located below the surface of the
Earth, sometimes 300 meters (1,000 feet) deep—that’s deeper than most of the
Great Lakes! Miners take an elevator down a mineshaft. They operate heavy
machinery that cuts the coal out of the Earth and brings it above ground. This
can be dangerous work because cutting coal can release dangerous gases. The
gases can cause explosions or make it hard for miners to breathe.
Surface mining is used when the coal is located very near the surface of the
earth. To get to the coal, companies must first clear the area. They take away
the trees and soil. The coal can then be cut out of the ground more easily.
Entire habitats are destroyed during this process.
About half the electricity in the United States comes from coal. It gives power to
our lights, refrigerators, dishwashers, and most other things we plug in. When
coal is burned, it leaves “byproducts” that are also valuable. We use the
byproducts to make cement, plastics, roads, and many other things.

8. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 8
Advantages and Disadvantages
Coal is a reliable source of energy. We can rely on it day and night, summer
and winter, sunshine or rain, to provide fuel and electricity.
Using coal is also harmful. Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the
world. Coal miners are exposed to toxic dust and face the dangers of cave-
ins and explosions at work.
When coal is burned, it releases many toxic gases and pollutants into the
atmosphere. Mining for coal can also cause the ground to cave in and
create underground fires that burn for decades at a time.

9. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 9
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ESTIMATED AGE
Fossil fuel Time
left
Oil 50 years
Natural gas 70 years
Coal 250
years
Nuclear energy is usually considered another
non-renewable energy source. Although nuclear
energy itself is a renewable energy source, the
material used in nuclear power plants is not.
Nuclear energy harvests the powerful energy in the
nucleus, or core, of an atom. Nuclear energy is
released through nuclear fission, the process where
the nucleus of an atom splits. Nuclear power plants
are complex machines that can control nuclear
fission to produce electricity. The material most
often used in nuclear power plants is
element uranium. Although uranium is found in
rocks all over the world, nuclear power plants
usually use a very rare type of uranium, U-235.
Uranium is a non-renewable resource.
Nuclear energy is a popular way of generating
electricity around the world. Nuclear power plants
do not pollute the air or emit greenhouse gases.
They can be built in rural or urban areas, and do
not destroy the environment around them.
However, nuclear energy is difficult to harvest.
Nuclear power plants are very complicated to build
and run. Many communities do not have the
scientists and engineers to develop a safe and
reliable nuclear energy program.
Nuclear energy also produces radioactive material.
Radioactive waste can be extremely toxic, causing
burns and increasing the risk for cancers, blood
diseases, and bone decay among people who are
exposed to it.

10. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 10
How Nuclear
Energy is
produced
When the heaviest
element, uranium was
bombarded with
neutrons, it was
discovered that instead
of inducing radioactivity
as did other elements,
something different
happened. This process
was named fission.
When fission occurred,
not only were two
lighter elements and a
lot of radiation
produced, but also
more neutrons. It was
clear that these
neutrons could in turn
also cause fission,
producing more
neutrons and
developing a chain
reaction which might
spread throughout all
the uranium present.
In the fission of
uranium 235 nucleus,
the amount of energy
released is about
60,000,000 times as
much as when a carbon
atom burns. Most of the
energy from fission
appears as kinetic
energy as the fission
products shoot apart
and quickly share their
energy with their
surroundings, thus
producing heat. The
first reactors to produce
a usable amount of
power were built at
Calder hall in England.
With pure fissionable
material, atomic bombs
can be made. Of the
two bombs dropped on
Japan to end the World
War 2, one contained
plutonium and the other
very highly enriched
uranium 235.
Nuclear energy is a rare form of energy

