Examples of renewable and non-renewable resources
- Wood
- Water (hydroelectric power)
- Sun (solar energy)
- Seas and oceans (marine energy)
- Wind (wind power)
- Heat (geothermal energy)
- Biomass (organic matter)
What are 5 examples of non-renewable resources?
Examples of Non Renewable Resources Fossil fuels Crude Oil Coal Uranium Natural Gas Tar Sand Steel Phosphate Aluminum Ground Water
What are facts about renewable resources?
Solar Power Facts
- Solar power is the most abundant source of energy on the planet. ...
- There are over two million solar power systems installed in the U.S. In 2019, the U.S. ...
- Solar energy can be used to create potable water. ...
- Every U.S. ...
- Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of power on Earth. ...
- Hydropower does not produce toxic byproducts or air pollution. ...
What are some examples of non - renewable resources?
Nonrenewable Resources Examples: Fossil Fuels
- Crude Oil/Petroleum. Crude oil is a nonrenewable resource that builds up in liquid form between the layers of the Earth's crust.
- Natural Gas. Natural gas gathers below the Earth's crust and, like crude oil, must be drilled for and pumped out.
- Coal. Coal is the last of the major fossil fuels. ...
What are examples of non-renewable resources?
Examples of Non Renewable Resources
- Fossil fuels
- Crude Oil
- Coal
- Uranium
- Natural Gas
- Tar Sand
- Steel
- Phosphate
- Aluminum
- Ground Water

What are 5 nonrenewable resources?
Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. Once these resources are used up, they cannot be replaced, which is a major problem for humanity as we are currently dependent on them to supply most of our energy needs.
What are 3 non-renewable resources?
The resources typically take millions of years to develop. The main examples of non-renewable resources are fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas, which humans regularly draw to produce energy. Apart from non-renewable resources, there also exist renewable resources that are also a source of energy.
What are 10 non renewable resources?
10 Examples of non-renewable resources are:Petroleum/crude oil.Natural Gas.Earth Minerals.Coal.Groundwater.Land Surface/Soil.Plastic.Nuclear Energy.More items...•
What are the 5 main renewable energy sources?
There are five major renewable energy sourcesSolar energy from the sun.Geothermal energy from heat inside the earth.Wind energy.Biomass from plants.Hydropower from flowing water.
Why is nuclear energy needed?
Those who are in favor of more nuclear energy hold that that even with investment in wind, solar and other renewable resources, nuclear power is necessary, because without it we can’t reduce emissions quickly enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.
What is the Department of Energy website?
U.S. Energy Administration. This U.S. Department of Energy website includes detailed information, analysis and graphics about energy production and use in the U.S. The United States of Energy. A series of infographics provides insight on our country’s energy production and consumption of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
What are the five renewable resources?
Oil. Natural gas. Renewable resources, on the other hand, replenish themselves. The five major renewable energy resources are: Solar. Wind. Water, also called hydro. Biomass, or organic material from plants and animals. Geothermal, which is naturally occurring heat from the earth.
What is the process of trapping heat?
When coal, natural gas and oil are burned to produce energy, they emit heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide. This process of trapping heat is what drives climate change, and the failure to address this problem is what's catalyzing the current climate crisis.
Why are non-renewable resources available?
Non-renewable energy resources are available in limited supplies, usually because they take a long time to replenish. The advantage of these non-renewable resources is that power plants that use them are able to produce more power on demand. The non-renewable energy resources are: Renewable resources, on the other hand, replenish themselves. ...
How much will the atmosphere warm in 2040?
If emissions continue unrestrained, the atmosphere could warm by as much as 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels by the year 2040, according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of international scientists empowered by the United Nations to advise world leaders.
What is the largest source of emissions?
Over the last 150 years, humans are responsible for the vast majority of the increase of these gases in the atmosphere, and the burning of fossil fuels through activities like driving a car is the largest source of these emissions.
What are the natural resources of the Earth?
Regardless, we all are dependent on these resources in some way or the other. These resources are termed as natural resources and are very important for life on earth. Natural resources are classified into renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
What are some examples of renewable resources?
Examples of renewable resources are the sun, wind, and tidal energy.
Is uranium a renewable resource?
Interestingly, some resources, such as uranium, is touted as a renewable resource. However, it is still a subject of debate as uranium is not exactly a renewable resource, according to many statutory definitions. For more details about the different sources of renewable and non-renewable resources, register with BYJU’S.
Can renewable resources be depleted over time?
Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time. Non-renewable resources deplete over time. Sources. Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind and also geothermal sources such as hot springs and fumaroles. Non-renewable energy includes fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. Environmental Impact.
What is bioenergy made of?
Bioenergy is formed from biomass which is a waste of animals and plants. This biomass has chemical energy and when it is burnt then produces bioenergy. The heat generated is used to produce electricity and run generators.
How does solar energy work?
It is energy obtained from the Sun. This solar energy is captured to generate heat or electricity through panels or mirrors. Solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. The solar thermal collectors use this heat absorption panel for generating electricity.
What are stars made of?
Stars are made up of spheroid plasma that is held up together tightly with the help of its gravitational force. Sun is also a type of star. The Sun is the closest star to earth. During the nighttime, there are millions of small stars which are visible to naked eye. Historically, some of the most noticeable stars were grouped as asterisms and constellations. They all seem very tiny to our eyes because of the distance from the earth to the stars. But actually, they are huge and some are even bigger than earth and other planets in the solar system.
What are natural resources?
Natural resources are those resources that are available in unlimited supply such as sunlight, air, water, land vegetation, and animal life. Natural resources are of two types, renewable resources and non-renewable resources. These resources contribute equally to the benefits of humans and the environment.
What are some examples of non-renewable resources?
Some examples of non-renewable energy resources are coal, petroleum products, compressed natural gas, gold, uranium, rare earth elements, etc. These resources are present in limited amounts because they take a long time to form.
How is hydropower made?
Hydropower is the energy e which is generated by the use of water. It is formed by making use of tides known as tidal energy. Ocean Surface waves are also used to produce electricity called wave energy.
Where does geothermal energy come from?
Geothermal energy is energy that is obtained from thermal energy which is stored in the earth. Volcanoes and hot drinks I used to capture this energy E and then get converted or used by industries for water heating and other purposes.
How is biomass used in our lives?
Biomass energy has been used by us throughout our history mainly for cooking and warming our homes with fire. It is the energy released from burning plants and animal-based organic materials such as manure. Biomass is a renewable resource for the same reason as food crops are – we can simply regrow once harvested plants, or collect more manure from our livestock every day.
Why is Uranium not a renewable resource?
It is a non-renewable resource because of its cosmic origin. The isotopes of uranium were formed 6.6 billion years ago in supernovas and do not naturally regenerate. In fact, the radioactive decay of the natural deposits of uranium is what keeps the earth’s core in a liquid form [13].
What is aluminum used for?
Aluminum is the key resource for meeting a lot of our societal needs. From packaging to making parts of automobile or railway cars, aluminum is a very versatile material.
How much of the world's soil is degraded?
Just the United States loses every year soil 18 times faster than is replenished [5]. Globally, it is estimated that 33 percent of our soils are degraded due to the erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification or chemical contamination [6]. All this damage is due to our mismanagement of this resource.
What is iron used for?
Iron is for example used to make stainless steel. We are all familiar with stainless steel cutlery or skillets. Iron also represents one of the main building blocks in the construction industry. Overall, iron is an abundant resource on earth and on rare occasions, some more even falls from the sky.
What would happen if we captured all the energy?
If we captured and used all this energy at once, we would not deplete the solar power in any way. The sun will still keep on sending its energy our way every day, until it will cease to exist and our planet with it. Therefore, this resource is inexhaustible to our consumption rates.
How long can water be used to make electricity?
It can be generated for as long as river water keeps flowing and any water spent in the process is always recycled back to produce more electricity.
Why are renewables used?
They are used all over the world and support a thriving global energy industry. This helps to reduce the cost of fossil fuels by a considerable amount. Renewables such as solar and wind energy are susceptible to atmospheric conditions. This makes them less reliable than fossil fuels.
Why are nonrenewable energy sources so popular?
A global network of energy infrastructure exists to support the use of nonrenewables. Because this type of energy is so well established, it would be difficult and expensive to switch to renewables overnight.
How does hydroelectric dams help the environment?
The amount of clean electricity a hydroelectric dam can generate will result in much lower carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuel alternatives. 2. Renewable Energy Resources Will Never Run Out. This is one of the main benefits in the renewable vs nonrenewable debate.
What are the problems with nonrenewables?
The problem with nonrenewables, however, is that they will have significant consequences for future generations. Renewable energy sources can help to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. This, in turn, will help to curb the future effects of climate change. It will also help to improve air quality and our health.
Why are renewables so expensive?
Because renewables are less established, they tend to be more expensive . This can put people off investing in clean energy technologies. A primary example of this is electric cars. These, can, in theory, be charged from renewable electricity.
