gorivo

Gorivo, meaning fuel in several Slavic languages such as Croatian, Slovenian, Bosnian, and Serbian, refers to a substance or material that stores energy and can produce heat, work, or motion when converted or burned under controlled conditions. In general usage, gorivo includes fuels for transportation, heating, and power generation.

Fuels are commonly grouped into fossil fuels (petroleum products like gasoline and diesel, coal, natural gas), biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas) derived from biomass, and energy carriers such as hydrogen used in fuel cells. Nuclear fuel—uranium or plutonium used in reactors—produces energy through fission. Synthetic fuels produced from captured carbon dioxide or renewable energy are another category.

Production involves extraction or synthesis, refining, and distribution via pipelines, trucks, ships, and rails. Properties such as energy density, volatility, sulfur content, and combustion characteristics influence performance and emissions. Safety and regulatory frameworks address flammability, storage, handling, and environmental risks.

Common applications include powering motor vehicles, heating buildings, and generating electricity or industrial process heat. In many economies, liquid transportation fuels represent a major share of energy demand, while heating fuels and industrial fuels also play substantial roles.

Environmental aspects include greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and resource use across the fuel lifecycle. Efforts to decarbonize focus on efficiency, cleaner production, end-use efficiency, electrification, bio-based alternatives, and hydrogen technologies.

Future developments aim to balance energy security with sustainability, including cleaner fuels, advanced biofuels, synthetic fuels, and regulations that encourage lower-carbon energy. The term gorivo remains central to energy policy and daily life, reflecting a broad spectrum of materials capable of storing and releasing energy.