11. Nuclear Power Plants

12. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 12
Advantages of Nuclear Energy
1. Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: As per the reports in 1998, it has
been calculated the emission of the greenhouse gas has reduced for nearly half
due to the popularity in the use of nuclear power. Nuclear energy by far has
the lowest impact on the environment since it does not releases any gases like
carbon dioxide, methane which are largely responsible for greenhouse effect.
There is no adverse effect on water, land or any habitats due to the use of it.
Though some greenhouse gases are released while transporting fuel or
extracting energy from uranium.
2. Powerful and Efficient: The other main advantage of using nuclear energy
is that it is very powerful and efficient than other alternative energy sources.
Advancement in technologies has made it more viable option than others. This
is one the reason that many countries are putting huge investments in nuclear
power. At present, a small portion of world’s electricity comes through it.
3. Reliable: Unlike traditional sources of energy like solar and wind which
require sun or wind to produce electricity, nuclear energy can be produced from
nuclear power plants even in the cases of rough weather conditions. They can
produce power 24/7 and need to be shut down for maintenance purposes only.
4. Cheap Electricity: The cost of uranium which is used as a fuel in generating
electricity is quite low. Also, set up costs of nuclear power plants is relatively
high while running cost is low. The average life of nuclear reactor range from
4.-60 years depending upon its usage. These factors when combined make the
cost of producing electricity very low. Even if the cost of uranium rises, the
increase in cost of electricity will be much lower.
5. Low Fuel Cost: The main reason behind the low fuel cost is that it requires
little amount of uranium to produce energy. When a nuclear reaction happens,
it releases million times more energy as compared to traditional sources of

13. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 13
energy.
6. Supply: There are certain economic advantages in setting up nuclear power
plants and using nuclear energy in place of conventional energy. It is one of
the major sources of electricity throughout the nation. The best part is that this
energy has a continuous supply. It is widely available, has huge reserves and
expected to last for another 100 years while coal, oil and natural gas are
limited.
7. Easy Transportation: Production of nuclear energy needs very less amount
of raw material. This means that only about 28 gram of uranium releases as
much energy as produced from 100 metric tons of coal. Since it’s required in
small quantities, transportation of fuel is much easier than fossil fuels. Optimal
utilization of natural resources in production of energy is a very thoughtful
approach for any nation. It not only enhances the socio-economic condition but
also sets example for the other countries.

14. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 14
Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
1. Radioactive Waste: The waste produced by nuclear reactors needs to be
disposed off at a safe place since they are extremely hazardous and can leak
radiations if not stored properly. Such kind of waste emits radiations from tens
to hundreds of years. The storage of radioactive waste has been major
bottleneck for the expansion of nuclear programs. The nuclear wastes contain
radio isotopes with long half-lives. This means that the radio isotopes stay in
the atmosphere in some form or the other. These reactive radicals make the
sand or the water contaminated. It is known as mixed waste. The mixed wastes
cause hazardous chemical reactions and leads to dangerous complications. The
radioactive wastes are usually buried under sand and are known as vitrification.
But these wastes can be used to make nuclear weapons.
2. Nuclear Accidents: While so many new technologies have been put in place
to make sure that such disasters won’t happen again like the ones Chernobyl
or more recently Fukushima but the risk associated with them are relatively
high. Even small radiation leaks can cause devastating effects. Some of the
symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. People who work at
nuclear power plants and live near those areas are at high risk of facing nuclear
radiations.
3. Nuclear Radiation: There are power reactors called breeders. They
produce plutonium. It is an element which is not found in the nature however
it is a fissionable element. It is a by-product of the chain reaction and is very
harmful if introduced in the nature. It is primarily used to produce nuclear
weapons. Most likely, it is named as dirty bomb.
4. High Cost: Another practical disadvantage of using nuclear energy is that it
needs a lot of investment to set up a nuclear power station. It is not always
possible by the developing countries to afford such a costly source of alternative
energy. Nuclear power plants normally take 5-10 years to construct as there

15. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 15
are several legal formalities to be completed and mostly it is opposed by the
people.
5. National Risk: Nuclear energy has given us the power to produce more
weapons than to produce things that can make the world a better place to live
in. We have to become more careful and responsible while using nuclear energy
to avoid any sort of major accidents. They are hot targets for militants and
terrorist organizations. Security is a major concern here. A little lax in security
can prove to be lethal and brutal for humans and even for this planet.
6. Impact on Aquatic Life: Eutrophication is another result of radioactive
wastes. There are many seminars and conferences being held every year to
look for a specific solution. But there is no outcome as of now. Reports say that
radioactive wastes take almost 10,000 years to get back to the original form.
7. Major Impact on Human Life: We all remember the disaster caused
during the Second World War after the nuclear bombs were dropped over
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even after five decades of the mishap, children are
born with defects. This is primarily because of the nuclear effect. Do we have
any remedy for this? The answer is still no.
8. Fuel Availability: Unlike fossil fuels which are available to most of the
countries, uranium is very scarce resource and exist in only few of the
countries. Permissions of several international authorities are required before
someone can even thought of building a nuclear power plant.
9. Non Renewable: Nuclear energy uses uranium which is a scarce resource
and is not found in many countries. Most of the countries rely on other countries
for the constant supply of this fuel. It is mined and transported like any other
metal. Supply will be available as long as it is there. Once all extracted, nuclear
plants will not be of any use. Due to its hazardous effects and limited supply,
it cannot be termed as renewable.

16. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 16
Natural Gas
Natural gas is another fossil fuel that is trapped underground in reservoirs.
It is mostly made up of methane. You may have smelled methane before.
The decomposing material in landfills also release methane, which smells
like rotten eggs.
There is so much natural gas underground that it is measured in million,
billion, or trillion cubic meters.
Natural gas is found in deposits a few hundred meters underground. In
order to get natural gas out of the ground, companies drill straight down.
However, natural gas does not form in big open pockets. Natural gas is
trapped in rock formations that can stretch for kilometers.
To reach natural gas, some companies use a process called “hydraulic
fracturing,” or fracking. Hydraulic means they use water,
and fracturing means to “split apart.” The process uses high-pressure water
to split apart the rocks underground. This releases the natural gas that is
trapped in rock formations. If the rock is too hard, they can send acid down
the well to dissolve the rock. They can also use tiny grains of glass or sand
to prop open the rock and let the gas escape.
We use natural gas for heating and cooking. Natural gas can also be burned
to generate electricity. We rely on natural gas to give power to lights,
televisions, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances in our homes.
Natural gas can also be turned into a liquid form, called liquid natural gas
(LNG). LNG is much cleaner than any other fossil fuels.
Liquid natural gas takes up much less space than the gaseous form. The
amount of natural gas that would fit into a big beach ball would fit into a
ping-pong ball as a liquid! LNG can be easily stored and used for different
purposes. LNG can even be a replacement for gasoline.

17. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 17
Advantages and Disadvantages
Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract, and is a “cleaner” fossil
fuel than oil or coal. When natural gas is burned, it only releases carbon
dioxide and water vapor (which are the exact same gases that we breathe
out when we exhale!) This is healthier than burning coal.
However, extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems.
Fracturing rocks can cause mini-earthquakes. The high-pressure water and
chemicals that are forced underground can also leak to other sources of
water. The water sources, used for drinking or bathing, can become
contaminated and unsafe.

18. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 18

19. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 19
Oil or Petroleum
Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. It is also called oil or crude oil.
Petroleum is trapped by underground rock formations. In some places, oil
bubbles right out of the ground. At the LaBrea Tar Pits, in Los Angeles,
California, big pools of thick oil bubble up through the ground. Remains of
animals that got trapped there thousands of years ago are still preserved
in the tar!
Most of the world’s oil is still deep under the ground. We drill through the
earth to access the oil. Some deposits are on land, and others are under
the ocean floor.
Once oil companies begin drilling with a “drill rig,” they can extract
petroleum 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Many
successful oil sites produce oil for about 30 years. Sometimes they can
produce oil for much longer.
When oil is under the ocean floor, companies drill off shore. They must build
an oil platform. Oil platforms are some of the biggest manmade structures
in the world!
Once the oil has been drilled, it must be refined. Oil contains many
chemicals besides carbon, and refining the oil takes some of these
chemicals out.
We use oil for many things. About half of the world’s petroleum is converted
into gasoline. The rest can be processed and used in liquid products such
as nail polish and rubbing alcohol, or solid products such as water pipes,
shoes, crayons, roofing, vitamin capsules, and thousands of other items.

20. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 20
Advantages and Disadvantages
There are advantages to drilling for oil. It is relatively inexpensive to
extract. It is also a reliable and dependable source of energy and money
for the local community.
Oil provides us with thousands of conveniences. In the form of gasoline, it
is a portable source of energy that gives us the power to drive places.
Petroleum is also an ingredient in many items that we depend on.
However, burning gasoline is harmful to the environment. It releases
hazardous gases and fumes into the air that we breathe. There is also the
possibility of an oil spill. If there is a problem with the drilling machinery,
the oil can explode out of the well and spill into the ocean or surrounding
land. Oil spills are environmental disasters, especially offshore spills. Oil
floats on water, so it can look like food to fish and ruin birds’ feathers.

21. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 21
Future of Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy sources have fueled the world’s industrial complex for
far too long. It has reached a point where the word is facing rapid starvation in
this sector. There are also other associated effects too which also need to be
carefully looked at just to make sure things are running as intended. However,
this is not the case. With increased exploitation of these fossil fuels, there are
many associated environmental effects like land pollution and air pollution
which in turn affect both animal and plant life. The far-reaching consequences
of non-renewable sources are inexplicable and the trend has to be reversed
soon before it is too late to do anything.
Carbon is a major source of fuel in non-renewable energy sources. When
combustion takes place, carbon is mixed with oxygen and form carbon dioxide.
It pollutes the environment and is responsible for global warming. In last few
years, the concentration of carbon dioxide has only increased in the
atmosphere. Not to mention, climate change, acid rain and change in seasons
are some other effects that has been observed by many people. With so many
problems, scarce resources and rising prices, these resources cannot be used
for lifetime. The need of the hour is to look for some alternative sources of
energy and protect our environment from such harmful gases.

22. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 22
Alternative to Non-Renewable Energy Sources
There are many active groups that are finding other alternative sources of
energy. For instance, there has been increased exploitation and tapping of
renewable energy sources. Worldwide there are several renewable energy
projects that are undergoing to harness this energy as it is clean, replenished,
sustainable and widely available.
Most people argue that even these projects consume fossil fuel in some indirect
way to produce electricity. Manufacturing of turbines, generators, blades, solar
panels, transformers and several other small components are done in factories
which use fossil fuels to produce them. But, renewable energy experts say that
energy produced by these plants is much higher than the energy consumed
during making of these components.
Although, these energy sources have been in use since last few decades but it
is only in the last few years that renewable energy has speed up the pace. Huge
investments have been going in these projects and several companies across
the world are setting up wind farms, solar farms and hydropower plants across
several countries. Nuclear energy has also gain momentum.
Though it is not considered as renewable source due to the fact that it releases
some toxic substances in the form of radioactive waste but it is sustainable
form of energy. Even after several years, share of renewable energy in world
power production is less than 20%. It is however believed that by 2020,
renewable energy will have a major share in world’s electricity production.
Coal mining as predominant as it is, should be limited to save the environment
from many other associated effects aside from pollution. This was the major
energy source in the early 19th century before plans were made to tap into
renewable energy sources. Oil exploration was once the best trade and
investment to make.
Nowadays, any discovery is just an environmental disaster in
waiting. Geothermal power is another one that gives out lots of energy. The
one bad thing is it is a non-renewable source of energy that has vast
environmental effects.

23. NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 23
Submitted By:
Vinit
Shahdeo
15BIT0335
B.tech-IT
VIT University
Vellore
THANK YOU