Some energy resources can be considered both renewable and non-renewable. Wood and biomass are 2 energy resources that fit into this specification.
Wood can be used as fuel and biomass is a type energy made out of material from other living organisms. Although, both can be deemed renewable if trees/plants are replanted.
Non-Renewable Energy Resources
Coal
- Advantages
- One of the cheapest fuels
- Coal supplies last longer than other fossil fuels (oil and gas)
- Disadvantages
- Burning coal can emit pollutants such as greenhouse gases as well as chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and lead.
- The burning of coal is a major contributor to causing smog and acid rain
Oil
- Advantages
- Like other fossil fuels, oil is reasonably cheap and ready made
- Can be stored
- Disadvantages
- When drilling, gas flaring emits carbon dioxide
- Oil spills can occur
- Atmospheric pollutants such as greenhouse gases and chemical carcinogens are given off when oil is burnt
- In short supply
Natural gas
- Advantages
- Like other fossil fuels, gas is reasonably cheap and ready made
- Is cleaner compared to other fossil fuels (can produce less carbon dioxide per watt than coal)
- Can be stored
- Disadvantages
- Natural Gas is in short supply
- Atmospheric pollutants such as greenhouse gases are given off when gas is burnt
- May pollute water
Nuclear
- Advantages
- Can be stored
- Doesn’t give off atmospheric pollutants
- Nuclear emissions are less deadly than fossil fuel emissions
- Raw materials needed to make nuclear energy is cheap
- Small amount of radioactive material can go a long way (has a lot of energy)
- Disadvantages
- Nuclear meltdowns/exposure to radioactive material can lead to land loss and cancer.
- Needs to be stored safely for a hundred years or more as nuclear waste is toxic
- Nuclear reactors are expensive to run
Biomass
- Advantages
- Can be stored
- If crops are replaced it can be a long-term energy source
- Reasonably cheap and ready-made
- Disadvantages
- When burned it may emit toxics
- If not replanted it is considered a non-renewable energy source
Wood
- Advantages
- Reasonably cheap and ready-made
- If trees are replaced it can be a long-term energy source
- Disadvantages
- If not replanted it is considered a non-renewable energy source
- When burned it may emit greenhouse gasses
Renewable
Solar
Solar Energy is directly taking energy from the sun through solar panels and converting it into electricity
- Advantages
- Potentially infinite supply of energy
- Single residences can have their own supply of electricity
- Disadvantages
- Solar panels can be expensive
Wind
- Advantages
- Potentially infinite supply of energy
- Can be installed on a smaller scale but are generally in wind farms
- Disadvantages
- Wind turbines can be expensive
- Cannot be stored
- Some people think wind turbines spoils the countryside by being on shore
- Requires a lot of land
- Kills some bats and birds
Tidal
- Advantages
- Ideal for an island country
- Can generate a lot of energy
- Tidal barrage can also act as a bridge which helps to prevent flooding
- Disadvantages
- Can be expensive to construct
- May reduce tidal flow and impede flow of sewage out to sea.
- Some believe that it may be damaging to the environment/wildlife
Wave
- Advantages
- Ideal for an island country
- Disadvantages
- Can be expensive to construct
Geothermal
- Advantages
- Low gas emissions
- Easy to construct
- Potentially infinite supply
- Disadvantages
- Few locations are suitable/available
- Can be expensive to construct
- Harmful elements discovered during extraction must be disposed of safely
Hydroelectric
- Advantages
- Creates energy as well as water reserves
- Disadvantages
- Depends on rainfall
- Expensive to construct
- Dams may affect wildlife and natural water systems
- Large dams can cause earthquakes
Biomass
Refer to “Biomass” under “non-renewable”
Biomass is considered non-renewable if crops are not replanted and renewable if they are.
Wood
Refer to “Wood” under “non-renewable”
Wood is considered non-renewable if trees are not replanted and renewable if they are