RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Natural resources are the components of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and

lithosphere which are useful and necessary for life. These include energy, air,
water, mineral, plants, animals and soil. For human being, resources are
defined as those substances which are required for survival, comfort and
prosperity. They are directly from the environment.

Some resources are likely to get exhausted soon, whereas other would be
lasting for a long period of time.

Thus, depending upon the availability of resources during our

continuous use, resources are divided into two categories:

(a) Renewable Resources (Inexhaustible Resources):

Inexhaustible resources have the inherent ability to reappear or replenish
themselves by recycling, reproduction or replacement. These renewable
sources include sunlight, plants, animals, soil, water and living organisms.
Biological organisms are self-renewing. The rate at which their renewal occurs
varies.

(b) Non-renewable Resources (Exhaustible Resources):

The non-renewable resources are the earth’s geologic endowments i.e.,
minerals, fossil fuels, non-mineral resources and other materials which are
present in fixed amounts in the environment. Unlike renewable resources,
non-renewable resources are finite in quantity and quality.

On the basis of origin, they are classified into two categories:

(1) Biotic or Organic Resources:
They are obtained from biosphere for example forest and forest products,
crops, birds, animal, fish and other marine forms, coal, minerals, oils etc.

(2) Abiotic or Inorganic Resources:

Resources which are composed of nonliving inorganic matter are called
abiotic resources. For example land, water etc.