Fossil Fuels, Renewable Energy, and Mineral Resource Basics

Energy Resources and Resource Management Principles

Classifying and Managing Resources

• Strategy for Nonrenewable Resources

  The best strategy for the use of nonrenewable resources is to use them as little as possible and reserve them for applications where they are irreplaceable.

• Criteria for Energy Source Classification

  The most common criteria for classifying energy sources are their composition and whether they are renewable or nonrenewable.

• The Finite Nature of Energy Sources

  We can say that there is no truly inexhaustible energy source, even when considering time scales far exceeding the maximum lifespan of a living being. For example, astronomers state that the Sun, a middle-aged star, will shine for only a few million more years.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are coal, natural gas, and petroleum. They originate from the buried remains of living organisms over millions of years, undergoing various transformation processes, particularly under specific pressure and temperature conditions.

Oil (Petroleum)

Natural mineral oil is less dense than water and has a characteristic dark color. It is composed almost completely of oil. It plays an important role as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry.

Natural Gas Composition and Formation

Natural gas is a diverse mix of hydrocarbons in a gaseous state, predominantly saturated, particularly methane (CH4), which constitutes between 70% and 95% by volume. It is formed through the same process as oil and is frequently associated with the same deposits. However, being lighter than petroleum, it is distributed in a separate layer above it.

Renewable Energy Conversion

Converting Wind and Tidal Energy

Wind and tidal energy are converted into electrical energy by propeller systems connected to a set pair formed by a turbine and a generator. In this process, kinetic energy is transformed into electricity.

Mineral and Water Resources

• Metallic Minerals

  Metallic minerals are those from which metallic elements such as iron, copper, or aluminum can be obtained.

• Electrolytic Refining Procedure

  The electrolytic refining procedure is used to concentrate the pure element at the anode of an electrical circuit.

• Essential Uses of Water

  Water is essential for the maintenance of life and, therefore, for the development of agriculture and livestock. It has numerous other applications, including:

  • Obtaining energy.
  • Serving as a raw material in manufacturing processes.
  • Acting as a solvent or refrigerant.
  • Functioning as a means of transporting goods of great weight and volume.