What are non-renewable alternatives?
Non-renewable alternatives such as coal, oil, and natural gas are less kind to the environment. To make use of the energy they contain, we need to burn them. The burning of fossil fuels releases significant quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Is biomass a renewable resource?
Biomass – Although a renewable resource, we still need to burn biomass to generate power. This releases emissions just like the burning of fossil fuels does. There is an upside to this though. As the organic matter that makes up biomass grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide. This helps to offset the pollution it generates as we burn it. When managed in a sustainable way, biomass can be carbon neutral.
Why are fossil fuels considered carbon free?
Nuclear is considered carbon-free, because it is not burned, and it is not made of carbon.
How many mtoes are in a quad?
A Mtoe is equivalent to about 0.04 quads. In other words, there are about 25 Mtoe in a quad.
What are the drawbacks of solar energy?
Cons: The main drawback is that it is intermittent, both in terms of the sun only being in the sky 50% of the time, and that weather can impact it significantly. Solar is also very diffuse, meaning that it is not very concentrated, and so,, usually a large area is required to provide a lot of useful energy.
Why is electricity not primary energy?
For example, if your electricity is supplied by a power plant, the energy your electronic device is using right now is not primary energy because the electricity was converted from an original source (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear).
Where do biofuels get their energy from?
Okay, so what about biomass and biofuels? They are both derived from living or recently living things (trees, corn, algae, sugarcane, etc.) They also get their energy from the sun (anyone sensing a pattern here?), and plants are usually pretty good at regenerating themselves. But I want you to take a minute to try to think about examples of biomass and/or biofuels that might not be "renewable," in the sense of the definition above. Can you think of any examples of non-renewable biomass?
Where is sugarcane grown?
Figure 1.8: Sugarcane field in Brazil. Brazil is the world's leading producer of sugarcane and sugar-based ethanol. Even the waste material from the sugarcane extraction process can be used for energy generation, or to make secondary products like compostable plates and silverware.
Is biofuel renewable?
Nearly all forms of biomass and biofuels are renewable. Corn-based ethanol is the most-used source of bio-based energy in the U.S. Corn can be grown in the same field year after year, so it is renewable. Whether or not it is sustainable is another question, which will be addressed later. The primary source of bioenergy in Brazil is sugarcane. Nearly all of Brazil's vehicles are able to use 100% sugarcane ethanol for fuel. (Contrast this with the U.S., where most automobile engines are only required to be able to handle up to 10% ethanol.) Sugarcane grows year round in Brazil, so is definitely renewable.
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?
The difference between these two types of resources is that renewable resources can naturally replenish themselves while nonrenewable resources cannot. This means that nonrenewable resources are limited in supply ...
What are nonrenewable resources?
This means that nonrenewable resources are limited in supply and cannot be used sustainably. There are four major types of nonrenewable resources: oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas, and coal are collectively called fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were formed within the Earth from dead plants and animals over millions ...
What is diesel fuel?
diesel. noun, adjective. liquid fuel (usually a type of petroleum) used to propel diesel engines. Also called diesel oil and diesel fuel. fossil fuel. Noun. coal, oil, or natural gas. Fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. fuel.
What are some alternatives to nonrenewable energy?
Alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar energy , are a possible solution to the depletion of nonrenewable sources. Both of these clean energy sources are available in unlimited supply. An aerial view of a coal-fired power plant in Mount Storm, West Virginia, taken in June 2012. Photograph by Getty Images.
What is energy obtained from sources that are virtually inexhaustible and replenish naturally over small time scales relative to?
energy obtained from sources that are virtually inexhaustible and replenish naturally over small time scales relative to the human life span.
What is natural gas used for?
Natural gas is widely used for cooking and for heating homes. It consists mostly of methane and is found near oil deposits below Earth’s surface. Natural gas can be pumped out through the same wells used for extracting crude oil. Coal is a solid fossil fuel that is used for heating homes and generating power plants.
Why do we depend on fossil fuels?
We depend on fossil fuels because they are energy-rich and relatively cheap to process. But a major problem with fossil fuels, aside from their being in limited supply, is that burning them releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Rising levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming. ...

Renewable Resources
Types of Renewable Resources
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Geothermal Energy
Hydropower
Bioenergy
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Disadvantages of Renewable Resources
Non Renewable Energy
- Non-re newable energy is obtained from fossil deposits. Some examples of non-renewable energy resources are coal, petroleum products, compressed natural gas, gold, uranium, rare earth elements, etc. These resources are present in limited amounts because they take a long time to form.