Over the years, the world has refined the extraction and use of natural resources. As the demand for these resources has continued to increase every year, so has the importance of finding sustainable alternatives. For the first time in 2017, the UK’s renewable energy consumption was higher than 10% and is forecast to continue increasing.
Difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources
A resource is considered renewable or nonrenewable based on their environmental impact, their costs and the rate of exhaustion.
Renewable resources are defined as such when they can be regained or renewed. Experimentation with wind, solar and tidal energy along with other renewable resources are on-going..
Unlike renewable resources, nonrenewable energy is finite. It cannot be renewed or regained once consumed.
Why is biomass considered a renewable resource?
By burning plant matter, we are able to generate heat or create electricity through the running of turbines.
Biomass energy is considered a renewable resource due to the ability to plant new trees, replacing those that are cut down or die naturally.
Is tidal energy a renewable resource?
Whilst tidal energy is one of the youngest types of energy, it is considered a major renewable resource. The movement of water naturally creates kinetic energy, which can be turned into electricity.
Tidal energy is considered a renewable resource because the Earth’s tides are inexhaustible and do not release any greenhouse gasses. Although the full environmental impact has not been fully determined, there are some clear advantages in favour of harnessing this type of energy.
How is solar energy a renewable resource?
Solar energy is a popular renewable resource as it is inexhaustible and does not emit any pollution or greenhouse gasses.
Just a few technologies being used to harness solar energy are photovoltaics, solar architecture, solar thermal energy and artificial photosynthesis.
Unlike nonrenewable resources, there is an abundance of solar energy available to us. The amount of solar energy that hits Earth in one year amounts to twice as much as that which can be obtained from nonrenewable resources.
Is wind energy a renewable resource?
Similar to solar energy, wind energy is also clean and in abundance. With the use of turbines, wind can generate electricity in a sustainable way.
Other advantages of this type of renewable resource include cost-effectiveness. There are still areas where other energy sources are cheaper, however, research is being carried out to reduce the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of wind power both onshore and offshore.
Wind power also counters the negative impact of climate change. According to The Global Wind Energy Outlook, by 2030 2.5 billion tons of carbon will be offset each year thanks to wind energy.
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource
Geothermal energy is generated by heat from the Earth’s subsurface. It is found in fluids and rocks located below the Earth’s crust and reaches as far down as magma.
This energy is harnessed by wells being dug into underground reservoirs, where hot water and steam can be gathered and used to generate electricity.
The fact that geothermal energy stems from heat generated by the Earth makes this type of energy renewable. Emissions created by the geothermal energy process are low and any salts and dissolved minerals that are collected within the geothermal fluids can be injected back into the reservoirs.
Is nuclear energy a renewable resource?
Nuclear energy is renewable, however, it is the materials that are utilised within nuclear power plants that make the resource nonrenewable.
The process where nuclear energy is harnessed is called nuclear fission and happens when energy is released by the nucleus of an atom splitting.
Nuclear power plants don’t emit greenhouse gases or assist in air pollution, however, nuclear energy does produce materials that are radioactive. Waste that stems from radioactive materials are significantly toxic.
Why is oil a nonrenewable resource?
Oil can be extracted both on land and at sea. It is inexpensive, however, the process does cause a large amount of pollution. Also, the environmental impact of an oil spill can cause damage to local ecosystems that are almost irremediable.
Oil is nonrenewable as formation takes millions of years. Therefore, there is no way to replenish the oil at the same rate it is currently being consumed.
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