What Types Of Energy Are Renewable And Nonrenewable?

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that can be constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, water, plants, and geothermal heat. Nonrenewable energy comes from finite resources that will eventually dwindle and become too costly or environmentally damaging to retrieve, such as fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil.

Definition of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is defined as energy that comes from sources that regenerate naturally and cannot be depleted. This includes energy from the sun, wind, water, the heat of the earth (geothermal), plant materials (biomass), and tides/oceans (tidal).

The key defining factor of renewable energy is that it comes from sources that continuously replenish themselves or cannot be “used up”. This differentiates renewable energy from nonrenewable energy like fossil fuels, which are finite resources. Unlike fossil fuels which take millions of years to form, the sources for renewable energy are generally replenished on time scales ranging from daily (solar) to yearly (biomass).

Some examples of renewable energy sources and technologies include:

• Solar photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity
• Wind turbines that generate electricity from the kinetic energy of wind
• Hydropower from flowing water like dams and wave/tidal energy from the ocean
• Geothermal power plants that use heat from inside the earth to produce steam to spin turbines
• Bioenergy from biomass sources like wood, crops, waste materials

Because these natural flows of energy are constantly being replenished, renewable energy is considered a sustainable long-term energy solution for the future, unlike fossil fuels which will eventually run out.

Types of Renewable Energy

There are several major types of renewable energy sources that are used to generate electricity and power today:

• Solar – Solar energy comes directly from the sun and is captured and converted in a few ways. Photovoltaic cells in solar panels convert sunlight directly into electrical energy. Concentrated solar power plants use mirrors to concentrate sunlight to heat fluids which are then used to spin turbines to generate electricity (1).
• Wind – Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical power which spins a generator to produce electricity. Wind power is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources (2).
• Hydropower – Flowing water creates kinetic energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is most often done with dammed rivers through hydroelectric power plants (3).
• Geothermal – By drilling into the earth, geothermal energy harnesses the heat from underground to generate electricity. Hot water or steam from deep below the earth’s surface is piped up to spin turbines (4).
• Tidal – The rise and fall of ocean tides create kinetic energy. Similar to wind and hydropower, this energy can be captured through tide mills and barrages and used to generate electricity (5).
• Biomass – Organic matter such as plants, wood, and waste are used to generate energy. As the matter decays, methane gas is released which can then heat water to spin turbines or be converted into other forms of biofuel (6).

These renewable sources provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Though they each come with their own advantages and disadvantages, renewables create electricity with little to no greenhouse gas emissions. As technology improves and costs decrease, the use of renewable electricity continues to grow.

(1) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/
(2) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/
(3) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/
(4) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/geothermal/
(5) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/tidal/
(6) https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/

Benefits of Renewable Energy

There are many benefits of using renewable energy sources. First, renewable energy is sustainable – the resources used to generate energy such as sunlight, wind, water, and geothermal heat are continuously replenished and essentially infinite. In comparison, nonrenewable fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are finite and will eventually run out. Using renewable sources ensures future generations will have access to energy resources.

Renewable energy can significantly reduce pollution and emissions that contribute to climate change. According to the EPA, in 2019, renewable energy avoided over 455 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. This has major benefits for public health and reducing greenhouse gases linked to global warming [1].

Developing renewable energy sources allows countries to rely less on imported fuels and attain greater energy independence and security. Locally sourced renewables reduce vulnerability to disruptions in fuel supply chains. They also mitigate the risks associated with the price volatility of fossil fuels on international markets.

Widespread adoption of renewable energy could spur enormous job growth and provide new economic opportunities. According to the Department of Energy, in 2019 there were over 3 million jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the U.S. Building out renewable infrastructure can create construction, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance jobs across the country [2].

In many cases, the cost of renewable energy is now competitive with or even cheaper than conventional sources. As technology and infrastructure improves, costs continue to fall. Renewables can help stabilize energy prices and reduce costs for consumers and businesses over the long-term.

Challenges of Renewable Energy

Although renewable energy sources provide many benefits, there are also some key challenges that need to be addressed for wider adoption. Some of the main challenges include:

High Upfront Costs

The initial investment required for setting up renewable energy systems like solar panels or wind turbines is quite high compared to conventional power plants (https://www.power-and-beyond.com/what-is-renewable-energy-definition-types-and-challenges-a-3f2d3aefba9075c4e055ac5fd52c4ffd/). This makes the levelized cost, which spreads initial investment over lifetime energy production, higher than traditional sources. Various incentives and financing options can help overcome this barrier.

Intermittent Supply

Renewable sources like solar and wind are weather-dependent and provide intermittent power. The electricity generation varies based on time of day, seasons, or sudden weather changes (https://www.robeco.com/en-int/insights/2023/09/fog-and-the-future-navigating-the-challenges-of-renewable-energy). This can create reliability concerns and difficulties in matching supply with demand.

