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Some energy sources are non-polluting or
have low pollution while others produce tremendous pollution as
by-products of the transformation process that takes them to useful forms.
Fossil fuels, for instance, has been noted for producing tremendous amount
of green house gases (GHGs) which are
heat trapping gases believed to be responsible for global warming
with its attendant problems. For more details visit the
Climate Change section.
To mitigate the effects of the
climate change, there are increasing call and search for
alternative energy sources. Alternative energy sources
(alternative to fossil fuels) are sources producing little or no GHGs
emissions while still meeting the current and future energy needs of the World. The
renewable energy sources described earlier on this page are alternative
energy sources (alternative to fossil fuels). However, alternative energy
can also be realized from cleaner processing of the dirty fossil fuels or
from other sources such nuclear energy.
Fossil fuels
are fuels believed to have been formed from plants and animal remains of
ancient times that have undergone significant decomposition. They are mainly Coal, Crude Oil (petroleum) and Natural Gas.
Other less common and more expensive to process ones are bituminous sands
(e.g. Canada's tar sands) and oil shale. Electricity that powers several
industrial installations and provided lighting for cities and communities
are derived from these three sources. The combustion of these fuels
release GHGs, which contributes to climate change and global warning.
Besides polluting the atmosphere, fossil fuels are non-renewable and are
gradually being depleted.
Natural Gas produces lesser amount of GHGs than Coal and Oil and besides, the abstraction, transportation
and
storage processes for Natural Gas are being improved upon to further
reduce the GHGs emissions to the atmosphere.
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