Difference between Renewable Energy and Non-Renewable Energy Resources

The main difference between renewable energy resources and non-renewable energy resources is that renewable energy resources are resources that are replenished naturally in a short time, while non-renewable energy resources are those that cannot be replenished or replenished very slowly.

Renewable energy resources vs. non-renewable energy resources

Renewable energy resources are the resources that can be renewed or replenished naturally over time, for example, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal and hydroelectric energy, etc. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources are resources that cannot be easily replenished or renewed in a short time. Examples of such resources are natural gas, coal, oil, and natural energy, etc.

Renewable energy resources are abundant in this universe and they never end. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources are present in limited quantities in this universe. Renewable energy resources can be easily replaced in a short time. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources are resources that are not replaced or are replenished very slowly through natural processes.

People are using renewable energy resources since the dawn of mankind for heating and cooking etc., while the use of non-renewable energy resources started with the beginning of the use of technology.

The establishment of renewable energy resource plants required a high cost and adequate planning for their implementation. But, once the plant is established, its cost is reduced. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources are limited and are replenished after a long time, which is why they are expensive.

Comparative chart

What are renewable energy resources ?

Renewable energy resources are the type of natural energy resources that can be renewed or replenished over time. These resources are present in abundance in this universe. Therefore, they never run out and keep being used over and over again. It only takes a short period of time to renew these resources.

Advantages

Renewable energy resources are present everywhere in this universe and can never be depleted. These resources do not involve the burning of fossil fuels, so they do not pollute the environment and provide a healthier atmosphere. Also, your tapping cost is continuously decreasing with the advancement of technology. Once established, its maintenance cost is generally low. In addition, it causes little or no greenhouse gas emissions that are increasing the temperature of the planet.

Disadvantages

The initial establishment of renewable energy plants required a high cost and adequate planning for their implementation. For example, the construction of dams requires high maintenance costs. On the other hand, solar and wind power plants demand large tracts of land. In addition, the weather affects the efficiency of renewable energy resources, for example, solar power plants do not work on cloudy days and wind turbines cannot move in the slow wind.

Examples

• Solar energy: the sun is known as the largest source of energy, and such energy is known as solar energy. Today, this type of renewable energy is used to produce electricity, cook food using solar cookers, and pump water for irrigation, etc.
• Wind energy: in this type of energy, the wind is used to produce energy. Windmills are installed in windy areas that convert wind energy into electricity, which is used for different purposes. Besides, it can also be used to pump water and grind grain, etc.
• Hydro Energy: The word ‘Hydro’ means water. So, hydraulic energy is the energy obtained from water. Water is the basic necessity for life on earth and is present in excess in this universe. The energy from the flowing water is then used to produce hydraulic power by building dams. Here, hydropower is converted into electricity through the use of turbines, which is then used for various purposes.

What are non-renewable energy resources ?

The type of energy resources that cannot be easily replenished or renewed are known as non-renewable energy resources. These resources are not as abundant in the universe, so they can be depleted or take a long time to replenish. That is why they are known as exhaustible resources.

Advantages

Fossil fuels are used in excess as a source of energy. They are used in industries, in vehicles and homes, etc. Furthermore, the weather does not affect the efficiency of non-renewable energy resources. They provide energy continuously.

Disadvantages

As non-renewable energy resources are limited, they are a more expensive source of energy than renewable energy resources. Furthermore, the process of extracting fossil fuels causes many disturbances to the environment and is expensive. The burning of fossil fuels also causes the release of harmful gases into the environment that cause pollution. On the other hand, radiation leakage from a nuclear plant can cause great economic and social losses.

Examples

• Fossil fuel : fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas, etc. they are used as non-renewable energy resources. Coal is also called black diamond and is used in steam engines, factories, and to generate electricity, etc. Natural gas is also used as a cooking fuel and as an alternative to diesel and gasoline. Petroleum is also called crude oil or mineral oil. This liquid is refined to produce different types of fuels such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and cooking gas. In addition, it is also used in the formation of lubricants, plastics and cosmetics.
• Nuclear energy : Nuclear energy is also a non-renewable energy resource. Generally, uranium is used as a fuel in nuclear power, which is a limited content in this world. Therefore, it is not renewable either. Nuclear energy is also used in the production of electricity, etc.

Key differences

1. The type of energy resources that can be naturally renewed or replenished over time is known as renewable energy resources, while the type of energy resources that cannot be easily replenished or renewed are known as non-renewable energy resources.
2. Renewable energy resources are abundant in this universe and they never end. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources are present in limited quantity in this universe.
3. Renewable energy resources can be easily replaced in a short time. In contrast, non-renewable resources are resources that are not replaced or are replenished very slowly through natural processes.
4. The use of renewable energy resources started from the dawn of mankind for heating and cooking, etc. On the other hand, the use of non-renewable energy resources began with the beginning of the use of technology.
5. Renewable energy resource plants require a high initial cost of implementation, but once established, they become cheap. On the other hand, as non-renewable energy resources are limited in quantity, they require a high cost.
6. The use of renewable energy resources does not generate pollution because it does not involve the burning of fossil fuels. Instead, the use of non-renewable energy resources generates pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.
7. Weather affects the efficiency of renewable energy resources, for example solar power plants do not work on cloudy days and wind turbines cannot move in the slow wind. On the other hand, the climate does not affect the efficiency of non-renewable energy resources.
8. Examples of renewable energy resources are solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and hydro energy, etc. On the other hand, examples of non-renewable resources are coal, natural gas, oil, and natural energy, etc.

Final Thought

The above discussion summarizes that renewable energy resources such as solar energy and wind energy, etc., can be easily replenished. On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy are the resources that cannot be replenished or that take a long time to replenish.