Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced in our lifetime and will eventually run out.

Renewable ResourcesResources that can be replaced over a logical period of time, or will never run out.

Wind Energy (Renewable)

Electrical energy generated by wind turning wind turbines. Advantages:

•It’s free•No greenhouse gases produced

Disadvantages: •Only can go in places with a lot of wind•You need a lot of turbines to make electricity•They are ugly

Hydropower (Renewable)

Energy generated by tides, waves, and dams.

Advantages: •It’s free•No greenhouse gases produced

Disadvantages: •Dams are expensive •Affects nearby wildlife•No rain = no electricity

Fossil Fuels (Nonrenewable)

Fuels found in the ground such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Will eventually run out.

Advantages: •Can be found in a lot of place in the world•Easy to transport•Cheap

Disadvantages: •Produces greenhouse gases such as CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)•Coal mines and Oil rigs are dangerous and harmful to the environment

Solar Energy (Renewable)Energy generated using solar panels to convert light and heat into electricity.

Advantages: •It’s free•No greenhouse gases produced

Disadvantages: •Expensive to build solar stations•Cloudy or night time there is no energy•They are ugly

Geothermal Energy (Renewable)

Energy from heat inside the Earth

Advantages: •It’s free•No greenhouse gases produced

Disadvantages: •Not very many places to build geothermal stations•Harmful gases and materials sometimes come up.

Biomass Energy (Renewable)From plants, which includes firewood from trees, ethanol from corn, and biodiesel from vegetable oil Advantages:

•It’s cheap and from things that we usually throw away•Should not run out

Disadvantages: •Produces greenhouse gases such carbon dioxide•There is not enough space to grow biomass fuel

Nuclear Energy (Nonrenewable) Energy from heat produced when

splitting a Uranium atom through a process called nuclear fission.

Advantages: •No harmful greenhouse gases•A small amount of Uranium produces a lot of energy

Disadvantages: •Waste is Radioactive•Uranium will run out in about 50 years with our current use.