The Thin Line of Difference between Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Many  have the notion that renewable energy and sustainable energy are the same thing and often misunderstand each of the other source of energy.

So, are they both the same?

Well the answer is simple. They both have a very different meaning altogether!

A sustainable form of energy is a type of energy which must be maintained for the future generations to come.

It must be capable of providing enough energy for an activity and at the same time be able to sustain itself thereby not running out in the process. This source of energy doesn’t have to be renewable as long as its purpose is fulfilled.

A renewable form of energy is an energy source that can be constantly replenished and reused over any given period of time.

The energy doesn’t run out and it can be recycled easily and used again. All renewable energy sources can be considered to be sustainable energy for the same reason that this form of energy does not run out.

The above mentioned is the main difference between renewable and sustainable energy source. So now the question arises as to what else does a sustainable energy constitute to be different from renewable energy?

If it satisfies any one of the below demand an energy source can be classified as sustainable energy:

1. If the energy can be naturally replenished (renewable) it is considered to be sustainable.
2. If any form of technology can be used to improve an energy’s overall efficiency it is sustainable.
3. Or the long-term availability of a particular form of energy is achievable then it is called sustainable.

So renewable energy is just one form of sustainable energy.

Let’s take an example of nuclear energy to make the above points clear. Nuclear energy such as uranium is sustainable as it can last over a very long period of time. This does not mean that it is renewable because once uranium is used it can’t be recycled as of now. So, though it is sustainable it is not renewable.

In short, though one form of energy includes the other there is still a gap between the two as mentioned above which then makes them different form of energy source.

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