What Is The Difference Between Sustainable Energy & Renewable Energy?

Don Barnetson
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

As we continue to see a bigger transition to more sustainable living, it makes sense to understand the difference between sustainable energy and renewable energy. Because of their similar characteristics, they are oftentimes thought to be the same but actually have several differences.

A renewable energy resource refers to energy that naturally replenishes itself with time, for instance, the way materials naturally recycle or the development of a new organism. It is a form of energy production that utilizes growth or recycling as its sources. Renewable energy always generates itself and never has a fixed quantity. Nevertheless, if its use exceeds its renewal, that is, the energy source is utilized more that it can be regenerated, then, its continuous usage will be unsustainable. Renewable energy is hydropower, wind power, solar power, geothermal power and tidal power.

Solar power is the electricity created while using the sun’s solar radiation, and wind power refers to electricity gotten from the wind. Hydropower is the usage of flowing water’s mechanical potential and changing it into electricity, and tidal power involves the generation of energy from waves and tidal force. Lastly, geothermal power is the electricity gotten from deep underground thermal energy.

On the other hand, sustainable energy is the energy that can be preserved for a known period of time, that is, the creation of energy that lasts for a predictable amount of time. Its practice depends on the resources that will continue to support the needs of human beings. The sources need to be carefully utilized so that they do not get diminished, run out, or become useless. Most people view it as a means by which the environment does not get damaged significantly as a result of the accumulated impact of the energy usage. Sustainable energy is natural gas, coal, and oil.

Coal results from plant life decomposition and its extensive reserves and high energy density make it important for the production of energy. Natural gas refers to a colorless and odorless gas, that easily burns and it’s mostly composed of methane, and therefore, used in energy production. Finally, oil is composed of organic molecules and it’s a fossil fuel gotten from the underground, its composition of carbon and hydrogen enables it to be utilized as a form of energy.

Similarities Between Renewable And Sustainable Energy
Both renewable and sustainable energies are sources of primary energy. This means that the energies are directly gotten from natural resources. The primary energy sources entail the flows and fuels. They can also become unsustainable if not used with caution.

Originally posted on DonBarnetson.org.

Don Barnetson

Written by

Holds 24 patents in LED lamp products, and is dedicated to the creation of new technology, branding mechanisms, and company restructuring. DonBarnetson.net

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade