Difference Between Renewable And Non-Renewable: : Types, Differences, Example, FAQs

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Aug 14, 2024 06:40 PM IST

What Are Renewable And Non-renewable Resources?

They may be defined as elements or objects located in natural or man-made surroundings, from which the populace draws resource value for survival and improvement. It will benefit the economy, individuals and their livelihoods, and be essential for ecosystem processes. They may include minerals; water; forest resources; and energy resources for industries; and for agriculture, as well as for other human use. Habitat fragments are critical in preserving the species’ population and the ecosystem structures.

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Difference Between Renewable And Non-Renewable: : Types, Differences, Example, FAQs

Non-renewable resources are further divided into renewable and non-renewable types. Other, renewable resources are resources that can be replaced after some time, for instance, sunlight, wind, and forests, and on the other hand, non-renewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced once depleted, for instance, coal, natural gas, and minerals. Understanding the mentioned differences is important for the rational and successful management of resources as well as for the authority of uninterrupted supplies of resources necessary for generations to come.

Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are those which can be replenished in a short span and usually do not have a fixed source and are available in nature. As opposed to non-renewable resources they have a long-term availability and serve towards reducing environmental degradation.

Types Of Renewable Resources

Solar Energy: Collecting energy directly from the light source as sunlight, with the help of photovoltaic cells. Solar panels part absorb the light and then generate the power in the form of electricity.
Wind Energy: Turbing or using the wind generator which captures the kinetic energy of wind and then converts it into electricity.
Hydropower: Electrical power production through the conversion of water energy with the help of dams and turbines.
Biomass: The raw materials that include but are not limited to woods, crops, and wastes as they can be used to develop energy typically through combustion or biochemical conversion.
Geothermal Energy: Borrowing the heat energy from deep layers of the earth for generating electricity or for direct heating.

Non-renewable Resources

Non-renewable sources are limited and are formed through geophysical processes that may take millions of years. When used up, it is clear that the supplies are non-renewable, within human or many human life spans implying the resources are exhaustible in the long run.

Types Of Non-renewable Resources

Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gases are found to be formed from plants and animal remains.
Nuclear Energy: Produced as a result of nuclear processes in substances like uranium or plutonium.

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Table: Renewable Vs. Non-renewable Resources

Aspect	Renewable Resources	Non-renewable Resources
Energy Security	Promotes energy independence and security	Vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions
Definition	Can be replenished naturally over a short period	Finite and take millions of years to form
Examples	Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass, geothermal energy	Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), nuclear energy
Sustainability	sustainable over the long term	Exhaustible over the long term
Environmental Impact	Generally lower emissions and environmental impact	Higher emissions and environmental impact
Availability	Abundant and widely distributed	Limited and concentrated in specific regions
Usage	Increasingly used for electricity generation, heating, and transport	Predominantly used for electricity generation, industrial processes, and transportation
Cost Trends	Decreasing costs due to technological advancements and scalability	Costs influenced by extraction, processing, and geopolitical factors
Long-term Viability	Essential for sustainable development goals	Transition to alternatives required for sustainability

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the main differences between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable means something can be replaced in a short time while on the other hand, non-renewable requires millions of years to develop. Renewable resources mainly reflect lower emission values and thus are part of sustainable development while on the other, side non-renewable resources increase the emission levels and thus have negative environmental impacts.

2. Why is renewable energy important for the future?

Renewable energy is essential to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases, improve energy security and address climate change. They are also sustainable because they reduce reliance on oil and gas and support the emergence of new climate technologies.

3. What are some examples of renewable resources?

Some of these are; solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy. Photovoltaic cells are used in solar energy to convert the sun’s energy while wind power employs wind turbines. Hydropower involves the conversion of flowing water to electricity, biomass relies on organic materials to produce energy while geothermal energy is extracted from the earth’s heat.

4. What are the environmental impacts of non-renewable resources?

The sources include fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), and nuclear and the associated negative effects are air and water pollution, loss of habitats and greenhouse gases. They cause negative environmental impacts, pollute the ecosystem, decrease the levels of biological diversity, and influence people’s health adversely.

5. How can individuals contribute to the use of renewable resources?

People can encourage the use of renewable energy by installing solar panels in houses, buying power from renewable sources, pushing for policies on the use of renewable energy, and observing power conservation. The utilisation of localised renewable energy projects and funding of green technology also reduces the shift of the dependency on energy.