ENERGY SOURCES 3 NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Answer these questions. a. What kind of energy is used for heating your house? b. Do you know what fuels were used for lighting and heating houses in the last century? c. In your opinion, what energy source would be the best for our future? Why? barrel: barile crude: grezzo to exploit: sfruttare peak: picco, livello massimo to point to: riferirsi a, indicare rate: ritmo to run out of: esaurire, finire seam: giacimento supply: fornitura, rifornimento turning point: punto di svolta Crude oil, which is in its most basic form mineral deposits formed deep in the earth or under the sea bed, has been discovered and exploited all around the world for over 150 years. It is transformed into oil, which is then refined into petrol or petroleum products (plastic is a petroleum derivative, for example), and is produced at the rate of several million barrels a day. This is often described as the energy of the world. Without a doubt, oil production in the world is now at its peak and in a short time we will run out of oil supplies. Highly advanced A coal mine technology is being used to scan for new seams of oil, but there are fewer and fewer places to look. Natural Gas comes from underground and, like oil, it is a finite source, but unlike it, there is a large supply still available. Oil and natural gas are produced in processing plants that cover large areas in often environmentally sensitive regions, e.g. the Arctic. The risk of oil spills and gas leaks is very high and when such accidents happen they may cause terrible damage to the environment. Another fossil fuel is coal. This is produced by mining, which damages the environment and when burned, this source of energy releases greenhouse gases as well. Like oil and natural gas, coal will run out one day, but while experts say that oil and gas will run out in 50 or 60 years, coal reserves are expected to last a few decades longer. Burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas results in the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which cause global warming. Scientists point to significant global warming, indicated by rising sea levels, hotter temperatures and extreme weather phenomena. Oil has been the cause of many wars and in the last fifty years, in the richer hemisphere, we have become dependent on oil for our lifestyle. However, the financial and economic crises of recent years could also become the technological turning point which makes us turn away from oil and utilise renewable resources. Oil jack pumps 28 Module 1 FOUNDATIONS Natural gas power plant