Which Sources Of Energy Are More Reliable Renewable Or Non Renewable?

The reliability of energy sources is a key factor in determining which types of energy production should be prioritized. This analysis compares the reliability of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal, to non-renewable energy sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear, and oil. Reliability depends on factors like resource availability, capacity factors, storage solutions, and grid integration challenges. While no energy source is perfectly reliable, the trend seems to show renewables becoming more dependable over time with technological improvements. However, non-renewables maintain some advantages in dispatchability. This examination aims to break down the nuances around reliability for each energy type.

Table of Contents

Definitions

Renewable energy sources are derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. Some examples of renewable energy sources include sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat (Earth resources Flashcards). The five major types of renewable energy are wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower. Renewable energy is considered unlimited and can be easily replenished in a relatively short amount of time (Define Renewable Energy: (write here)).

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will eventually dwindle in supply and take a long time to replenish. The four major types of non-renewable energy are oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. These sources cannot be easily renewed on a human time scale so they are considered finite. Non-renewable energy resources are only replenished over millions of years (renewable resources/ non renewable resources Flashcards).

Common Types

The major renewable energy sources are:

Solar energy – Energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy can be harnessed through solar panels and concentrated solar power plants.

Wind energy – Kinetic energy from air flow that is captured by wind turbines to generate electricity.
Hydropower – Electrical energy generated by moving water. Typically by damming rivers and using the flow of water to spin large turbines.
Geothermal energy – Heat energy from beneath the earth’s surface that can be extracted to generate electricity or provide direct heat.

Biomass – Organic material from plants and animals that can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, and heat.

These renewable sources provide clean alternatives to fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Renewables like solar and wind are constantly replenished and do not deplete finite resources.

According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewables provided 12% of total U.S. energy consumption and 19% of electricity generation in 2019. Their growth is driven by advancements in technology, government policies, and declining costs.

Common Types

Some of the major non-renewable energy sources are:

Coal – Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that is formed from plant debris deposited in an environment lacking oxygen. It is considered one of the most important primary fossil fuels for generating electricity. (Source)
Oil – Crude oil and petroleum products are the main source of energy for transportation. Petroleum and natural gas together account for about 60% of all non-renewable energy consumed in the United States. (Source)

Natural gas – Natural gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture composed primarily of methane, but commonly including varying amounts of other higher alkanes. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields. (Source)
Nuclear energy – Nuclear energy comes from splitting atoms in a reactor to heat water into steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity. Nuclear energy makes up about 20% of U.S. electricity generation. (Source)

Reliability Factors

The reliability of an energy source refers to its ability to consistently provide energy in the amount needed. There are several key factors that determine reliability:

Capacity factor – The ratio of the actual power output of a plant compared to its maximum possible output over time. Sources with a high capacity factor can more reliably meet demand. Nuclear energy has the highest capacity factor of any source.

Plant uptime – The amount of time a plant is capable of producing electricity over a period. More uptime means greater reliability. Fossil fuels and nuclear have very high uptime rates.

Fuel supply stability – Some sources rely on variable fuel supplies. Renewables depend on weather conditions. Fossil fuel availability can fluctuate based on economic and geopolitical factors. Stable fuel supply increases reliability.

Renewable Reliability

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar face reliability challenges due to their intermittent nature. The wind doesn’t blow consistently and solar energy relies on sunny days, meaning these sources do not provide constant power generation (https://utilitiesone.com/the-role-of-energy-storage-in-enhancing-power-distribution). This lack of control over supply means additional infrastructure like energy storage is needed to match supply with demand and ensure grid reliability.

Energy storage systems like batteries and pumped hydro can store excess renewable energy when supply exceeds demand. This stored energy can then be dispatched when renewable generation is low. However, at scale, massive amounts of storage are needed to fully mitigate renewable intermittency. According to one estimate, the U.S. would need over 2,500 GWh of new storage to get 80% of its power from renewables, requiring major grid infrastructure investments (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629622001712).

The variable and uncertain nature of renewables makes grid management more complex. Forecasting tools and demand response programs that shift demand can help balance renewables, but do not eliminate the underlying reliability challenges. Overall, the intermittent availability of renewable resources means significant infrastructure and grid flexibility is required to achieve the same reliability as dispatchable fossil fuel plants.

Non-Renewable Reliability

Non-renewable energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas offer some key advantages when it comes to reliability. One major advantage is dispatchability, which refers to the ability to increase or decrease energy production as needed to meet demand (Pros And Cons Of NonRenewable Energy). Fossil fuel plants can ramp production up or down quickly to meet peaks and valleys in energy usage. This makes the grid more reliable. Renewables like wind and solar lack this dispatchability since energy production depends on weather conditions.

Another advantage of non-renewables is the established infrastructure already in place (Advantages and Disadvantages of Non Renewable Energy). Existing power plants, transmission lines, pipelines, and other infrastructure supports reliable delivery of non-renewable energy. Investing in new renewable infrastructure can take years and encounter challenges. Leveraging what’s already in place for fossil fuels helps maintain reliability in the short term.

Recent Trends

In recent years, there have been significant improvements in the reliability of renewable energy sources as the underlying technologies mature and advance. According to a 2021 report by the American Progress, “Renewable energy resources are well positioned to greatly improve grid resilience and reliability.” The report cites how increased investment in transmission infrastructure and grid modernization efforts have enhanced the ability to balance variable renewable resources and smooth out fluctuations in output (Source).

Likewise, the International Energy Agency found that despite overall declines in energy demand in 2020, renewable electricity generation grew by almost 7%. This demonstrates the increasing capacity and reliability of renewables like solar, wind and hydropower to meet electricity needs and provide continuous uninterrupted power (Source). As renewable technologies advance, energy storage improves, and grid integration increases, sources like solar and wind are becoming more dependable and robust.

Future Outlook

As the world shifts toward renewable energy, projections show that renewable energy sources will become even more reliable compared to non-renewable sources in the future. Governments and organizations worldwide are investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure and technology to improve capacity and reliability. According to the Center for American Progress, renewable energy paired with energy storage innovations and a modernized grid will lead to a more resilient and reliable system overall [1]. Renewable sources like solar and wind are also free from the supply constraints of fossil fuels and can be scaled up to meet demand. The Department of Energy predicts renewable electricity generation will grow from 20% in 2020 to 42% by 2050 as policies support this transition [2]. In contrast, non-renewable sources face depletion, market volatility, and increasing climate change impacts over the long-term. While work remains to address renewable intermittency, projections point to renewables overtaking non-renewables in reliability as technology advances.

Conclusions

In summary, when comparing the reliability of renewable versus non-renewable energy sources, there are pros and cons to each that need to be weighed.

The main advantage of renewables is that they are unlimited and available domestically, making their supply more reliable long-term. Sources like solar and wind are now reaching high levels of consistency and performance due to technology advances. However, they are still subject to interruptions from weather variability. Energy storage solutions can help compensate for this instability.

Non-renewables like natural gas and coal have the advantage of being dispatchable on demand. But their supply is finite and subject to global market forces. As fossil fuel reserves decline, costs are likely to increase over time. Renewables are projected to become more cost-competitive.

Recent trends show continued growth in renewable energy production and capacity, suggesting their reliability is improving. However, non-renewables still meet the majority of energy needs currently. An ideal future scenario would include a diverse mix of both renewable and non-renewable sources to maximize reliability.