Question

Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy?

Answer 1

Basis of difference	Renewable Resources	Non-renewable Resources
Depletion	Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time	Non-renewable resources deplete over time
Sources	Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind and also geothermal sources such as hot springs and fumaroles	Non-renewable energy includes fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.
Environmental Impact	Most renewable resources have low carbon emissions and low carbon footprint	Non-renewable energy has a comparatively higher carbon footprint and carbon emissions.
Cost	The upfront cost of renewable energy is high. – For instance, Generating electricity using technologies running on renewable energy is costlier than generating it with fossil fuels	Non-renewable energy has a comparatively lower upfront cost.
Infrastructure Requirements	Infrastructure for harvesting renewable energy is prohibitively expensive and not easily accessible in most countries.	Cost-effective and accessible infrastructure is available for non-renewable energy across most countries
Area Requirements	Requires a large land/ offshore area, especially for wind farms and solar farms	Comparatively lower area requirements