Storage Limitations

Since renewable sources are inconsistent, adequate energy storage is crucial. Current storage options like batteries and pumped hydro remain expensive. Lack of cost-effective, large-scale storage is a challenge in handling the variability of renewables.

Grid Integration

The decentralized and variable nature of renewables makes integrating them into the existing centralized grids complex. Significant upgrades to transmission infrastructure are needed to handle the two-way flow of electricity.

Definition of Nonrenewable Energy

Nonrenewable energy comes from sources that will eventually dwindle or run out completely. APES Unit 6 Test Key Points Flashcards defines nonrenewable energy sources as those that “exist in a fixed amount and involve energy transformation that cannot be replaced by natural processes within a human lifespan.” Common nonrenewable energy sources include fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. These resources form over millions of years, so while they technically can be renewed, it would take an extremely long time. Other nonrenewable sources are truly finite, like uranium used for nuclear power.

Since nonrenewable energy sources cannot be easily regenerated, relying heavily on them raises concerns about exhaustion and depletion. Using nonrenewable sources is considered unsustainable in the long run. As supplies of fossil fuels and nuclear materials run low, prices will rise and they will become more difficult to obtain. There are also environmental impacts from extracting and consuming nonrenewable sources that cannot be quickly reversed.

Types of Nonrenewable Energy

The main types of nonrenewable energy come from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels formed when ancient plants and animals died and were gradually buried by layers of rock. Over millions of years, the energy in this organic matter was compressed and transformed into materials like oil, coal, and natural gas.[1]

Coal is a solid black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that forms from compressed peat. Coal is the largest source of energy for generating electricity worldwide. The major advantage of using coal is its low cost and widespread availability. However, burning coal produces air pollution and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.[2]

Petroleum, commonly known as oil, is a liquid fossil fuel found deep underground in porous rock formations. It is the world’s main source of hydrocarbons used in liquid fuels for transportation. Oil is versatile and easy to transport, but drilling accidents and oil spills can damage the environment. Additionally, combustion of oil products produces air pollutants and carbon dioxide.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that formed along with oil deposits deep beneath the earth’s surface. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, provide heating, and serve as an automotive fuel. Advantages are that it burns cleanly and efficiently. However, natural gas is a nonrenewable resource and its extraction via fracking may cause groundwater contamination.

Nuclear energy comes from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called nuclear fission. Uranium is a nonrenewable resource mined from the ground. Nuclear power plants provide steady baseload electricity without emitting air pollutants or carbon dioxide. However, they produce radioactive waste, pose safety risks, and often face public opposition.

Drawbacks of Nonrenewable Energy

Nonrenewable energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas have some major drawbacks. First, burning these fossil fuels generates significant air pollution. According to this study, nonrenewable energy contributes to higher levels of air pollution, which has resulted in climate change and negative health impacts. Extracting and transporting fossil fuels also causes environmental damage. Coal mining, for example, can pollute waterways and oil spills contaminate oceans and lands. Furthermore, emissions from burning fossil fuels contribute to acid rain, smog, and respiratory problems in humans. Lastly, nonrenewable energy sources are finite. Supplies of coal, oil, and natural gas are limited and will eventually run out if consumption continues increasing globally.

Comparing Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

When comparing renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, there are several key factors to consider including environmental impacts, costs, supply limitations, and pros and cons.

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass are considered environmentally friendly and sustainable. They produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and global warming. However, renewable sources (with the exception of geothermal and tidal) provide intermittent energy that depends on weather conditions. They currently have higher upfront costs than fossil fuels, and supply is limited by suitable geographic locations.

Nonrenewable sources like oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear provide consistent, reliable energy and have benefited from decades of infrastructure development to keep costs lower. However, emissions from fossil fuels are the primary contributor to climate change. Fossil fuel supplies are finite and concentrated in certain global regions. Nuclear power creates radioactive waste that must be carefully stored for thousands of years.

Transitioning to renewable energy is gaining momentum to combat climate change and air pollution, despite current costs and supply limitations. Meanwhile, nonrenewables continue to dominate energy production globally. An “all of the above” strategy incorporates both renewables and nonrenewables in the short-term, while long-term policies aim to increase renewables’ market share as technology improves and costs decline.

Conclusion

In summary, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass offer numerous benefits over nonrenewable sources like coal, oil and natural gas. Renewables produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions, help combat climate change, reduce air pollution, and require less water to produce energy. They are replenished naturally and available in endless supply. The main drawback is that they depend on weather conditions and require large areas of land. Nonrenewables are cheap and reliable but pollute the air and contribute heavily to global warming. They exist in finite reserves that will eventually be depleted.

Looking ahead, renewable energy production is predicted to grow rapidly as costs continue to fall. Many experts believe renewables will provide over 50% of the world’s electricity by 2050. Government incentives, private investment, and public concern over climate change are accelerating the transition. However, nonrenewables will likely remain part of the global energy mix for decades to come. The future is a shift toward renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable living and cleaner technologies across all sectors.