What is Renewable and Non-Renewable means?

Question

actully i have to define these words. what sources does it have and ...

Answer 1

Renewable Energy is energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted.[1] For this reason, renewable energy sources are fundamentally different from fossil fuels, and do not produce as many greenhouse gases and other pollutants as fossil fuel combustion. Mankind's traditional uses of wind, water, and solar energy are widespread in developed and developing countries; but the mass production of electricity using renewable energy sources has become more commonplace recently, reflecting the major threats of climate change, exhaustion of fossil fuels, and the environmental, social and political risks of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Consequently, many countries promote renewable energies through tax incentives and subsidies.

Renewable energy accounts for about 14% of the world's energy consumption, but the technical potential is large enough to cover many times current and several times projected energy consumption in 2100 (see below). Renewable technologies such as geothermal and hydropower are often economically competitive without subsidies. Other technologies such as solar power are substantially more expensive, although future costs may decline to a fraction of current levels.


Non-renewable energy is a blanket term for sources of energy that rely on consumable materials. Non-renewable energy sources come out of the ground as solids, liquids, and gases.

Examples of Non-renewable energy:

Nuclear energy
Fossil fuels:
Coal
Petroleum
Natural gas

Example of a Renewable energy source
Tree's

Answer 2

So far the answers are close but not stictly true. We scientists use the terms renewable and non-renewable in a relative meaning because all resources such as oil and coal were formed before and will likely be formed in future. However the timescale of formation compared to our lifespan is the real test. Renewable sources can be replaced well within our lifespan so we can use them and replace them or at least we can use them knowing they will be replaced. When we use solar, wind or tidal power, we cannot actually replace them but we know they will be there again. When we use a crop for food or energy, we can actively replace the crop by planting more and encouraging the plants to grow well. On the other hand, so called non-renewable sources such as mineral deposits, oil and coal take thousands of years to form and if we use them we can do nothing to replace them. Coal and oil are formed from degradation of organic material under deep pressures over a very long time and the metaliferous minerals are usually formed through volcanic activity so in terms of our lifespan, once we have used these, they are gone "for ever".

Answer 3

Renewable resources are those which can be produced by man like vegetation, wind power, and domestic animals. Non renewable resources are those that man can not replace like fossil fuel, water, and ores from the earth.

Answer 4

Those terms are used by environmental professions to describe the type of resources we use, and how to use them. Renewable resources are resources we can use fairly freely, because we can produce more easily, or they will replace themselves. An example of a renewable resource would be food crops. We can grow more.

A non-renewable resource must be used much more sparingly because when it's gone, we can't get any more. An example of that is crude oil. It comes from deep in the earth, and once it's gone, we cannot get any more.

Answer 5

A renewable resource is a resource that can be replaced within a person's lifetime. Animals and plants are examples.

A non-renewable resource is a resource that can not be replace within a person's lifetime. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are examples.

Answer 6

Renew- re-create, restock
renewable means - Able to be renewed
EX: Trees, paper, wood, library books, credit-card, recycling.
nonrenewable means - That cannot be renewed
EX: Oil, water, food, electricity.

Answer 7

A renewable resource is one that can replace itself, eg. more trees can grow. A non-renewable resource is one that can't - like a mined mineral.

Answer 8

Renewable- Anything which can be replenished.
Non-Renewable- Anything that cannot be replenished.