Fossil fuel

Fossil fuels, also known as mineral fuels, are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. The utilization of fossil fuels has fueled industrial development and largely supplanted water driven mills, as well as the burning of wood or peat for heat.

Related Topics:
Hydrocarbon - Natural resource - Coal - Petroleum - Natural gas - Wood - Peat

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When generating electricity, energy from the combustion of fossil fuels is often used to power a turbine. Older generators often used steam generated by the burning of the fuel to turn the turbine, but in newer power plants the gases produced by burning of the fuel turn a gas turbine directly.

Related Topics:
Electricity - Combustion - Turbine - Gas turbine

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The burning of fossil fuels by humans is their major source of emissions of carbon dioxide which is one of the greenhouse gases that is believed to contribute to global warming. A small amount of hydrocarbon-based fuels are biofuels which are derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide and thus do not increase the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Related Topics:
Carbon dioxide - Greenhouse gas - Global warming - Biofuel

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