Renewable energy is abundantly available and hence can be replenished in a shorter duration.
On contrary to renewable energy, non renewable energy is scarcely available and takes a long duration to reproduce. In this article, we are going to discuss some non renewable energy examples as listed below:-
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is the division of one nucleus into two daughter nuclei. The nuclei carry high energy and when nuclear fission takes place, a huge amount of energy is given out. This process continues until it is maintained by adding sufficient decaying elements. This energy is a non renewable source of energy.
Ores
Ore is a mixture of different metals, minerals, and elements. The essential elements and minerals are extracted from the ores by using different methods like crushing, powdering, bleaching, frothing, hydraulic separation, gravity separation, magnetic separation, and various other methods.
As the ore is produced beneath the Earth’s crust under high pressure and temperature condition, it takes longer duration for the production of the minerals comprising the ore to make it rich in essential elements. Hence it is a source of non renewable energy.
Metals
The metals are extracted from the ore by using the methods of powdering, crushing, and separating different metals from the ore. The metals are good conductors, semiconductors as well as bad conductors. Hence is used in the production of electricity, as insulators, to make ornaments, utensils, and various other products and utilities.
Metamorphism
Metamorphism is a process of hardening the igneous and sedimentary rocks present on the surface of the Earth. The rocks undergo different pressure and temperature condition hardening the rock, forming well-defined surfaces of the rock and faces of the grains of the minerals comprising the rock mass.
Minerals
The rocks exposed to different depths beneath the Earth’s crust are formed at different pressure and temperature conditions, and consequences in the accumulation and different compositions of magma and its solidification with time.
Hence, the rocks are found in different compositions of minerals and grains. The minerals extracted from the rocks cannot be replenished and hence is a non renewable.
Burning Wood
The wood is acquired from the tree and is a renewable source as we can plant more trees to produce more wood while the burnt wood cannot be replenished. The burning wood radiates energy in the form of heat.
Volcanic Eruptions
The volcanic eruptions erupt the magma from beneath the Earth that was lying under deep pressure and high-temperature condition. This magma contains a lot of ores and minerals that are used by humans for various purposes. This magma once erupt is again transformed into magma for millions of year once it is exposed to the same pressure and temperature conditions.
Coal
Coal is a fossil fuel produced due to the organic remnant and hence is rich in carbon because organic matter is made up of carbon matter.
Coal is formed when the organic water material is remained buried in the ground for a prolonged duration almost millions of years. Hence it is a non renewable source of energy as it cannot be replenished in a short duration of time.
Hot Air Balloons
The hot air balloons work on the principle of buoyancy force acting on the balloon which is exerted in the upwards direction opposing the force due to gravity. The fire is lit facing the body of the balloon, the air thus moves inward of the balloon due to the difference in the air pressure. The air pressure flow raises the balloon for a flight to take place. The balloon will travel further due to the heat energy supplied to the balloon and the air resistance force pushing the hot air balloon.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock found on the earth. There are many monuments made up of limestone because it is easy to carve over this rock and last for a long.
The limestone cannot be produced immediately after its usage as it is limited in numbers and it takes a long time for its creation.
Oil
The oil is extracted from different seeds and also drilling methods from underground. There are different mechanical methods used to extract oil from the ground by drilling. The oil produced underground is non-replenishable and exhausts once it is used.
Phosphate
Phosphate is widely used as a fertilizer in agriculture. The nutritional supplement beneficiary Calcium phosphate is also prepared by using the grains of phosphate. The phosphate is extracted from the phosphate-rich sedimentary rocks found near the seafloor. As it takes years for the formation and deposition of the phosphate mineral in a formation and sedimentation process and then extraction, it is a non renewable source of energy.
Diamonds
Diamond is the hardest structure found in nature having the highest hardness value because it is made up of 100% carbon element forming a tetrahydrate structure.
It is scarcely found in nature and there are hardly one or two mines of diamonds on the Earth.
Gold
Gold is a metal found as a part of ore and practices expensive methods to separate it from the ore. It is used to make jewelry and precious ornaments. Though it can be recycled it cannot be replenished again and again. Gold is also not found abundantly in the Earth’s crust. Thus it is a non renewable source.
Sharp Objects
These are made up of iron which is extracted from the hematite and magnetite ores. Since the iron in its pure form is very soft, it is doped with carbon which increases its hardness and makes the armory brutal. Since iron is necessary to make these instruments; it cannot be produced frequently as it takes time for the formation of iron.
Petroleum
The petroleum is extracted from the earth’s crust by drilling by carefully studying the area where there is an availability of the natural gas, and its quantity, and then drilling by making a borehole through which we can extract the petroleum.
