Non-renewable Energy

Polluting and exhaustible.

Oil
Oil reservoirs can be found inland (onshore) or under the sea bed (offshore). Wells are drilled into the reservoirs and the pressure can force the oil to the surface naturally or the oil may need to be pumped to the surface. The oil is then refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Natural Gas
Natural Gas is found in rock reservoirs under the ground or deep under the ocean. It can be used to generate electricity in gas-fired power stations. The gas is combined with air, burned in a combustion chamber and compressed to produce combustion gas. This high pressure gas expands through a turbine. An electrical generator converts kinetic energy of the rotating turbine into electricity.

Coal
Coal is mined by open-cut or underground mining techniques. It is crushed into a fine powder and burned in a furnace to generate heat and produce high pressure steam. The steam is used to turn a turbine and drive a generator that converts the kinetic energy into electricity.

Nuclear energy is also considered non-renewable as it requires uranium ore to be mined for fuel and produces highly hazardous radioactive waste.