Energy Resources Overview

Definition: Non-renewable energy sources are those that have a limited supply and are being consumed at a rate faster than they can be formed.
- Examples: Coal, oil, natural gas (NG), uranium ore.
Characteristics:
- These resources are not used at sustainable rates; they are extracted and consumed or burned rapidly in relation to their natural formation.

Definition: Renewable energy sources have an unlimited supply and theoretically cannot run out.
- Characteristics:
- Can be utilized sustainably, ensuring that their consumption does not exceed their replenishment rate.
- Example: Hydroelectric power is highlighted as a renewable energy source (details to be noted).

Key Statistic: Developed countries utilize 80% of global energy resources, despite representing only 20% of the world's population.
Implication: This disparity raises issues related to equity in energy consumption and resource distribution.

Availability of Resources:
- Some countries are rich in specific resources (e.g., a country may have abundant coal or oil).
- Residents in rural areas may rely on biomass energy sources such as wood, dung, and charcoal owing to limited access to fossil fuels.
Price Dynamics:
- The price of energy sources affects their usage; for example, coal has become relatively expensive compared to natural gas and renewable energies.
Government Regulation and Incentives:
- Regulations and policies implemented by governments can influence the choice of energy sources.
- Incentives may promote the use of cleaner or renewable energy technologies.

Students will need to understand conversions between different energy units and calculations associated with energy resources.
Attention will be given to the doubling time concept and the Rule of 70, which is a method to estimate the time required for a quantity to double given a constant growth rate.
Rule of 70: 70/r (annual growth rate percent) = time to double population