144 Chapter 8

Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are known as fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are believed to have been formed from the remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Coal originates from ancient

swamps, petroleum and natural gas were formed from ancient marine plants and animals. Coal is still an important source of electricity. Along with iron ore, it is also used to make steel. Because coal is a solid fuel, it has certain disadvantages, and burning it causes acid rain and air pollution. Displaced by cleaner fuels, coal consumption declined rapidly during the middle of the twentieth century. But coal reserves are estimated to be enormous, and, assuming that pollution control and clean-burning technologies now being researched are fully implemented, coal may still remain a major source of energy.

The main use of petroleum is for liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, to say nothing of heat and electricity generation. Also many chemicals are produced from petroleum. These petrochemicals include chemical fertilizers, explosives, medicines etc. Oil at present accounts for around 45 percent of the planet's total energy consumption, and natural gas a

fossil — укр. викопний

swamp — an area of land which is always full or

covered with water укр. болото

source — a place from which something comes;

means of supply укр. джерело

ore — rock, earth etc. from which metal can be

obtained укр. руда

to pollute — to make (air, water, soil etc.)

dangerously impure or unfit for use укр.

забруднювати

rapid — fast, quick, swift укр. швидкий

to implement — to carry out or put into practice

укр. впроваджувати, здійснювати

fuel — material that is used for producing heat or

power укр. паливо

to say nothing of — укр. не кажучи вже про

well — a place where water (oil) can be taken from

underground укр. свердловина

to ship — to send to a distant place by post or other

means, укр. перевозити

pipeline — a line of connected pipes, often

underground, especially for carrying liquids or gas a

long distance укр. трубопровід

further 25 percent. Natural gas is often found in the same wells with oil, but it may also be found separately. Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fuel that can be shipped through pipelines.

Nuclear energy

The world's first nuclear power plant began producing electricity in Britain in 1956. Originally,

nuclear power was seen as a clean, inexpensive power source. Today, however, the nuclear power industry faces two serious problems: nuclear accidents and nuclear waste. Since the Chernobyl accident public opposition to expansion of nuclear power has grown.

accident — something unpleasant or damaging укр. аварія

waste — used damaged or unwanted matter укр. відходи

Alternative (renewable) energy sources

While oil has a unique status as an energy source, it is by no means without competition. Other

fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, are often less costly and compete effectively in certain sectors, such as electric power generation. However, there are energy resources (not based on fossil fuels) that are essentially inexhaustible, such as solar energy and other kinds of renewable energy. Flowing water is an important energy source. Hydroelectric power, or hydropower, produced by the force of

unique — being the only one of its type укр.

унікальний

by no means — Ні в якому разі

costly — costing a lot of money укр. дорогий

to exhaust — to use up completely укр.

виснажувати, вичерпувати

to deplete — to lessen greatly in amount укр.

вичерпувати, виробляти

running water is a renewable and relatively pollution-free source of electrical energy.

As such energy sources as coal, oil, and natural gas become depleted, it will prove

advantageous to many countries currently dependent on those sources to develop and make available alternative energy technology. Many countries have favorable natural conditions for

developing geothermal, wind, solar, and tidal energy sources. Geothermal energy makes use of underground heat which escapes to the surface through hot springs. Geothermal power is believed to be of great potential. New Zealand, Iceland, and several other countries now operate successful power plants.

tide — a current of water caused by the regular rize and fall of the sea caused by the pull of the moon and the sun укр. приплив та відплив spring — a place where water comes up naturally from the ground укр. джерело

Solar energy involves capturing the sun's light energy and converting it into heat or electricity. The technology exists to harness solar power, but solar energy collectors are expensive. Tidal

energy could be a source of hydroelectric power in limited areas and has been pioneered in France. Attempts to raise deep ocean water to generate electricity are under way in Hawaii and other places. Wind can also be harnessed to produce electricity by the use of machines called aerogenerators. Wind is an unpredictable energy source that requires storage technology to fully use its benefits. Recycling or burning industrial and domestic garbage can also be used as a source of energy.

In the oceans, air, land, underground the Earth has virtually unlimited energy sources. Many of them are nonrenewable, and may be of short supply in the future. We should seek and improve energy sources and use them more efficiently to maintain our energy supply and reduce environmental hazards.

to harness — to use (a natural force) to

produce useful power укр. приборкувати,

підкоряти

to be under .way — moving forward укр.

(починати) запроваджувати в життя,

здійснювати

to recycle — to treat (a substance that has

already been used) so that it is fit to use again

укр. переробляти для повторного

використання

virtually — almost, very nearly, practically

укр. практично, майже

to seek — to make a search (for); to look for;

try to find or get укр. шукати

hazard — something likely to cause damage

or loss; a danger or risk укр. ризик, небезпека