What are fossil fuels

What are fossil fuels?

Fossil fuel is a generic name for fuels with hydrocarbon compounds. Most fossil fuels consist of dead organisms are formed under high pressure and temperatures (often millions of years) for a very long period. The highest percentage of our energy is generated from fossil fuels. Oil, gas and coal are the main types of fossil fuels. Also, lignite and peat are fossil fuels. The advantage of this type of fuels that large stocks of existence and extraction is cheap by years of experience.

Cons

Unfortunately there are also some drawbacks to the massive use of fossil fuels. The extraction of the fuel itself polluting. In the drilling of oil comes involuntarily oil into the environment. Accidents on drilling rigs or during transport at sea allows large amounts of oil escape with disastrous consequences for the environment. Mining of lignite and coal leaves big mark on the landscape. Burning fossil fuels to produce energy has a negative impact on the health of humans and animals. Particulate matter emitted by car exhausts leads to regular breathing to deadly respiratory diseases. The biggest drawback is that gets too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to large-scale use of fossil fuels. This creates the greenhouse effect which ultimately leads to global warming and unforeseen changes in climate.

Finite Stock

Regardless of the negative consequences for humans and nature camps fossil fuel with another problem, namely that the supply is finite. Since it takes millions of years before fossil fuels get their usable form, the stocks may not be replenished while the man she continues to use. Given the rate at which we use fossil fuels, so they are finite. Already, the end dates of some major oil fields have been established for this century. New forms of fossil fuel extraction and schaliegasboring or drilling in inhospitable areas will be unable to turn the tide and the environment cause further damage. Hence, an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, nuclear) this century is inevitable and will be put in motion by some countries such as Germany.