What is the Difference Between Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources?
| 7 Min Read

Understanding Energy Resources
From the food we cook on our gas stoves, the electricity that lights up our screens, and the gasoline we pump into our cars, we use natural energy sources daily. However, have you ever considered if these forms of energy are renewable or non-renewable resources?
The ways we use natural resources have a major impact on the planet today and the future of the environment tomorrow, making it essential that we understand the differences between these types of energy sources.
So, what exactly is a renewable resource? According to the United Nations, a renewable resource is produced naturally in the environment at a rapid pace, allowing society to use this source of energy in significant quantities without the risk of running out.1 These resources replenish themselves naturally at the same rate at which they’re used. Alternatively, a non-renewable resource is limited and cannot be produced quickly, making this form of energy unsustainable long-term.
Let’s identify some commonly used renewable and non-renewable resources and the effect each has on the environment.
What is Considered a Renewable Resource?
Solar Power
This type of power is directly harnessed from the sun’s constantly emitted thermal energy. Solar panels allow this resource to power homes and businesses, eliminating the need for other non-renewable resources.
Wind Power
Wind is created as a biproduct of natural thermal energy when the planet absorbs heat from the sun unevenly, causing air to travel in gusts of wind. This type of renewable resource is harnessed through wind turbines, which use the forces of wind to power a generator and create electricity.2
Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is derived from heat underneath the earth’s surface. The difference between geo and hydrothermal energy is water, which is the matter that’s heated to create hydrothermal energy. The heat is then used in a power plant to produce electricity.3
Biomass Energy
This type of renewable resource is derived from natural biological matter, such as animal waste and plants. For example, tree trunks can be chopped into firewood, which is used as a source of heat-producing energy.4
What is Considered a Non-Renewable Resource?
Fossil Fuels
The remains of plant and animal life buried under sediment in prehistoric times can now be retrieved for energy sources known as fossil fuels, which include oil, coal, and natural gas. Because there is a limited amount of fossil fuels buried under the earth’s surface, these resources are non-renewable and are expected to run out eventually.
Nuclear Energy
When uranium undergoes fission, heat and steam are produced and used to create electricity at nuclear power plants. However, because uranium is an element that cannot be produced as fast as it is used, this type of energy is a non-renewable resource.5
Environmental Impact from Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
While the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources is clear cut, the long-term impact these resources have on the environment is complicated. Both renewable and non-renewable resources can emit harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
When these elements are released into the atmosphere, they can absorb thermal energy from the sun and increase the temperature on Earth. While some greenhouse gases are necessary to keep the earth’s temperature comfortable, too much can cause negative, long-term impacts on health and farming.6
Let’s examine the positive and negative effects each resource has on the environment and what we can expect from long-term usage.
Impact of Renewable Resources
Renewable resources are more sustainable long-term than non-renewable energy sources, as they are constantly available. However, these types of resources also have downsides.
Renewable Resource Pros
- Continually replenished naturally
- Offer long-term sustainable energy production, even after non-renewable resources are no longer available
- Many are obtainable for at-home use by individuals and families, like solar power
- Can cause low greenhouse gas emissions or none at all
Renewable Resource Cons
- Geothermal, hydrothermal, and biomass can potentially emit greenhouse gases during production
- Many tools required to harness these types of energy, like at-home solar panels, are too expensive for middle-class families
- Solar panels and wind turbines are not efficient in all climates
- Maintaining the production of renewable energy can be expensive, which can cause a price increase for energy and materials
- Harvesting biomass resources can displace plant and animal life through processes like deforestation
Impact of Non-Renewable Resources
While non-renewable resources are limited and can cause greenhouse gas emissions, many offer benefits to individuals and communities alike.
Non-Renewable Resource Pros
- Streamlined production is already taking place, making these energy sources readily available
- Many of these energy sources are affordable for individuals and families to use daily
- Fossil fuels provide reliable energy while these resources last
Non-Renewable Resource Cons
- The production of energy through fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases
- Non-renewable resources will eventually run out, making them unsustainable for future generations
- Production comes with the risk of oil spills and water contamination, which can cause long-term harm to plant, animal, and human life
- Harvesting fossil fuels like coal can be harmful to the health of those involved in mining and production
What is the Future of Sustainable Energy?
As we learn more about the state of the environment and how our current resources are impacting the planet, many are seeking large-scale change. Swapping non-renewable energy for renewable resource production methods can prevent future environmental impacts before they happen, and many of these changes are already beginning.
Modern hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), for example, have reduced carbon emissions and the demand for fossil fuels since becoming popular with consumers in the 1990s following the introduction of the Toyota Prius.7 Since then, the popularity of EVs has skyrocketed. About 25% of new automobiles purchased globally in 2023 are electric. By 2030, it’s expected that 60% of automobiles on the road will be EVs.8,9
This growing demand for EVs has created new opportunities for cities to embrace more eco-friendly practices, like adopting EV charging stations and introducing crewless EV taxis and delivery services. But communities aren’t making sustainable changes simply to accommodate the next generation of EVs.
Many cities also invest in sustainability by designing walkable neighborhoods, funding park expansions, and prioritizing clean energy in city planning. In fact, communities and businesses worldwide need sustainability pioneers to transform how energy is produced and used. You could have a positive impact on energy efficiency and the future of the environment with the right education.
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Sources
- The United Nations. Climate Action. “What is Renewable Energy?” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-renewable-energy.
- The U.S. Department of Energy. “How Does a Wind Turbine Work?” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.energy.gov/how-does-wind-turbine-work.
- The U.S. Department of Energy, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. “Hydrothermal Resources.” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/hydrothermal-resources.
- The U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Biomass Explained.” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/.
- Duke Energy. Energy Education, Nuclear Energy. “A Clean Energy Resource.” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/how-energy-works/nuclear-power.
- The U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Energy and the Environment Explained, Greenhouse Gases.” Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/energy-and-the-environment/greenhouse-gases.php.
- Car and Driver. “Toyota Prius Wasn’t the First Hybrid, Just the Most Successful.” John Voelcker. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025, from https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a46274770/hybrid-history-toyota-prius-porsche/.
- Our World in Data. “Tracking Global Data on Electric Vehicles.” Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://ourworldindata.org/electric-car-sales.
- The International Energy Agency. “By 2030 EVs Represent More than 60% of Vehicles Sold Globally and Require an Adequate Surge in Chargers Installed in Buildings.” Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://www.iea.org/reports/by-2030-evs-represent-more-than-60-of-vehicles-sold-globally-and-require-an-adequate-surge-in-chargers-installed-in-buildings.