Is Solar Energy Renewable or Nonrenewable: A Clear Answer

Table of Contents

Throughout the entire contemporary age, fossil fuels have made it possible for people to receive power in their homes as well as power machinery for many years, thereby pushing civilization forward. However, human development has undergone a steady acceleration, making the unsustainability of such energy apparent. There was a deterioration of global fuel supplies that have had a significant contribution to polluting the atmosphere.

So, to guarantee a sustainable future, the search for renewable energy sources took effect. Today, a notable proportion of the globe’s electricity comes from renewable energy. Classifying energy sources as renewable can be difficult. Especially when you bring in the issue of a large timescale, no energy source is truly renewable. In this article, we’re going to find the answer to the question is solar energy renewable or nonrenewable. Read this new blog in Linquip to find out more about it.

What Are Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy?

Resources are characterized as renewable or non-renewable. Renewable and nonrenewable resources are energy sources that human society uses to function daily. The difference between these two types of resources is that renewable resources can naturally replenish themselves while nonrenewable resources cannot. It means that nonrenewable resources are limited in supply and cannot be used sustainably. Let’s learn a little more about each energy resource before we discuss solar energy place in which type energy resources.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. Renewable energy is sustainable as it originates from inexhaustible sources.

Renewable energy, generally speaking, is clean energy and non-polluting. Many forms do not emit any greenhouse gases or toxic waste in the process of producing electricity. It is a sustainable energy source that replenishes naturally on a human timescale. Renewable energy is cost-effective and efficient. The challenge of climate change compels many nations to set a renewable energy target.

is solar energy renewable or nonrenewable - Linquip

The energy trend shows that renewable energy is the future for humanity. Hence, this has had a major contribution to the discovery of various types of renewable energy. Some of them are as follows.

Wind power
Hydroelectric power
Geothermal energy
Biomass Energy
Ocean energy
Hybrid technology

Watch the Video About Is Solar Energy is Renewable or Nonrenewable

Characteristics of Renewable Energy

Never run out
No damage to our planet
A low-maintenance energy source
Unreliable weather can affect energy supply
Nonrenewable Energy

Nonrenewable energy resources form over hundreds of thousands of years, it means they cannot naturally replenish themselves at the rate humans use them today.

Unfortunately, human society is dependent on nonrenewable resources as its primary source of energy. Approximately 80 percent of the total amount of energy used globally each year comes from nonrenewable energies. We depend on them because they are energy-rich and relatively cheap to process.

They are harmful to the environment and have a negative impact on the human race. They pollute, create greenhouse gasses, contribute to global warming, cause acid rain, and damage the biosphere. They can even worsen and cause respiratory diseases for those who live in polluted areas, which are, unfortunately, often poorer communities.

There are a few different types of non-renewable energy, but the ones we use most are fossil fuels. Chief among these are oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium for nuclear power.

Characteristics of Nonrenewable Energy

Available only infinite quantities and hence termed as “stock resources”
Cannot be regenerated easily
Concentrated as minerals usually in the lithosphere of the earth in several forms
It may be solids (coal, lignite, minerals), liquids (petroleum), or gases (natural gases)
Remain as waste in some other forms after their use unless there are subjected to recycling
Over time it gets more expensive

Renewable Energy	Nonrenewable Energy
Can be renewed naturally over time	Are available in limited quantity
Is replaced by nature in a short time	Cannot be replaced by nature
Is inexhaustible	Will be exhausted one day
Does not cause any pollution	Cause pollution when used
Cost is low	Cost is high
Large land is required	Less land is required

is solar energy renewable or nonrenewable - Linquip

Solar Energy

The question is solar energy renewable or nonrenewable takes us to the point that solar energy that we receive here on planet earth is finite and will come to an end. While the sun has been in existence for 4.6 billion years, and it has been present throughout the existence of the human species, there will come a time when it will no longer exist.

As such, in the grandness of time, even solar energy that we receive here on planet earth is finite and will come to an end.

Humans, however, have a hard time grasping timescale running into billions of years. Additionally, it does not make sense to look that far into the future. It is for this reason that we add a caveat of the human timescale when defining the renewability of energy sources. Confining timescales to limits bring solar energy into the renewable energy source bracket. So, although the sun is not truly an infinite resource, for many millions of generations solar energy will be available, making it a practically inexhaustible, renewable energy resource.

As long as the sun is shining, solar energy will be around. For reference, NASA scientists say the sun is about halfway through its lifetime, which means that we have about 4.5 billion years to take advantage of solar energy. With new technology being discovered regularly, and reuse and recycling, we are looking to a future where solar energy is truly renewable.

So, there hope you get your desired response to the question is solar energy renewable or nonrenewable. If you enjoyed this article in Linquip, let us know by leaving a reply in the comment section. Is there any question we can help you through? Feel free to sign up on our website to get the most professional advice from our experts.