Renewable & non-Renewable
Renewable resources
•Renewable resources are resources that can naturally replace itself over time.
•Renewable resources: solar energy, wind energy, biomass, hydroelectric
power, and geothermal energy.
Non-renewable resources
•Non-renewable resources are resources that cannot regenerated quite quickly
like renewable resources.
•Non-renewable resources include: fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural
gas), minerals, and metals. These resources take millions of years to form.
https://images.ctfassets.net/4yflszkpcwkt/4FXJtBTFZxhQrMrHtgo8vW/c5797d1487600e660de099ada1882115/diagram-resources.png
Why are these resources important?
Renewable resources are important for us because they provide a lot of benefits and
do not harm the environment, whereas non-renewable energy is also important,
although they harm the environment but they provide a lot of energy at once.
Solar energy
• Solar energy is the energy from the sun's rays. We can use two forms of solar
energy as sources of renewable energy. Heat energy can be trapped by solar
panels and can then be used to heat buildings. Light energy can also be
converted into electrical energy by solar cells.
Sun’s rays
Solar
panels
https://www.prysmian.com/sites/www.prysmian.com/files/2024-01/header-solar-energy-photovoltaics-1150x650.png
Where is solar energy used?
Houses and buildings
•
Solar panels: Solar power provides electricity; solar panels are usually installed
on top of buildings so that they can collect sun lights.
•
Solar Water Heating: Some people use solar water heaters to heat their water
on daily bases instead of traditional electric or gas water heaters to reduce
reliance.
This is where
water is stored.
Solar panels,
collecting heat.
https://img.saurenergy.com/2016/02/Solar-Water-Heating-System.jpg
Benefits of using solar energy
1. Renewable and Sustainable: The sun provides more energy
than us humans in the world consumes.
2. Good for the environment: Solar energy doesn’t produce green
house gases or cause pollution so its good for the environment.
3. Saves money: People using solar power don’t have to pay
electricity bill because their electricity comes from solar panels.
4. Low Operating Costs: After the installation, solar power
systems maintenance cost is really low and require minimal
maintenance.
Challenges of Solar Energy
1. Intermittency: Solar energy is dependent on sunlight, they
won’t produce electricity at night when you need it, they can be
inefficient during storms and gloomy days. It requires backup
during storms.
2. Expensive: Solar panels are expensive and takes a long time to
pay off its initial cost.
3. Takes a lot of space: To install solar panels it needs a lot of
space.
4. Can be affected by weather: It can work less efficiency during
rainy of cloudy weather, the place it is located also matters.
Real-Life Examples of Solar Energy Use
China
•
China has made massive investments in solar energy to
reduce air pollution and dependence on coal and is the
world’s largest producer of solar.
https://alpha.creativecirclecdn.com/environment/original/20240617-181304-1ff-darmau-b3e_3zbgz68unsplash.jpg
Coal energy
Coal energy refers to the energy from burning fossil fuels such as coal
for generating electricity.
Harmful
gases released
from burning
coal.
https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/environmental-impact-coal-energyemissions-from-industrial-chimneys-against-black-coal-backdrop_209190259720.jpg?w=360
Coal
How is coal used for energy?
Coal is burned in a boiler to produce steam. The heat produced by the
combustion of the coal is used to convert water into high-pressure
steam, under tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a
generator which produces electricity. The steam is then cooled,
condensed back into water and returned to the boiler to start the
process over.
https://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/images/3_how%20a%20power%20plant%20works%20basic.jpg
Problems and risks
Air pollution:
Air pollution is formed from burning coal-fired power plants which
releases harmful gases that is let out of the factory and it mixes with
the normal air.
Harmful gases
Factories
releasing
harmful gases
Health impacts:
https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/photo
/105774821.cms
From burning coal nitrogen oxides are produced which contribute to
smog and respiratory illnesses. Air pollution causes illnesses such as
asthma.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Health_effects_of_pollution.png
Contributions to climate change:
Coal releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), when it is
burned, which traps heat in the atmosphere and leads to global
warming.
https://encryptedtbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3Yqc6OQtTqueldoGRyCOUXNWek2794BIoT
g&s
Real world case study of coals impact!
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal.
Impacts of coal
1. Impact to the environment:
•
Pollution of air:
Burning of coal causes the release of carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide, and
some unburnt carbon particles in the air that causes air pollution. Air pollution
causes respiratory problems.
•
Water Pollution:
Coal mining processes can contaminate water sources with chemicals and
other pollutants, lowering water quality and destroying ecosystems.
•
Land Damage:
Coal mining activities uses a lot of land surfaces, leading to land declination,
damage to infrastructure, and displacement of homes and etc.
•
Ecosystem Degradation:
Coal mining can destroy natural habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and lead to
biodiversity loss.
2.How coal impacts health:
•
Breathing Problems: Air pollution causes breathing problems such as
asthma and bronchitis.
Comparison
Renewable resources, such as wind and solar
are better than non-renewable resources
because emit little to no greenhouse gases, are
readily available and in most cases cheaper than
coal, oil or gas.
Renewable resources are more sustainable for
the future as well because it helps generate
electricity without releasing significant carbon
dioxide or other pollutants, ensuring cleaner air
and a healthier ecosystem and replenished by
nature.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371299164/figure/fig3/AS:11431281165242431@168596830345
8/The-difference-between-renewable-and-non-renewable-energies.png
Conclusion
From this project I learned that renewable resources are
better for the environment then non-renewable resources
and the damage caused by using non-renewable resources.
https://www.priyamstudycentre.com/wpcontent/uploads/2020/11/renewable-energy-sources.jpg
https://www.swiftutors.com/science/images/no
n-renewable-energy-sources.jpg
We should focus more on using renewable resources because
they are more reliable, they do not cause much harm to the
environment and they re-form quickly.
References
•
https://www.constellation.com/energy-101/energy-innovation/solarenergy-pros-and-cons.html
•
https://www.google.com/search?q=realworld+case+studies+of+coals+impact.&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
•
https://www.ucs.org/resources/coal-power-impacts
•
https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+energy&oq=solar+energy&gs_
lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDwgAEEUYORixAxjJAxiABDIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABi
ABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiA
•
Cambridge Checkpoint Lower Secondary Science Student's Book
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