Which Energy Source Renewable Or Nonrenewable Do We Use The Most?

ByAva Murphy

Which energy source renewable or nonrenewable do we use the most?

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Nonrenewable energy comes from finite resources that will eventually dwindle, primarily fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that take millions of years to form naturally. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/)

Globally, the world still depends heavily on nonrenewable sources. According to the International Energy Agency’s Key World Energy Statistics 2022 report, in 2020 approximately 84% of total primary energy supply came from fossil fuels while only 5% came from renewable energy sources like hydropower, wind, solar and biofuels. However, renewables are the world’s fastest-growing energy source, expanding at a rapid pace as costs fall and technology improves. (https://www.iea.org/reports/key-world-energy-statistics-2022)

Fossil Fuels (Nonrenewable)

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Over time, heat and pressure transformed their organic matter into coal, oil, and natural gas deposits deep underground. The main types of fossil fuels are:

  • Coal – Formed from decayed plant matter like ferns and trees. It is a solid fossil fuel and the most abundant.
  • Oil – Formed from algae and zooplankton deposits. It is a liquid fossil fuel, also known as petroleum.
  • Natural Gas – Formed from buried organic matter. It is a gaseous fossil fuel, consisting mainly of methane.

Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable because they take millions of years to form, and reserves are being depleted much faster than new ones are being made. Their supply is ultimately limited. The United States, China, and India are the top consumers of fossil fuels globally [1]. Fossil fuels currently supply around 80% of the world’s energy needs, providing power for electricity, transportation, and industrial processes [2].

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are constantly replenished. Some of the most common types of renewable energy include:

The key benefits of renewable energy sources are that they are sustainable and replenish themselves naturally. They produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions, helping mitigate climate change. Renewable energy can also provide energy security and independence, as the sources are available domestically rather than relying on imports. The technologies are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible.

Current Energy Usage

According to research from the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2019, renewables provided almost 27% of global electricity, while natural gas provided 24% [1]. However, when looking at total global energy production from all sources, nonrenewable sources still make up the vast majority of energy used.

Data from Statista shows that in 2020, petroleum accounted for 33.4% of total global nonrenewable energy production. Hard coal made up another 31.1% and natural gas accounted for 24.8%. The remaining 10.7% came from nuclear energy [2]. In comparison, renewable sources like wind, solar, hydro and biofuels made up around 10% of total global energy production.

Overall, approximately 85% of the world’s energy still comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. The dominance of nonrenewable sources is due to their widespread availability, relative low cost, and integration into energy infrastructure globally [3]. However, renewables are the fastest growing energy source and are projected to continue taking market share going forward.

Factors Influencing Choice

There are many factors that have influenced the choice of energy sources over the years, especially the dominance of fossil fuels. The most important ones are cost, infrastructure, reliability, and politics.

Fossil fuels have dominated energy usage for decades due to their low cost and efficiency. Coal, oil, and natural gas are plentiful and have provided inexpensive energy sources to power industrialization and electricity generation. The infrastructure for fossil fuel extraction, processing, and distribution is ubiquitous and continues to provide economies of scale.

Fossil fuels have also been more reliable and able to meet energy demand compared to renewable sources like solar and wind that depend on weather conditions. The high energy density and easy storage of fossil fuels have made them the default choice for reliable baseline power generation.

Political and economic interests have also strongly favored fossil fuel development, from subsidies to resource regulations. This has created a system that reinforces the status quo of coal, oil, and natural gas as dominant energy sources.

Growth of Renewables

The growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind has accelerated in recent years. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewables accounted for over 42% of global electricity generation in 2028, with wind and solar PV doubling their share to 25% (https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables).

Government incentives have helped drive the adoption of renewables. Tax credits, rebates, and other policies make renewable energy more affordable and attractive for homeowners, businesses, and utilities. Many governments have also set renewable energy targets to spur investment and development.

Corporations have also embraced renewables for branding and sustainability reasons. Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon have invested billions into solar and wind projects to power their operations. Over 300 companies worldwide have now committed to 100% renewable energy through the RE100 initiative.

The costs of solar and wind energy have declined dramatically in the last decade, also propelling growth. According to Statista, renewable energy is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.88% through 2028 as adoption continues (https://www.statista.com/outlook/io/energy/renewable-energy/worldwide).

Barriers to Renewable Adoption

There are several key barriers hindering the wider adoption of renewable energy sources. Some of the main challenges include:

Higher upfront costs

One of the biggest barriers to adopting renewable energy is the higher upfront capital costs compared to fossil fuels (Moorthy, 2019). Constructing large-scale renewable energy projects like wind farms or solar fields requires substantial investment in materials, land, and labor. These costs can make renewables seem expensive compared to simply burning cheap and abundant fossil fuels.

Intermittency issues

Many renewable sources like solar and wind are intermittent – they only generate energy when the sun is shining or wind is blowing (UCSUSA, 2014). This creates reliability and grid management challenges compared to the consistent energy provided by fossil fuels. Expensive battery storage systems are often needed to smooth out renewable power delivery.

Storage challenges

The intermittency of renewables increases the need for energy storage solutions. However, storing large amounts of energy from renewable sources affordably and efficiently remains difficult. Options like batteries are still limited in scale and capacity (Sustainable Review, 2023). Lack of cheap, large-scale energy storage is a barrier for intermittent renewable adoption.

References:

Moorthy, K. (2019). Breaking barriers in deployment of renewable energy. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6351575/

Sustainable Review. (2023). Overcoming Barriers to Renewable Energy. https://sustainablereview.com/overcoming-barriers-to-renewable-energy/

UCSUSA. (2014). Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies. https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/barriers-renewable-energy-technologies

The Future

Many experts predict strong growth in renewable energy over the coming decades. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewables are projected to supply over 60% of global electricity by 2050, with solar and wind accounting for over 50% (source). IRENA projects that renewables could provide 86% of global electricity by 2050 if countries adopt more ambitious climate goals and policies to accelerate the energy transition.

Emerging technologies like floating offshore wind, concentrated solar power, and ocean energy could also play an important role. According to Deloitte, innovations in battery storage, smart grids, and energy management will help integrate higher levels of renewables onto power grids (source). With rapidly falling costs and increased deployment, renewables are poised for tremendous growth worldwide.

Conclusions

When analyzing our current energy landscape, it becomes clear that fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas still make up the vast majority of global energy production and consumption. These nonrenewable sources currently dominate the energy sector due to their high energy density, established infrastructure for production and distribution, and historically low prices.

However, renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower have been gaining momentum in recent years. Improvements in technology and government incentives have helped make renewables more cost-competitive with traditional energy. Concerns about climate change, pollution, and energy security have also accelerated the transition toward cleaner forms of energy in many parts of the world.

While fossil fuels still reign supreme for now, renewables are poised to claim a growing share of the energy mix going forward. With the proper policies and investments in place, renewable energy has the potential to displace fossil fuels as the world’s primary energy source within the next few decades.

References

This article was researched and written based on the author’s background and expertise in energy topics. The key facts and statistics cited throughout the article can be found in the following publicly available sources:

– U.S. Energy Information Administration Annual Energy Outlook

– International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook

– Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Reports

– Renewable Energy Policy Network Global Status Reports

– World Resources Institute CAIT Climate Data Explorer

– International Renewable Energy Agency Renewable Capacity Statistics

– Various industry reports and academic journal articles on renewable energy growth, costs, and policies.

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