Renewable and non-renewable energy. What's the difference?

Since ancient times, human beings have used the Earth’s resources to survive and produce energy. Some energy resources have a longer renewal time than others.

The resources used to produce energy are classified into two broad categories: renewable and non-renewable sources. There are three main differences between these two types:

• Availability and renewal times;

• Cost of production and transport; 

• Impact on the environment and people's health.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between renewable and non-renewable energies and their characteristics.

What are renewable and non-renewable sources? 

Renewable energy sources are derived from natural sources that are capable of continuous regeneration and are therefore almost inexhaustible. In this group we find:

• Solar; 

• Wind power;

• Geothermal;

• Hydroelectric;

• Biomass.

These sources have a low environmental impact, making them good for both human health and the environment. 

Non-renewable energy sources are depleted as they are consumed and additional resources must be used to produce them again. Therefore, they have a significant impact on the ecosystem and contribute to pollution. In fact, to produce non-renewable energy, waste consisting of carbon dioxide and toxic gases released into the atmosphere is also emitted. 

While renewable energies can be traced back to natural sources that are not subject to depletion, non-renewables are in turn divided into two broad categories: fossil and nuclear fuels. Let's look specifically at how they are produced and how they can impact the environment.

How is non-renewable energy produced?

The first type of non-renewable energy is fossil fuels, also known as hydrocarbons. Fossil fuels are currently the most widely used source of energy in the world and are derived from all the organic material that has accumulated inside the Earth over the centuries. The main hydrocarbons are oil and coal, but methane gas is also gaining ground in energy production.

To produce energy, fossil fuels have to be burnt, and in this process they release a high amount of CO2 and other toxic agents. Despite this. the creation process costs less than renewable energy sources. The other non-renewable source is nuclear fuel, which is obtained by mining, processing and refining uranium.

Due to the alarm over air pollution and the scarcity of hydrocarbons, in recent years many countries have been investing in the use of renewable sources for energy production.

Renewable energies: how do they differ?

First of all, not all energy from renewable sources is sustainable: not all of it is produced with zero impact. For example, obtaining energy from biomass requires burning certain materials such as wood or pellets, which produces gaseous particles that are dispersed into the environment, where they contribute to pollution.

There are also other types of renewable energy that have a lower impact on human health and the environment. For example, solar energy allows electricity to be produced from the sun's rays. To harness the sun's energy, you can choose to install a photovoltaic system that produces electricity, or a solar plant, used to heat water.

Enel Green Power is the Enel Group company dedicated to the development, construction and management of energy generation activities from renewable sources worldwide, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania.  A world leader in clean energy, with a managed capacity of around 46 GW and a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, Enel Green Power is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable plants, facilitating a new model of decarbonised, sustainable development.