Fossil fuels coal resources

Among fossil fuels, coal is the most abundant fossil fuel and could meet the human need for more than 200 years from now. In the U.S., coal is also our nation s most abundant domestic fossil fuel resource, about 5800 quadrillion BTUs.184 Consequently, coal is the most prospective resource for mass hydrogen production in the 21st century. For near- to midterm applications, hydrogen production from coal is expected to be the most economical pathway until other resources, such as renewable sources, become available to produce hydrogen in large scale at lower costs.184... 

Traditionally, fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) have been used to satisfy the world s energy needs. However, these resources are not endless. For instance, at the present 2% growth in demand, the peak of world petroleum production is estimated to occur between 2004 and 2025 . This will be followed a few decades later by the peak of natural gas production. Furthermore, fossil fuels account for most of the 23-25 Gt of CO2 that people around the world vent into the atmosphere every year ". ... 

Alpem B and Lemos de Sousa MJ (2002) Documented international enquiry on solid sedimentary fossil fuels Coal definitions, classifications, reserves-resources and energy potential. International Journal of Coal Geology 50 3-41. 

In almost every product we buy, there is some plastic Packaging and containers is the largest market for plastics. They are cheap to produce, ensure excellent protection to the product, and last forever. Nevertheless, this third property is not ideal from an environmental point of view since traditional plastics are manufactured from nonrenewable and fossil-fuel-based resources such as oil, coal, and natural gas. 

On a uniform calorific value basis, coal constitutes 69% of the total estimated recoverable resources of fossil fuel in the United States. Petroleum and natural gas are about 7% and oil in oil shale, which is not as of this writing used as a fuel, is about 23%. The 1989 total recoverable reserves of coal are about 500 times the 1989 aimual production (2), whereas the reserves of oil and gas are smaller, the production and consumption rate of oil and gas in the United States is three times that of coal. 

Coal is the most abundant and most economical fossil fuel resource in the world. Proven coal reseiwes exceed 1 trillion tons, and indicated reserves are estimated at 24 trillion tons. Coal is found in eveiy continent of the world, including Antarctica, although the largest quantities of coal are in the Northern Hemisphere. Coal is mined in some sixty countries in nineteen coal basins around the world, but more than 57 percent of the world s total recoverable reserves are estimated to be in the United States, and China, which together account for more than two-thirds of the world s coal production. 

Implementation of the 1998 Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to reduce global carbon emissions, will have dramatic effects on fossil fuel usage worldwide. The Kyoto Protocol mostly affects delivered prices for coal and conversion of plants to natural gas, nuclear and/or renewable resources. However, as pointed out by the International Energy Agency, increased natural gas consumption in the United States may likely have the effect of increased reliance... 

A nuclear power plant generates electricity in a manner similar to a fossil fuel plant. The fundamental difference is the source of heat to create the steam that turns the turbine-generator. A fossil plant relies on the combustion of natural resources (coal, oil) to create steam. A nuclear reactor creates steam with the heat produced from a controlled chain reaction of nuclear fission (the splitting of atoms). 

Coal is the giant of fossil fuel resources. World reserves are many times those of petroleum, and the United States is one of the major resource holders. Coal can be used directly in combustion or converted to gas or liquid. Only combustion consumes significant amounts of coal today. 

An important task will be to develop a more efficient and clean use of fossil fuels -petroleum, natural gas, and coal and the generation of alternative clean energy resources. 

Industrial civilization was built by the consumption of fossil fuels. Currently, well over 80% of world energy comes from the three main fossil fuels petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because these are nonrenewable resources, there will come a time when these energy bank accounts are exhausted. Experts disagree on how soon the depletion of fossil fuels will occur, but eventually it will be necessary to find other energy sources. 

For each ton of hydrogen produced from hydrocarbons, approximately 2.5 t of carbon is vented to the atmosphere [44-47], However, for each ton of hydrogen produced from current coal technology, approximately 5 t of carbon is emitted to the atmosphere. Principally, C02 capture and sequestration is a precondition for use of these fossil fuels. However, the sequestration necessity varies, because the relative atomic hydrogen-to-carbon ratios are 1 2 4 for coal oil natural gas. There are two basic approaches to C02 sequestration either at the point of emission (in situ capture) or from the air (direct capture). In either case, C02 must be disposed off safely and permanently. With the capture and sequestration of C02, hydrogen is one path for coal, oil, and natural gas to remain viable energy resources [46]. Carbon sequestration technologies are discussed in detail in Chapter 17. 

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