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Coal, oil and gas are the three fossil fuels. They are all non-renewable energy sources and using them helps cause climate change.

In this article you can learn about:

• What fossil fuels are
• How fossil fuels formed
• What we use fossil fuels for
• What the advantage and disadvantages of fossil fuels are

This resource is suitable for energy and sustainability topics for primary school learners.

In this video, learn about different fossil fuels and what the advantage and disadvantages of fossil fuels are.

Fossil fuels were formed over millions of years from the remains of dead animals and plants.

• Coal comes from trees and plants.

• Oil and gas come from tiny sea animals and plants (plankton).

These remains were buried under layers of sand and mud and compressed under the ground and sea bed. As the temperature and pressure increased over time, they eventually turned into fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels can all be burned to release their energy:

• gas is used for central heating in our homes
• oil is used to make petrol and diesel fuel for cars and other vehicles
• coal can be burned on open fires to heat houses

All fossil fuels can be burned in power stations to generate electricity. They have some other important uses:

Gas is Scotland’s most commonly used fossil fuel and is found under the sea bed.

• A gas platform drills down into the sea bed. Gas is pumped through pipes up to the platform.
• A natural gas pipeline pumps the gas to a power station.
• Combustion chambers fire hot compressed air into the gas.
• The gas burns and its chemical energy changes to heat energy. This make the air get hotter and expand.
• Heat energy changes to kinetic energy as the expanding hot air is pushed through pipes to the turbines.
• The hot air turns turbines.
• Finally, the spinning turbines turn generators which convert kinetic energy into electricity.

Discover more about how we generate electricity here: Generating electricity

1. They are non-renewable

We are running out of fossil fuels because they are non-renewable. The process of creating them took millions of years and humans have taken a lot of fossil fuels out of the ground already.

Learn about the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy: What is renewable and non-renewable energy?

2. They damage the environment

Fossil fuels are messy and not good for the environment. Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide which traps heat from the Sun in the Earth's atmosphere. This is one of the causes of global warming.

Other gases released cause pollution which is bad for our health and for other living things. Oil leaks and fracking can pollute ground and water and harm wildlife.

3. They can be dangerous

Coal mines and oil and gas rigs can be dangerous places to work. Accidents can cause death or injury.

Advantages of fossil fuels

• Fossil fuels are cheap to turn into energy and they are reliable. They will produce energy at all times and when oil, gas or coal is found, it is usually in large amounts.

• They contribute to making lots of different, useful things, for example things made from steel and most plastics.

• Fossil fuels can be stored and transported. This makes them easy to use as fuel for cars and other vehicles or to heat houses that aren't supplied with electricity.

Disadvantages of fossil fuels

• Fossil fuels are messy and when things go wrong they can cause pollution, which is bad for the environment. Oil spills and gas leaks can happen and pollute the sea, coast, ground or rivers. This can damage or kill wildlife.

• Some fossil fuels are dangerous to get. There are many examples of accidents in coal mines and on oil rigs that have caused injury and death to the workers.

• Fossil fuels are non-renewable which means once we use them, they run out.

• Burning fossil fuels is bad for the environment and is one of the largest contributors to climate change.

• When fossil fuels burn they give off air pollution. This is bad for human health (especially if you have asthma or heart disease) and animal health.

Non-renewable - Natural resources that cannot be replaced after they are used are non-renewable. This means that they exist in a fixed amount on Earth. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are all non-renewable resources.

Sedimentary rock - Rock made when sediment, such as sand, mud and pebbles, builds up in layers. Over time, these layers are squashed under more and more layers of sediment. Eventually, heat and pressure turns the layers into rock. Sedimentary rock can form in deserts, lakes, rivers and seas.

Climate change - The change in the usual conditions of weather (temperature, wind, rainfall etc.) on Earth over a long period of time. The climate has changed throughout the history of Earth, but current climate change refers to an increase in global temperature.

Global warming - The increase in the Earth's average temperature. It is caused by the increase in greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the Sun.

Carbon emissions - The release of carbon into the earth’s atmosphere, which contributes to climate change.

Carbon dioxide - About three quarters of carbon emissions are carbon dioxide gas. This can stay in the atmosphere more that one hundred years.

Methane - About one fifth of carbon emissions are methane gas. Methane stays in the atmosphere for about ten years.

Air pollution - Gases and particles (like dust or smoke) in the air that can damage the environment, plants, animals and human health.

Combustion chamber - An enclosed space in which fuel is burned.

Chemical energy - Fossil fuels are made of different natural chemical which store lots of energy. Chemical reactions, like burning, can release this energy so that we can use it.

Turbine - A simple turbine has a shaft and blades that turn movement in to energy. Usually, water or air push the blades and turn the shaft. Turbines are used to turn the generator.

Generator - A machine that is used to make electricity. When the generator head is turned, this energy is converted to electrical energy.

Make a persuasive poster to show your point of view on fossil fuels

What is your view on fossil fuels? Do you agree with our use of them or not?

Make sure you list the advantages or disadvantages to improve your argument.

Here are some tips about designing a poster: How to make a poster