2.3 NON-RENEWABLE GENERATION Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will, at some point, run out and not be replenished. Introduction Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels, and that’s why the time period during which fossil fuels formed (about 300-360 million years ago) is called the Carboniferous Period. Let’s learn more about the process by which the raw materials of fossil fuels are created. 1. Prehistoric swamps: All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Hundreds of millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs, Earth had a very different landscape and was covered with wide, shallow seas and swampy forests. 2. Dead organisms: 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, and energy was stored in their remains. 3. Fossilization: Over time, these dead organisms 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, petroleum, and natural gas). Today, there are huge underground pockets (called reservoirs) of these non-renewable sources of energy around the world.
Electricity Canada | Electricity Fundamental in Canada: Student Handbook
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