Songo Higher Polytechnic Institute

Thermotechnical engineering T11

Technical English

Renewable and non-renewable energy resources

Student: Teacher:
António Marcos José Edite Cuamba

Songo, September 2021

Table of figures

Figure 1: Energia Solar ................................................................................................................... 3

Figure 2:Energia eólica. Fonte: https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/all-you-need-
to-know-about-wind-power ............................................................................................................ 3
Figure 3: Geothermal energy. Fonte: (GREENPEACE, 2013) ...................................................... 4
Figure 4: Hydraulic energy. Fonte: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper ................................. 5
Figure 5: Petroleum. Fonte: (PENA, 2021). ................................................................................... 7
Figure 6: Schematic geology. Fonte: (PENA, 2021). ..................................................................... 8
Figure 7: Coal. Fonte: (PENA, 2021). ............................................................................................ 8
Table of contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Energy sources ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2.1. Renewable energy .............................................................................................................................. 2

2.1.1. Benefits ................................................................................................................................. 2

2.1.2. Solar energy .......................................................................................................................... 2

2.1.3. Wind energy .......................................................................................................................... 3

2.1.4. Geothermal energy ................................................................................................................ 4

2.1.5. Biofuels ................................................................................................................................. 4

2.1.6. Hydraulic energy ................................................................................................................... 4

2.1.7. The role of renewable energy in minimizing energy conflits ............................................... 5

2.2. Non-renewable energy .................................................................................................................. 6

2.2.1. Petroleum .............................................................................................................................. 7

2.2.2. Natural gas ............................................................................................................................ 7

2.2.3. Coal ....................................................................................................................................... 8

3. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 10

4. Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................... 11
 1. Introduction
Over the years, humanity has ensured better levels of comfort and longevity due to advances in
agriculture, medicine, among others. From these, the population density on the planet has been
increasing and, with that, the demand for more energy resources also increases, causing
environmental impacts that have been discussed worldwide. Currently, renewable resources have
been the focus of numerous researches, due to the concern with the environment. And there are
several reasons for the implementation of renewable energy sources (PENA, 2021).

Thus, the objective of this work was to identify resources and the different types of existing
renewable and non-renewable energy, as well as the applicability and environmental impact
generated by these sources. The work was developed on the precepts of the exploratory study
through bibliographical research.

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 2. Energy sources
Energy sources are raw materials that directly or indirectly produce energy to move machines. The
energy will be used for various purposes such as transport, industry, agriculture, domestic use, etc.

However, as they are found directly in nature, this raw material needs to undergo a transformation
before generating energy. Energy sources or energy resources are generally classified into two
main groups: renewable and non-renewable energies.

2.1. Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy derived from natural processes that are or can be constantly
replenished and include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal energy and biofuels
(SCHOLTEN and BOSMAN, 2013, p. 12; IEA, 2004, p. 12). Renewable energy also refers to
energy generated from natural resources at sustainable levels that can come from non-fossil energy
sources (BJORK et al., 2011, p.12). Such sources are replenished by natural processes at a rate
equal to or greater than their use (GREENPEACE, 2013).

2.1.1. Benefits
Unlike non-renewable fuels (such as fossil fuels, for example), renewable energy sources generally
have a small impact (pollution, deforestation) on the environment.

Examples of renewable energy:

i. solar energy,
ii. wind energy (from the winds),
iii. hydraulic power (from rivers) and
iv. Geothermal energy.
v. Biocombustíveis

2.1.2. Solar energy

It is energy obtained from the sun, used to generate electricity or heat water. Broadly, solar energy
can be converted into three types: thermal solar, concentrated solar (CSP) and photovoltaic solar
(BJORK et al., 2011, p. 13). Thermal solar energy refers to solar energy converted into heat. It is
generally intended for domestic use to heat an environment, water or swimming pool (also thermal
cooling). Concentrated solar energy is a type of thermal solar energy used to produce electricity.

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Usually intended for large-scale energy production, it uses lenses or mirrors to reflect and
concentrate sunlight on receivers.

Figure 1: Energia Solar

2.1.3. Wind energy
It is energy generated by wind turbines: wind turbines, equipment up to 120m high, are basically
composed of a tower, an electric generator and a propeller. The wind makes the blades rotate and
this movement is transformed into electrical energy by the generator (GREENPEACE, 2013, p.
21). Turbines must be positioned in strategic locations to maximize their potential.

