Climatic Change and Energy Use

31/08/15
Alexis Alonso Mata A01421031
Conventional Sources of Energy

It refers to all the energies that are commonly used in the world or that are the most common
sources to produce electrical energy. All have in common that they are limited and that the
indiscriminate use, that has been done for years, make it increasingly difficult to achieve. Refers to
sources of energy that are found in nature in limited quantities, which, once consumed as a whole,
cannot be replaced, because there is no system of production or extraction economically viable.

FOSSIL FUELS

Coal

Coal was the first mineral fuel that humanity began to exploit industrially. Occurs over tens of
millions of years by the anaerobic decomposition of plants and trees, to be covered by the water
and then buried by sediments.

When coal is burned to produce energy, is released to the atmosphere the coal that has an age of
hundreds of millions of years ago, altering the atmospheric composition and the balance reached
after millions of years of evolution of nature and that allowed the emergence of the human being
in the world

Its combustion also produces acid rain in two ways, both by the OS2 that reacts with the oxygen of
the air to form SO3, which in turn reacts with the water molecules in the atmosphere to form
sulfuric acid, such as when the molecules of CO2 react with water to form carbonic acid (h5CO3).
Although it is possible to reduce SO2 in the plant, the carbonic acid is much more difficult to
prevent.

Oil

Much of our reserves are located in the sea areas, in high depths, which requires knowledge and
technology. We produce more than 2 million barrels per day in approximately 15 thousand wells.
This crude is transported in our 172 vessels and 26 thousand kilometers of pipelines. We have 15
refineries capable of refining more than 2 million barrels of crude per day.

It is a non-renewable energy source that it takes millions of years to form and, therefore, once the
reserves are depleted there is no way to get more. Its production causes environmental damage or
alteration of ecosystems for the construction of the platforms of extraction and processing or by
accidental oil spills. The burning of this fuel emits greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, and methane) by the air that is contributing to global warming.

Natural Gas

It is an important source of fossil energy released by its combustion. It is a mixture of gaseous

hydrocarbons lighter which is removed, either deposits independent (free gas), or next to oilfields
or coal (associated gas to other hydrocarbons and gases) The CO2 emitted to the atmosphere after
the combustion of natural gas is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming of the Earth.
This is due to the fact that CO2 is transparent to visible light and ultraviolet, while that absorbs
infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface to outer space, slowing the night cooling of this.
 Climatic Change and Energy Use
31/08/15
Alexis Alonso Mata A01421031

The combustion of natural gas produces less greenhouse gas than other fossil fuels such as
derivatives oil (fuel oil, diesel or petrol) and especially that the coal. In addition, it is a fuel that
burns cleaner, efficient and secure, does not produce sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain) or solid
particles.

NUCLEAR FUELS

Uranium - plutonium

In general, all the chemical elements that can be fissile, are suitable for the operation of the
reactors (these are elements capable of producing energy by nuclear fission.

Nuclear energy is used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants. The production process is
very similar to that used in the thermoelectric power plants. It differs in that the heat is not
generated by burning, but through fission of materials. Strictly speaking, they are not combustible,
but energy. Although not generates CO2, produces radioactive waste of very difficult elimination.

Accidents, although rare, are very dangerous. This energy source makes it difficult to control
nuclear weapons. In addition increases the dependence on uranium producers and manufacturers
of enriched uranium. Nuclear power plants require a high cost of construction and maintenance.

References

McQuerrey, L. (n.d.). Conventional & Unconventional Sources of Energy. Retrieved September 3,

2015, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/conventional-unconventional-sources-energy-
39934.html

Conventional or Alternative Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2015, from

http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/less4.htm

Our Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2015, from

http://mhathwar.tripod.com/thesis/intro/environment.html