Renewable energy resources
All life on earth is sustained by energy from the Sun. Plants and animals can store energy and some of this energy remains with them when they die.
It is the remains of these ancient animals and plants that make up fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are non-renewable because they will run out one day.
The graph shows the predicted time left in years of fossil fuels.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases and relying on them for energy generation is unsustainable.
Hence the need to find more renewable, sustainable ways of generating energy.
Renewable or infinite energy resources are sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again.
Some resources can be thought of as both renewable and non-renewable.
- wood can be used for fuel and is renewable if trees are replanted
- biomass, which is material from living things, can be renewable if plants are replanted
