Renewable energy and non-renewable energy are two broad categories of energy sources, each with distinct characteristics:

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. These sources are considered sustainable because they don’t run out, and they have a minimal environmental impact compared to non-renewable sources.

Common types of renewable energy include:

• Solar Energy: Derived from the sun's rays. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.
• Wind Energy: Harnessed using wind turbines that convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity.
• Hydropower (Water Energy): Produced from flowing water (rivers, dams). The force of the water spins turbines, generating electricity.
• Geothermal Energy: Uses heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity or for heating.
• Biomass Energy: Comes from organic materials like wood, crop residues, and waste that can be burned or converted into biofuels.

Benefits of renewable energy:

• Sustainable and inexhaustible
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Low environmental impact
• Can be locally sourced, reducing dependence on imports

Non-Renewable Energy

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that are finite and will eventually be depleted. These energy sources are primarily fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form and are not replenished within a human lifetime.

Common types of non-renewable energy include:

• Coal: A fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter, primarily used for electricity generation.
• Oil (Petroleum): Used for transportation (gasoline, diesel), heating, and electricity generation.
• Natural Gas: Primarily used for electricity generation, heating, and as an industrial feedstock.
• Nuclear Energy: Derived from uranium or plutonium in nuclear reactors, though it isn’t a fossil fuel, it is considered non-renewable because it relies on finite materials.

Drawbacks of non-renewable energy:

• Depletes finite resources
• Contributes to climate change through carbon emissions (especially fossil fuels)
• Extraction and use can cause significant environmental damage (e.g., oil spills, mining)