Yasin Karadağ, Halil İbrahim Şahin
Nilgün Eker
ING 112A CRN 11673
December 18, 2023
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have a high energy density and have been the primary
source of energy production since the Industrial Revolution. They have powered economies and
provided the comforts of modern life. However, their use has significant drawbacks, particularly in
terms of environmental impact and sustainability. Fossil fuels have a significant advantage in that they
are responsible for the majority of electricity production worldwide. For example, as shown in Figure 1
is line chart on the proportion of electric power derived from fossil fuels, renewable sources, and
nuclear, although the proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy has increased from 20%
to 30% in approximately 40 years, the use of fossil fuels in electricity production remains significantly
higher than other methods. Over the 40-year period, the proportion of fossil fuels used increased
gradually from 63% to 67% until 2007, before decreasing to 60% thereafter (Ember, 2022). Conversely,
the burning of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions, which can lead to climate
change and health problems, including death. For instance, in the bar chart in Figure 2, which shows the
significant difference in CO2 emissions among various energy sources, coal, a fossil fuel, emits 820
grams of CO2 per kWh, while wind onshore, a renewable energy source, rapidly drops to emit only 11
grams of CO2. Natural gas, another type of fossil fuel, emits approximately 490 grams of CO2 per kWh
during electricity production. In contrast, nuclear energy emits significantly less CO2, only 12 grams per
kWh, despite concerns associated with its usage (UNECE, 2022). Moreover, as can be seen from the bar
