Integrative Activity 3- Hydrocarbons

Fossil fuel products

Advantages of using fossil fuels as an energy source

Environmental implications of fossil fuel obtention

Petroleum dependency

Alternative sources of energy obtention and advantages

Countries that depend on alternative sources of energy and their strategy

Political & economic implications on fossil fuel dependency

Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils.

All contain carbon and were formed as a result of geologic processes acting on the remains of organic matter produced by photosynthesis.

Fossil fuel can generare a large amount of electricity.

They can be found very easily.

Cost- effective

Transportation of oil and gas can be done easity through pipelines.

It is available in plenty quantities.

The impact on climate is demonstrated for the release of heat.

Release of CO2 which is one of the gases that pollutes our Earth the most.

Mexico

United States

In early December 2018, it was reported that the US had turned into a net exporter of oil "last week", thus breaking nearly 75 continuous years of dependence on foreign oil. Reportedly, the US sold overseas a net of 211,000 barrels a day of crude and refined products such as gasoline and diesel.

Germany

Germany imported 85.2 million tonnes of crude oil (the country also imports additional mineral oil products).

Petroleum is the base of the economy in Mexico.

The national oil company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has been the source of approximately one third of the total federal resources in the last 20 years, often bankrolling the State during the last three decades.

Solar Energy (photovoltaic, solar thermal)

Wind

Biogas (landfill gas/ wastewater treatment digester gas)

Geothermal

Low- impact hydroelectricity

Emerging technologies - wave and tidal power)

Benefits

Generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution

Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels

Creating economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installation, and more

References

Otto, C. (2019). Fossil fuel. de Britannica . Recuperado de https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel

Kamille, G. (2019). Fossil fuels- Types and uses. Recuperado de https://byjus.com/biology/fossil-fuel/

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Local Renewable Energy Benefits and Resources. Recuperado de https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/local-renewable-energy-benefits-and-resources

Margarita Yabur
A01749235

Sweden

Goal: To eliminase fossil fuel from electricity generation by 2040 within its borders, using solar, wind, energy storage, smart grids, and clean transport.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica has produced 95% of its electricity from hydro, geothermal, solar and wind over the past four years.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua invested the fifth- highest percentage worldwide of its GDP in developing renewable energy.

The political and economic fossil fuel dependency produces climate changes, we all know that at least petroleum is used by a lot of companies for us to have some resources, but this is polluting our planet and if we have the chance to use another clean energy sources, we have to take it. The problem is that this type of energy isn't cheap and that is why some politicians and economists keep using fossil fuel.

Anónimo. (2019). 11 countries leading the change on Renewable Energy . de Climate Council. Recuperado de https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/11-countries-leading-the-charge-on-renewable-energy/