

Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is derived from perpetual resources, which replenish constantly and are not impacted by human consumption or activity (United Nations – Climate Action, 2025). With a constant renewal rate, perpetual resources can be used indefinitely without degrading the resource. Examples of perpetual, renewable resources include the sun, wind, water (including tides), and geothermal heat (heat from inside the earth’s crust) (United Nations – Climate Action, 2025).

Non-Renewable Energy
​Non-renewable energy is derived of non-renewable resources, which exist at a fixed quantity and the renewal rate is too slow to be meaningful to human activity (Helmenstine, 2024). This means that as non-renewable resources are used, their supply is being degraded. Examples of non-renewable energy include natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy (Helmenstine, 2024).