Chapter 2:Unconventional Fuel Sources

While petroleum and natural gas are conventional fuel sources, alternative fuel sources are any materials or substances, other than conventional fuels, which can be used as fuels,. Examples of non-conventional fuels include coal, tar sand bitumen, oil shale, and biomass. Biomass can also be used directly for heating or power but it can also acts as a source of non-conventional fuels such as alcohols and biodiesel.This chapter presents an overview of the production of fuels from coal, tar sand bitumen, and oil shale for the reader to place the production of fuels from biomass in the proper perspective.