Wind farms can be generated on land (onshore) or at sea (offshore). In the last decade, wind energy
has become one of the fastest growing sources in the world and has attracted a good part of
investments in renewables (GREENPEACE, 2013, p. 21).

Figure 2:Energia eólica. Fonte: https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/all-you-need-

to-know-about-wind-power

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2.1.4. Geothermal energy
It is extracted from heat (and steam) stored in the earth, most commonly from holes drilled in the
earth's crust. It is usually clean, relatively inexpensive to produce (once research and extraction is
complete), and most importantly, it is non-variable, so it is predictably available (BJORK et al.,
2011, p. 15).

Figure 3: Geothermal energy. Fonte: (GREENPEACE, 2013)

In a geothermal plant, water is injected into a deep layer of the earth's crust until reaching the
magma, a mantle composed of liquid rocks at high temperatures: the extracted liquid can reach a
temperature of 175°C and be used for heating water in buildings (to generate electricity through
steam, temperatures must be above 150°C) (GREENPEACE, 2013, p. 31).

2.1.5. Biofuels
Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from biological feedstock and include bioethanol, or simply
ethanol, biodiesel, biogas (methane). Of these, ethanol is the most used biofuel with the fastest
growing production in the world, with an increase from 4.4 billion barrels in 1980 to 46.2 billion
barrels in 2005 (VICHI and MANSOR, 2009, p. 764).

2.1.6. Hydraulic energy

The "Hydraulic" or "hydro" is a primary energy source of nature, in the form of mechanical energy
existing in a river with natural falls and/or artificial falls, provided by the construction of dams.
This energy, available in a certain amount of water that is at the highest level of the unevenness or

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fall, in potential form, is transformed into kinetic or movement energy, when the water falls along
the natural or artificial fall, which moves a turbine hydraulic that drives a generator, which finally
produces electricity (VENTURA FILHO, 2013, p. 2).

Figure 4: Hydraulic energy. Fonte: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper

2.1.7. The role of renewable energy in minimizing energy conflits
Ventura Filho (2013) point to the emergence of contemporary phenomena related to energy
activity and the observance of its consequences on the economic development and political
stability of countries, such as:

a) the potential depletion of fossil oil reserves in counterpoint to its continued consumption
by nations;

b) the increase in the price of oil out of step with the low inflation of the market;

c) the uncertain guarantee of oil supply due to political instability in the main producing
regions in the world;

d) the adoption of measures to reduce pollution arising from fuel consumption, with a view
to preserving the environment and;

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 e) the rise in food prices and the consequent decrease in its consumption as a result of the
exploitation of new oil reserves, transformed the energy issue into a matter of national
security for the States.

All these aspects impact the perception of energy security, influencing, to a greater or lesser degree,
the structuring of energy policies in countries. For example, a country that has a varied energy
matrix, with most of it being renewable, will be less vulnerable to the increase in the price of a
barrel of oil, and a possible shortage in fossil fuel supply would not have as much impact on the
productive sector when compared to a country that depends heavily on such a non-renewable
matrix. What we can generally infer is that a state that is not totally dependent on oil will have no
motivation to be part of a fuel conflict.

2.2. Non-renewable energy

Non-renewable energy sources are those whose reserves are found in nature in limited quantities
and whose use leads to the depletion of reserves. This is because the process of forming such
energy sources is very slow when compared to the rate of consumption that human beings make
of them.

Non-renewable natural resources are exhaustible resources and environmental agencies are
increasingly creating norms and laws to contain the indiscriminate exploitation of these resources.
These mineral resources are widely exploited as a source of energy by man (coal, oil, natural gas).
The main sources of energy come from non-renewable resources, considered economically
important and generators of wealth for the countries that exploit them.

As we can see, despite the exploitation of non-renewable resources by man being more economical
when compared to the exploitation of renewable resources, this practice causes much more
negative impacts on the environment and, consequently, on society. There is still a great
dependence in the world on these non-renewable sources of resources, but over the last few years,
even if at a slow pace, we can see a growing search for the replacement of these non-renewable
energy sources by renewable and clean energy sources such as, for example, wind and solar energy.
Investing in other sources of exploration and in new technologies also translates into a way of
preserving non-renewable resources.

