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Fossil fuels: fuels formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that have been buried underground for millions of years. They are a non-renewable source of energy, meaning they cannot be replaced once they are depleted. These are oil, natural gas and coal.
Biomass: organic material, one of the renewable energy sources (RES) and one of the most valuable resources on Earth. Biomass can come from a variety of sources, including wood, agricultural and food waste. It is mostly produced from plants, including algae, trees and seeds, and from organic waste products of humans, animals and micro-organisms. It can be used to produce fuel, energy and raw materials.
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How are modern cars powered?
The different types of power sources for modern cars are:
- Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are the most common type of automotive engine. They use gasoline or diesel fuel to create a rapid explosive burn that drives the pistons in the engine, generating mechanical work.
- Electric motors are powered by electricity that is stored in a battery.
- Fuel cells are devices that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The electricity is then used to power the electric motor.
- Hybrid cars use a combination of ICE and electric motors. The ICE powers the car when it is moving at high speed, while the electric motor powers the car when it is moving at low speed or when it is stopped.
The different energy sources in the car
The most common type of energy source is the first – the ICE. Recently, other categories are also becoming more popular and in demand, but due to their high prices, people prefer to choose ICE cars (for now).
(ICE) cars are powered by different types of fuel, such as:
- Gasoline: this is the most common fuel used in ICEs. It is a petroleum-based fuel that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
- Diesel fuel (naphtha): a liquid petroleum-based product/fuel that consists of heavier hydrocarbons than gasoline.
- Natural gas: a fossil fuel, a mixture of gases formed in the Earth’s interior, consisting of methane and other hydrocarbons.
- Propane is a colorless gaseous fuel that consists of propane and butane.
- Ethanol: is a renewable fuel that is produced from corn or other biomass.
- Biodiesel: is a renewable fuel that is produced from vegetable oils or animal fats.
The type of fuel an ICE uses depends on a number of factors including the availability of the fuel on the market, its price and the environmental impact of the fuel.
Gasoline is the most common fuel used in ICEs as it is widely available and relatively cheap. However, petrol is a fossil fuel and its use contributes to climate change. Diesel is also a fossil fuel but is more energy efficient than petrol. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel than petrol or diesel and is becoming more widely available. Propane is an alternative to petrol or diesel, emits less harmful emissions than petrol and does not emit soot like diesel. It is often used in vehicles such as taxis, buses, forklifts as it has lower fuel consumption. Ethanol and biodiesel are renewable fuels, but they are often more expensive than petrol or diesel.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that have been buried underground for millions of years. They are a non-renewable source of energy, which means they cannot be replaced once they are depleted. These are oil, natural gas and coal.
What are the environmental impacts of different fuels?
They vary depending on the fuel and how it is produced and used. However, some common impacts include:
- Gasoline: Gasoline is a fossil fuel and its combustion releases greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Gasoline also produces air pollutants that can cause respiratory problems and smog.
- Diesel: Diesel is also a fossil fuel and burning it produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Diesel also produces air pollutants, including soot and more fine particulate matter than gasoline, which can cause respiratory problems and smog. However, diesel engines are generally more fuel-efficient than petrol engines, so can emit fewer emissions per kilometre travelled.
- Natural gas: Natural gas is a fossil fuel, but burning it produces fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline or diesel. Natural gas also produces fewer air pollutants than gasoline or diesel.
- Propane: Propane is an acrid-smelling gaseous fuel that consists of propane and butane. When burned, it produces fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel, polluting the air less. However, propane is also a fossil fuel and the greenhouse gases released when it is burned contribute to climate change.
- Ethanol: Ethanol is a renewable fuel that is produced from biomass such as grains, fruits and other plant materials. Burning ethanol produces fewer greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter – than petrol. Its use can help reduce air pollution. However, ethanol production can contribute to water pollution, deforestation, soil and land use changes.
- Biodiesel: Biodiesel is a renewable biofuel that is produced from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled cooking oils. When burned, biodiesel emits fewer greenhouse gases than diesel and can contribute to improved air quality, which benefits human health and the environment. However, the production of biodiesel from some crops can contribute to water pollution, biodiversity loss and land use change.
Conclusion: it is clear that all fuels contribute to climate change. Burning them releases greenhouse gases (mostly carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet. They also pollute the air by emitting fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, etc., which pose a direct danger to human health. Other negative consequences are: acid rain formation, water pollution and damage to aquatic ecosystems, depletion of natural resources.
What are the ways to tackle these environmental problems?
One way is to use renewable energy sources, which are natural resources – solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, ocean energy, etc.
- Solar energy is the energy that comes from the sun. It can be converted into electricity using solar panels and photovoltaic systems or used to heat water or homes using solar collectors.
- Wind power is the energy that is produced from the wind. It can be converted into electricity using wind turbines or used to pump water or generate mechanical power.
- Hydropower is derived from the movement of water. It is generated by hydropower plants that use water from rivers and dams, and through the force of the flowing water, turn turbines and generate electricity.
- Geothermal energy is derived from heat in the Earth. It can be used to generate electricity, heat homes and businesses or provide hot water.
- Biomass is organic matter that can be burned to produce heat, fuel or electricity. Biomass can come from a variety of sources including wood, agricultural waste and municipal solid waste.
- Ocean energy is the energy that comes from the ocean. It can be harnessed in a variety of ways, including wave energy, tidal energy, and conversion of heat energy from the ocean.
Conclusion: renewable energy is derived from natural energy sources that are sustainable and continuously renewed naturally. Renewable energy reduces pollution, expands our energy options and reduces our dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices. Renewable energy is a factor for environmental protection and a guarantee for our future.
Figure 1. Electricity from renewable sources. Diagram We Teach DATA project based on Eurostat 2020 data
Source: https://www.eea.europa.eu/bg/signals/signali-2022/chlenove/badeshte-osnovano-na-vazobnovyaema-energiya
Figure 2. Electricity used from renewable sources 2005 and 2015. Graph We Teach DATA project based on Eurostat data
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/a/ad/Share_of_renewable_energy_in_fuel_consumption_of_transport%2C_2005_and_2015_%28%25%29_YB17.png
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Figure 1. Electricity from renewable sources
Figure 2. Electricity used from renewable sources 2005 and 2015
