Renewable Resource

Arenewable resource is one that can be used repeatedly and does not run out because it is naturally replaced. Examples of renewable resources include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy.

Essentially, a renewable resource is a commodity of which there is an endless supply. Some resources, unlike the sun, wind, or water, are considered renewable even though some time or effort must go into their renewal. Most precious metals are renewable also. Although precious metals are not naturally replaced, they can be recycled because they are not destroyed during their extraction and use.

Unlike renewable resources, once a nonrenewable resource is depleted, it cannot be recovered. As the human population continues to grow and finite resources become increasingly scarce, the demand for renewable resources increases.

Biofuel, or energy made from renewable organic products, has gained prevalence in recent years as an alternative energy source to nonrenewable resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Although prices are still higher for biofuel, some experts project that, due to increasing scarcity and the forces of supply and demand, the prices of fossil fuels will grow higher and higher, making the price of biofuel more competitive.

However, prices for fossil fuels have trended lower, in part because of technological gains in fossil fuel production. Commodity buyers and policymakers constantly need to balance considerations of such influences when forecasting future price changes. Types of biofuel include biodiesel, an alternative to oil, and green diesel, which is made from algae and other plants. Other renewable resources include oxygen and solar energy. Wind and water are also used to create renewable energy. For example, windmills harness the wind's natural power and turn it into energy.

Renewable resources have become a focal point of the environmental movement, both politically and economically. Energy obtained from renewable resources puts much less strain on the limited supply of fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable resources. The problem with using renewable resources on a large scale is that they are costly and, in most cases, more research is needed for their use to be cost-effective.

Beyond their limited supply, energy sources such as fossil fuels damage the environment when burned and contribute to global warming. The first major international accord to curb carbon dioxide emissions and global warming was the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997.

More recently, global powers met in Paris in 2015 to pledge emissions reductions and focus on higher reliance on renewable resources for energy. There are many incentives designed to encourage the use of alternative energy.

Science Focus