Electricity from Fossil Fuels

The 3 fossil fuels are ...

Coal This is the remains of vegetation that lived many millions of years ago.	Oil The remains of tiny creatures that lived in the sea. Their remains sank then were buried and compressed for millions of years.	Gas This is found in pockets above oil deposits. It also originates from tiny sea creatures.

This shows the typical layout of a coal fired power station.

Fossil fuels take millions of years to form. Once we have used them up there will be no more to use they are NON-RENEWABLE.

When we burn fossil fuels they create different kinds of pollution. The gases which are of most concern are Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen (SOx and NOx).

Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Nearly all scientists agree now that the CO2 we produce is adding to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases trap heat energy in the Earth's atmosphere producing a small but significant increase in temperature.

Sulphur dioxide combines with moisture in the atmosphere to form acid rain.