Energy Resources

The most abundant but also most polluting of the fossil fuels.
Large reserves of coal remain in many countries and are often located near close to the surface. It is the cheapest fossil fuel to extract in most cases.
Coal fired power stations are being built on a large scale in some LEDCs such as China to power industrialisation.
New technologies are being developed that allow cleaner burning of coal (Carbon Capture & Storage).

Crude oil has become the fossil fuel that most economies rely on for their energy and transportation needs.
Large reserves have been exploited and many people argue that we are currently nearing the peak and facing future shortages.
New reserves such as the Alberta Tar sands have become economically viable due to the rising price of oil.
Oil is less polluting than coal but more than natural gas.
Many of the oils major reserves are in the Middle East.

The cleanest of the fossil fuels in terms of air pollution.
Large reserves of gas have been found in layers of shale underground in many countries.
The avility to compress it to a liquid for transportation makes it easier and cost effective to move large distances on tankers & through pipelines.
Many developed economies are increasingly relying on gas for domestic use (heating, cooking).

Electricity generated by released water spinning turbines. This requires fast flowing water or high water pressure (dams).
A very clean form of energy (after the intitial building of the dam).
Many of the most suitable rivers have already been used to harness HEP. New projects are larger in scale and the turbines are more efficient.
HEP dams destroy large areas of vegetation & can cause environmental problems downstrean due to changes in river flow.

An increasingly popular form of power generation.
Initial set up costs are high.
There has been opposition to wind farms in many places due to the impact on the scenery, noise pollution and danger to birds.
Large offshore wind farms are being developed but these required considerable investment and need infrastructure to deliver the power to where it is used.
Larger windmills are increasing efficiency.

Wood is non-renewable in the sense that once it is burn it is used.
It is regarded as a sustainable resources since if forests are managed it will regenerate and provide a continuous supply.
Wood is used primarily in LEDCs for fuel for heating and cooking.
Deforestation in mny LEDCs due to demand for wood as a fuel is leading to major environmental problems such as soil erosion, desertification and increased flooding.
Efficient wood burners & maanagement strategies are helping.

Using the heat of the earth to generate power.
It is commonly used as a source of heating for buildings through pipes that heat water underground & then run through houses.
In some places it is used to generate electricity by using the steam to turn turbines Indonesia & the U.S.A.
There are few negative side effects of geothermal power.
It is very expensive to set up but then requires no additional fuel once established.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - 2010