The Advantages of Fossil Fuel Power

The Environmental Literacy Council reports that fossil fuels take millions of years to form. When plants and animals decompose in an environment containing high amounts of heat and pressure, fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum and gas, are created. Humans have relied on fossil fuels to provide energy all over the world for at least a century because it is reliable and affordable. Although many organizations cite the disadvantages associated with using fossil fuels for energy, fossil fuels do provide some benefits.

Few Emissions from Modern Coal Plants

• One type of fossil fuel, coal forms in swamps, when plants decay and are covered by layers of water, dirt and organic matter. As the layers build, they compact and release hydrogen, oxygen and water from the dead plant matter, leaving behind a black rock known as coal. Consisting mainly of carbon, coal provides energy when ground into fine powder and exposed to heat through a process called combustion. Heat released through combustion heats water, turning it into steam, which moves a turbine, activating a generator that creates electricity. These coal plants are generally efficient, able to process coal, oil and biomass. The main advantage associated with coal energy is that many modern coal plants use filters that significantly reduce the amount of smoke and carbon released into the atmosphere, resulting in less air pollution.

Ready Availability of Crude Oil

• Also known as petroleum, crude oil supplies the majority of the world's energy. Like coal, it takes millions of years to develop. It forms when plants and plankton living in ocean and saltwater bodies die and are buried in layers if sand and silt. Over the years, layers of mud build, becoming compacted and heated to create oil. When oil burns, it creates heat that changes water into steam. As in coal combustion, the steam moves a turbine, activating a generator and producing electricity. Like coal, energy from crude oil is affordable and efficient. Although oil must be drilled for, it does offer the unique advantage of being more readily available than coal and natural gas.

Relatively Safe Handling of Natural Gas

• Consisting predominantly of methane, natural gas forms when dead plant matter decay below the Earth's surface. Like oil, natural gas is accessed through drilling. After drilling, the gas is pumped to processing plants that eliminate hydrocarbons, reducing the amount of pollution released when the gas is burned. Like coal and oil, natural gas is exposed to heat that is used to boil water and produce steam. The steam moves the turbine, activating a generator to produce electricity. Natural gas releases lower emissions, contributing less pollutants to the atmosphere. It is also more convenient because it stores easily and safely. However, the main advantage associated with natural gas is that it burns safer than coal and crude oil, posing less risk to those who process it as well as those who rely on it for energy.