The History of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels have been the world's dominant energy source since about 1800 A.D. Before the advent of these fuels, humans relied primarily on energy generated from other humans, commonly in the form of slaves, and sometimes other animals. The use of fire and rudimentary tools to enhance muscle power was also developed. The ability to store and convert energy to a form that is useful when needed fueled the rise of fossils fuels or energy use.
Types
Coal, oil and natural gas are the major fossil fuels. They are created from decaying plant or animal matter. According to the Energy Information Administration, 91 percent of the coal burned in the U.S. is used for electricity production. Approximately 70 percent of oil is used for transportation, and natural gas use is almost evenly divided between the industrial, residential and transportation sectors. All of these fuels store carbon as potential energy and release it upon use.
Time Frame
Carbon-based fuel use began in the late eighteenth century. The Industrial Revolution was ushered in by the use of coal. The invention of the steam engine and its subsequent use in mechanizing the British textile industry is given credit as the kicker for the revolution."An Environmental History of the Twentieth Century World" by J.R. McNeil states that by 1900, engineers could handle high-pressure steam and "engines became 30 times as powerful as those of 1800." Steam-powered cars were seen on the streets of London. The refined oil-run internal combustion engine was also coming of age around 1900. Part of the appeal of petroleum is its ability to be transported through pipes. The same is true for natural gas, which according to Naturalgas.org was first used commercially around 1785 in Britain for lighting. Natural gas contains fewer pollutants (including carbon) than the other fossil fuels.
Effects
"Modern society" would not have developed without these energy-dense fuels. However, the use of coal for energy produces sulfur, nitrogen oxide and mercury emissions among many other pollutants. All of these negatively affect the entire biome system of Earth. Some of the emissions from petroleum (refined sweet crude oil) include carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Oil also has other issues such as spills, leaky underground storage tanks and ground-level ozone produced by engines run by petroleum-based fuels. While natural gas is cleaner than both oil and coal, it still emits virtually all the same pollutants, just in lesser quantities.
Potential
It is the goal of many governments and organizations to limit the use of fossil fuels. Having said this, they will remain a dominant energy force for years to come. There are technologies such as pollutant "scrubbers" and carbon sequestration techniques that may allow for continued use of coal. The full potential of these energy sources may have already been realized.
Misconceptions
A common misconception is that oil and coal come from deceased dinosaurs. Oil formation requires fast accumulation of organic matter, which is believed to be best accomplished by microscopic marine life.
Tags: dominant energy, History Fossil, History Fossil Fuels, these fuels
