Renewable & Nonrenewable Fuels

The 21st century has seen an increased interest in renewable fuel sources versus nonrenewable ones.

Fossil fuels heat and power the majority of homes and cars. However, once used up, these energy sources will be gone forever. Biofuels offer an environmentally friendly alternative to nonrenewable fuel sources.

Definitions

Nonrenewable fuels like gasoline, oil, and coal are standard fuel sources around the world. They are natural sources taken from the earth. Often referred to as biofuels, renewable fuels can be produced naturally or by humans. Examples of biofuels include ethanol, advanced biofuel, butanol, hydrogen, and biodiesel.

Effects

While one reason researchers are looking for alternatives to fossil fuels is that their supply is limited, they are also concerned about the effects of nonrenewable fuel resources on the environment. For example, emissions of gas-reliant cars contribute to greenhouse gases that affect the atmosphere. In comparison, renewable fuel sources do not pollute the air like gas and coal can. However, they can negatively affect the environment by claiming large tracts of land to house the machinery necessary to harvest them.

Cost

Since renewable fuel sources are relatively new, compared with nonrenewable sources, the technology is more expensive or unavailable to consumers. As of November 2010, research is underway on how to reduce the cost of producing and making use of renewable sources of energy.

References

• Connexions: Non-Renewable Energy Sources
• Alternate Energy Sources: The Advantage of Renewable Energy