Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable resources can't be replaced quickly once we use them up, yet they still provide 84% of Earth's energy consumption. These resources took millions of years to form but can be used up in decades.
Nuclear energy uses uranium fuel in power plants to generate massive amounts of electricity. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant remains a significant part of Philippine energy history, though it never operated commercially due to safety concerns and public opposition.
Fossil fuels - coal, oil, and natural gas - formed from ancient plants and animals over millions of years. Ironically, these fuels originally got their energy from the sun through photosynthesis, making them stored solar energy from prehistoric times.
Coal burns as a solid black rock fuel. The Mariveles Coal-Fired Power Plant in Bataan demonstrates how coal generates electricity, though it produces air pollution. Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels - the San Lorenzo facility in Batangas uses gas turbines to generate 500MW of electrical power efficiently.
⚠️ Reality check: While fossil fuels currently power most of our world, they're running out and contribute to climate change.
Oil and diesel power transportation and electricity generation. Companies like Millenium Energy Inc. are expanding their 620MW Limay plant in Bataan while exploring alternatives to diesel fuel, showing how the energy industry adapts to changing needs.