Examples of non-renewable energy sources:

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 i. i. Petroleum
ii. ii. Natural gas
iii. iii. Mineral coal

2.2.1. Petroleum
This is a mineral oil, dark in color and with a strong smell, made up of a mixture of organic
compounds, especially hydrocarbons. It is mainly used in transport and is one of the biggest
sources of air pollution and a reason for economic disputes and armed conflicts. It is estimated
that, with the current rate of consumption, planetary reserves will run out in the next 40 years
(PENA, 2021).

Figure 5: Petroleum. Fonte: (PENA, 2021).

2.2.2. Natural gas
Natural gas has a very similar origin to oil. In other words, it was formed over millions of years
from animal and plant sediments, found in underground deposits. The only difference between the
two is that it can be used directly, without the need for refining (PENA, 2021).

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 Figure 6: Schematic geology. Fonte: (PENA, 2021).
2.2.3. Coal
Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from mineral exploration. It is an organic rock made up mostly of
carbon. It was the first to be used on a large scale, in industrial processes and at the domestic level.
It was even the first fossil fuel to be used in the production of electrical energy. It is, of all fossil
fuels, the one that is estimated to have the greatest reserves (200 years) and the one that causes the
most environmental impacts, in terms of pollution and climate change (PENA, 2021).

Figure 7: Coal. Fonte: (PENA, 2021).

2.2.3.1. Origin and formation of coal

Coal comes from the decomposition of forests that occurred in the Carboniferous period, of the
primary era, being one of the ways in which the element carbon is found in the Globe Terrestrial,

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in the formation of coal there is a process in which there is transformation of cellulose, with the
output of hydrogen and oxygen ions and an increase in carbon enrichment.

This process can be caused by the decomposition of forests on the spot, or even by the
sedimentation of plant debris brought by the water. Thus, it can be said that the coal deposits
represent plant remains that were transformed on site, or transported over long distances, where
the decomposition of cellulose occurred by the action of bacteria, such as Micrococus carbo, an
anaerobic bacterium, for example.

2.2.3.2. Types of coal

There are different types of coal, each formed in a different geological period. They can be
classified according to the percentage of carbon they have, which increases over time, so that the
richest carbons are also the oldest.

• Anthracite is the coal with the highest carbon content, around 90%. It is the oldest and the
most energetic.
• Hard coal has a carbon content that varies between 75% and 90% and has a high calorific
value. It is the most used coal in thermal power stations.
• Lignite is approximately 70% carbon, and its calorific value is not very high. It is the
youngest of the coals and is dark brown in color.
• Peat is the class of coal that has the lowest carbon content, around 50%. It is therefore the
least profitable, In addition to fuel, peat is considered one of the best natural fertilizers.

The good quality of coal depends on the small amount of minerals in its composition, as these
minerals do not burn and still steal heat.

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3. Conclusion
Six types of renewable energy were identified, Biomass, Wind, Geothermal, Hydraulic,
Geothermal energy, Biofuels and Solar, and non-renewable Coal, Natural gas and Petroleum.
Hydraulic energy is the most viable for existing mechanisms in Mozambique due to its
applicability even in several places, due to the immense energy potential of this source, compared
to other energy sources. As for the environmental impacts identified in the different renewable
energy sources, it was concluded that these are considered of low scale and with an expressive
minimization of these impacts when compared to non-renewable energy sources. Thus, this study
showed that even with different energy alternatives and an immense potential for renewable natural
resources.

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4. Bibliography

I. BJORK et al. (2011) Encouraging Renewable Energy Development: a handbook for

international energy regulators. January, 2011.USAID-NARUC.
II. GREENPEACE. (2013), [R]evolução energética: a caminho do desenvolvimento limpo.
Cenário Brasileiro.
III. PENA, Rodolfo F. Alves. "Fontes não renováveis de energia"; Brasil Escola. Disponível
em: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/fontes-nao-renovaveis-energia.htm. Acesso
em 02 de setembro de 2021.
IV. SCHOLTEN, D; BOSAMAN, R. (2013), The Geopolitics of Renewable Energy: a
mereshift of lanslide in energy dependencies? Disponível em: http://www.drift.eur.nl/wp-
content/uploads/2013/11/Scholten-and-Bosman-2013-Geopolitics-of-Renewables.pdf
V. VICHI, Flavio; MANSOR, Maria Teresa Castilho.(2009), Energia, Meio Ambiente e
Economia: o Brasil no Contexto Mundial. Quim. Nova,Vol. 32, No. 3, 757-767, 2009.

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