What type of fossil fuels are there

The Energy Department is fighting climate change through science, clean energy research, and energy efficiency in our homes, businesses and vehicles. Featured Content. Carbon capture is an important part of the Energy Department's Fossil Energy research and development efforts, but how does it work?

This infographic breaks it down for you. Quiz: Know Your Power Plants. Think you know where coal, solar and other power plants are located around the country? They are sought after because they contain stored energy, and when burned, fossil fuels power machinery and provide transportation, as well as the electricity essential to modern-day life. They also contain essential ingredients used within the chemical industry. Every crude oil deposit has a unique composition and proportion of these hydrocarbons.

Based upon this chemical composition, crude oil can have a range of densities from thick and viscous to light and fluid. It is designated as either sweet or sour depending upon residual amounts of sulfur and can range from a transparent golden yellow to a deep black.

In order to be used within industry and for transportation the crude oil must be separated into its individual hydrocarbon-based fuels and lubricants. By the early s, the term "renewables" has become just as much of a friendly term in environmental circles as "fossil fuels" had become an unwanted guest.

As a result, renewables and nuclear power considered "clean," but a source of energy with many detractors accounted for 23 percent of U. But fossil fuels, despite occasional dire predictions about flagging underground stores, are in no danger of running out anytime soon even at current levels of use. Unless policies radically change, fossil fuels are expected to still account for 78 percent of energy used worldwide in This might actually be a bad thing for Earth as a whole as it fails to fully force humanity to cohesively pursue a workable and sustainable energy agenda that both meets global power needs while permitting the avoidance of a global-warming disaster.

Kevin Beck holds a bachelor's degree in physics with minors in math and chemistry from the University of Vermont. Formerly with ScienceBlogs. More about Kevin and links to his professional work can be found at www. In , over half of U. Natural gas is considered clean-burning compared to other fossil fuels; it is getting it out of the ground that is the most problematic aspect of its production. Natural Gas Information. List of Missouri's Natural Resources. Alternative Fuels Used in Vehicles.

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