Non-Renewable vs Renewable Energy: Impacts and Sources

Non-Renewable Resources: Advantages and Disadvantages

The energy from renewable sources is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. However, fossil fuel reserves are limited. Coal and oil are highly polluting fuels that contribute to acid rain and the greenhouse effect. Nuclear fission reactors produce long-lasting radioactive waste that requires secure storage.

Acid Rain

Sulfur oxides react with water vapor in the upper atmosphere, producing sulfuric acid, while nitrogen oxides produce nitric acid. These acids mix with water vapor and precipitate as rain. Acid rain alters plant growth, increases the acidity of soil and water, dissolves toxic metals into the food chain, and damages architectural monuments.

Greenhouse Effect

The main greenhouse gases (GHGs) are carbon dioxide and, to a lesser extent, methane, which originates in swamps and manure. An increase in the average temperature of the Earth disrupts the balance between energy absorbed and radiated into space. This global warming may cause increased precipitation in humid areas, increased aridity in dry areas, and the melting of polar ice, leading to the inundation of coastal areas.

Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs 90% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, protecting living organisms from its adverse effects. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases, used in aerosols and refrigeration, react with ozone and destroy its molecules.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources are those whose reserves are consumed faster than nature can renew them:

  1. Coal: The first industrial revolution was based on the use of coal. There are various types of coal: anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, and peat.
  2. Crude Oil: A mixture of various substances, crude oil is refined into fuels such as propane and butane. It is also the basis for petrochemical derivatives used in the production of plastics and paints.
  3. Natural Gas: A mixture of methane and other gaseous hydrocarbons. It has high energy power and is cleaner because its combustion produces only carbon dioxide and water as waste.
  4. Nuclear Energy: The power source is uranium-235, used in nuclear fission reactors. Some reactors use plutonium as a fissile element.

Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy sources are those whose reserves are consumed at a slower pace than they are renewed by nature:

  1. Biomass: Organic matter of vegetable or animal origin. This includes the direct use of waste as fuel from farms, livestock, and forestry; the processing of animal waste into biogas; the use of biofuel crops; and the thermal utilization of urban waste in incinerators.
  2. Solar Energy: Radiant energy from the sun. Solar energy can be harnessed in two ways:
    • Solar Thermal Energy: At low temperatures.
    • Solar Thermal Energy: At high temperatures.
  3. Solar Photovoltaics: Converting sunlight directly into electricity.

Pros and Cons of Renewable Energy

  • Reserves are inexhaustible.
  • The environmental impact is less than that of non-renewable resources.
  • They can be produced near where they are consumed.
  • Their use encourages the development of necessary technologies.