Renewable and Non-Refundable Resources – SS2 Geography Lesson Note (First Term)

Natural resources are grouped by whether they can be replaced. Renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind and water, are replenished naturally. Non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas, minerals and uranium, are finite and cannot be replaced on a human timescale.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define renewable and non-renewable resources;
• give examples of each type of resource;
• state the uses of the main renewable and non-renewable resources;
• list the advantages and disadvantages of renewable resources;
• list the advantages and disadvantages of non-renewable resources.

What are renewable resources?

Renewable resources come from naturally replenishing sources like sunlight, wind and hydropower. They offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels, and they help to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Examples of renewable resources

1. Solar energy: harvested through solar panels to generate electricity.
2. Wind energy: uses the kinetic energy of the wind to produce power through wind turbines.
3. Hydropower: captures the energy of flowing water, commonly through dams or water turbines.
4. Biomass: uses organic materials like wood, crop residues and waste to generate energy.
5. Geothermal energy: taps into the Earth’s internal heat for heating or electricity generation.

Advantages of renewable resources

1. Sustainability: they are replenished naturally, so they stay available in the long term.
2. Environmentally friendly: they typically have a lower environmental impact and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Diverse sources: different types, such as solar, wind and hydropower, make energy production versatile.

Disadvantages of renewable resources

1. Intermittency: some sources, such as solar and wind, depend on the weather, so supply is not constant.
2. Initial costs: installing renewable energy systems often needs a higher upfront investment.
3. Land use: large-scale renewable projects may need a lot of land, which can affect the ecosystem.

What are non-renewable resources?

Non-renewable resources are finite substances, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), that cannot be replaced on a human timescale. Their extraction and use contribute to environmental challenges like pollution and climate change.

Because these resources are limited, there is a growing emphasis on moving to sustainable alternatives to ensure long-term energy security and reduce environmental impact.

Examples of non-renewable resources

1. Fossil fuels
   • Coal: mined for electricity generation and industrial processes.
   • Oil: extracted for various purposes, including transportation and the production of plastics.
   • Natural gas: used for heating, electricity generation and as a fuel source.
2. Minerals
   • Metallic minerals: such as iron, copper and aluminium, used in construction and manufacturing.
   • Non-metallic minerals: like salt, gypsum and diamonds, used for various industrial applications.
3. Nuclear fuels
   • Uranium: used in nuclear power plants for electricity generation.

Advantages of non-renewable resources

1. Energy density: fossil fuels in particular have high energy density, which gives an efficient energy output.
2. Infrastructure: there is well-established infrastructure for the extraction, refining and distribution of non-renewable resources.
3. Consistency: non-renewable sources provide a consistent and reliable energy supply.

Disadvantages of non-renewable resources

1. Depletion: their finite nature leads to depletion, which raises concerns about long-term availability.
2. Environmental impact: extraction, processing and burning contribute to pollution and climate change.
3. Geopolitical issues: depending on certain regions for non-renewable resources can lead to geopolitical tensions.

Evaluation

1. Define renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
2. List the five examples of renewable resources given in the lesson.
3. State three disadvantages of renewable resources.
4. Name the three groups of non-renewable resources and give one example of each.
5. State three disadvantages of non-renewable resources.

Assignment

Choose two renewable resources and two non-renewable resources. For each one, state what it is used for.