The production of petroleum takes many years and hence is a non renewable source of energy we have on the earth and therefore should be used with proper understanding and precautions.
Uranium
Uranium is most unstable in its isotope state and hence is a weakly radioactive element found on the earth. It is found mainly in the isotopes and the half-life of different isotopes of uranium is found between 159200 years to 4.5 billion years.
The decay of the uranium to form its isotopes releases a huge amount of energy and hence is used in the nuclear reactors, but the activity of the uranium is controlled by different methods to avoid the reactions caused and supercritical situations in the reactor. The availability of uranium is not plentiful and would last for a few hundred years.
Thermal Power Plant
The thermal power plants are the conventional source of energy. The turbine is made to rotate by passing the hot steam over it. Due to vapor pressure and temperature gradient, the turbine starts rotating and the generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
But, burning the fuel to produce steam requires coal or lignite which are non renewable sources to produce thermal energy. Hence thermal power plant is an example of non renewable energy.
Sand
The sand is composed of different minerals and small fragments of rocks and sediments that are formed due to erosion. Also, the sedimentary rocks are formed out of the sand by deposition into the sedimentary basin and solidification of the rock. It is also used for construction and building. Moreover, this sand is also buried under the landmass and exposed to high pressure and temperature to convert into magma.
Soil
The soil is rich in minerals and elements and trees and crops depend on these nutrients for their growth. Once these nutrients are used or extracted through mining processes, it takes millions of years to return back to the nutrition soil state, and hence it is non renewable.
This soil also gets erode and form sedimentary rocks, gets metamorphous, buried under the ground after years, and reaches the asthenosphere where it turns into magma. Henceforth it takes millions of years to erupt and reach the ground surface on the crust.
Rocks
The rocks are formed due to solidification of the magma or the deposited sediments and precipitation forming beautiful rock structures.
These rocks undergo different climatic conditions, also to acquire minerals from the rocks, the rocks are crushed, and also the erosion of rocks is seen naturally. The rocks are turned into small fragments of rocks, and then converted into the soil after erosion.
Fossil Fuel
The fossil fuel is extracted from the remnant of the plant and animal waste from underneath the ground and is also found in the sedimentary basin, preserved in the body of the sedimentary rocks basin. It is formed underneath the ground after millions of years and has to be used carefully.
Natural Gas
It is a non renewable source of energy used as a fuel in stoves, burners, etc., and is found near the crude oil beneath the earth’s crust. It is rich in methane gas but also consists of ethane, propane, and butane.
Plastic
Plastic is a bad conductor of heat and electricity and is widely used in the world for various purposes. There are different containers made up of plastic, ropes, furniture and tables, covers, bags, electrical appliances, decorative pieces, etc.
Though it can be recycled, it is non renewable source. The crude oil which is essential for the manufacturing of plastic is non renewable and therefore plastic is a non renewable source of energy.
Groundwater
Though water is abundantly available on the Earth, there is a serious concern about the depletion of groundwater levels. The groundwater is extracted by digging wells, boreholes, drilling, etc. Once the concentration of the groundwater decreases, it does not replenish immediately if there is a scarcity of the volume of water available at that depth. Hence it is an example of non renewable source of energy.
LPG Cylinders
The liquid petroleum gas filled in the cylinders is made up of crude oil and natural gas.
Hence the gas used for cooking in the kitchen is an example of a non renewable source of energy. This led to the emission of greenhouse gases and can cause several problems for the environment.
Tungsten
It is a rare element found on the earth and is used in the electric bulb. When the electric current is passed through a tungsten filament it radiates the electrons in the form of light wave radiations.
Aluminum
Aluminum is used in different industries, to make utensils, cans, and foil, and even in the construction of roads. It is exacted from the bauxite ore. Since the demand for this metal is high in the market and industries, the production of the metal is not at that quick rate.
Batteries
The batteries are used to supply power to different electronic gadgets.
These batteries will come in handy until the reactants completely react and no further chemical reaction takes place.
Steel
It is an alloy of mainly iron and a few moles of carbon to improve its hardness. Since iron is extracted from the earth’s crust it is non renewable source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is copper renewable or non renewable?
Copper is a good conductor of heat and electricity and hence is used widely in electronic industries.
The copper is extracted from different ores. As the demand for copper is rising, at the same time the quantity of capper produced is very less and hence is a non renewable source of energy.
Is magnet renewable or non renewable?
The magnet is non renewable.
The magnetic effect produced within the magnet due to dipoles decreases due to the thermal heating and vibration of molecules.
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Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.