Is Solar Energy Renewable or Non-Renewable [2024 Guide]

With the sudden rise in electricity bills and harmful gas emissions, most Americans are looking for alternatives to on-grid power supply. The first easy-to-carry electricity alternative that they go ahead with is solar energy. But is solar energy renewable? Well, the answer is yes because, in solar energy, we harness the energy or power from the sun, which is classed as an infinite resource.

Since solar energy is harnessed from the sun's light and does not deplete when used, it is classified as a renewable energy source. The sun continuously produces the light, which is used to generate electricity in the solar panel. For this reason, many people are shifting from non-renewable to renewable energy sources to reduce the effect of air pollution or greenhouse gases on the environment.

What is Renewable Energy

Renewable or clean energy is produced from natural sources that can quickly be replenished as per its availability. Sunlight and wind are considered the top two renewable energy sources because it is possible to produce electrical energy by harnessing the energy of the sun and wind whenever they are available.

Energy obtained from renewable sources is more sustainable than energy obtained from non-renewable sources. Not only do they offer many environmental benefits, but they are also an excellent option for reducing dependency on the utility grid.

Most countries have started to shift to renewable energy sources to lower the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment. According to Energy.gov, 20% of US electricity production in 2022 came from renewable energy sources. Solar energy sources help reduce carbon emissions, conserve land, and reduce high electricity bills.

What is Non-Renewable Energy

Non-renewable energy is produced from fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal. Unlike renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy sources take hundreds of thousands of years to form and are going to run out from the planet as they are finite in nature.

Even though non-renewable sources like coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power are necessary, they have several downsides. These energy sources can negatively impact the environment and take millions of years to replenish once they run out. Another major disadvantage of using energy generated from fossil fuels is that it directly contributes to global warming, which leads to climate change.

Is Solar Energy Renewable or Non-Renewable

While solar energy is renewable, most people get confused because of the manufacturing process. Let's analyze and understand whether solar energy is renewable or non-renewable:

Solar energy is produced from equipment such as solar panels, power stations or batteries, and microinverters. The energy needed to manufacture these devices often comes from non-renewable sources, so the entire process of solar energy production involves some use of non-renewable sources.

For instance, solar panels are made with photovoltaic cells, and solar batteries are made with the safest LiFePO4 or Lithium Phosphate. Hence, one can say that the complete process of solar power production involves the usage of non-renewable energy sources. However, once these solar energy systems are operational, their dependency on non-renewable sources is reduced to zero because they are charged using the sun, which is a limitless and infinite resource.

The sun emits over 173,000 terawatts of energy, which can easily be harnessed with the help of PV panels. They are designed to absorb the sunlight to produce heat or energy, which is then converted into electricity using inverters.

Compared to fossil fuels, solar energy is clean and doesn't produce any greenhouse gases that can negatively impact the environment. As long as the sun shines, the PV panels continue to produce electricity and charge various electrical appliances. Since the energy source renews itself, solar energy is termed a “renewable energy source.”

Why is Solar Energy Renewable

Solar energy is a renewable source because, unlike other energy sources that are derived from fossil fuels, it is harnessed from the sun, which is an infinite and limitless source of energy. One popular example of solar energy is solar panels that convert sunlight into usable electricity to charge household or outdoor appliances of different wattages.

According to the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) report, a solar system generates only 40 grams of carbon dioxide per kWh over its lifetime. On the other hand, a coal power plant generates over 1000 grams of carbon dioxide per kWh, which is much higher than the solar system. Even from this generic comparison, one can analyze the amount of harm a non-renewable source of energy has on the environment.

Given the environment-related benefits and reduction in electricity bills, most homeowners are planning to invest in solar panels or batteries to generate their own electricity.

How Does Solar Help the Environment

There are several ways in which solar energy helps the environment, from reducing the reliance on fossil fuels to emitting close to zero harmful gasses. Some of the most common benefits of choosing this clean energy are:

1. Reduce Carbon Emissions: Renewable energy sources, specifically solar energy, lower dependence on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas. Recent studies have shown that these fossil fuels have become the largest contributors to global climate change. According to a report from the United Nations, these fossil fuels account for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of all CO₂ emissions. So, when one invests in solar energy, they are directly investing in a way that promotes a sustainable lifestyle.
2. Lower Electricity Bills: When residents or business owners opt for solar power systems, they reduce their reliance on the electricity grid, which leads to lower monthly electricity bills.
3. Save Water: In addition to decreasing carbon emissions, solar energy also helps you conserve water. For example, water is constantly used to produce electricity from nuclear or fossil fuels. Some reports even suggest that coal mines and coal-fired power stations annually use approximately 380 billion liters of water. On the other hand, solar panels or related equipment require water only during the manufacturing process, making them more environmentally friendly.
4. Minimal Ongoing Expenses: Solar power systems are low maintenance because they do not have any moving elements. Most solar panels, if appropriately racked, do not require any maintenance. One can even easily wipe off the dirt or debris stuck on them. With minimum effort and regular cleaning, one can use most solar panels for up to 25 years, which ultimately makes them a significant investment.

Solar panel systems can also be recycled, and their components can be repurposed to lower the overall carbon footprint.

Best Solar Panels for Beginners

There are several solar panels on the market, and when one decides to make environmentally friendly life choices, they often get confused about choosing the best solar panel to get clean energy. If this is your first time to invest in clean energy sources, you may consider the Renogy solar panels.

The 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel from Renogy is capable of generating 500Wh of electricity per day and is a great solution for off-grid applications. With these lightweight and portable solar panels, one can generate power in RVs, motorhomes, marine areas, or cabins.

This solar panel can also supply steady electricity during unexpected power outages or blackouts. It uses Grade A+ monocrystalline cells, which produce 22% higher power than average and are much more efficient than polycrystalline solar cells, which are generally used in other solar panels.

In addition, the solar panels from Renogy feature IP67-rated solar connectors and an IP65-rated waterproof junction box. So, you can easily power your low-to-mid-wattage appliances during extreme weather conditions.

FAQs about Renewable Energy

1. What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?

As the name suggests, the primary difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources is that renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, are limitless, while the non-renewable source of energy comes from finite sources, like fossil fuels.

2. What are the types of renewable energy?

There are different types of renewable energy, each derived from infinite natural sources like sunlight, wind, and even hydro. They are constantly replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Some of the most common renewable energy sources are solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, bioenergy, and ocean. Solar energy is one of the most abundant energy sources, and with the right solar panels, it can also be harnessed in cloudy weather. Each of these sources serves a valuable purpose that helps the environment and forthcoming generations.

3. What is the cleanest form of energy?

Solar energy is considered the cleanest form of energy because it doesn’t emit harmful carbon dioxide or produce air pollution or greenhouse gases when operating. The electricity generated using solar energy systems further eliminates the damage associated with coal mining.

4. What is the most polluting type of energy?

Coal-fired power plants generate the most polluting energy. The Sulfur dioxide and heavy metals released from these power plants contribute to acid rain and may lead to respiratory diseases.

Conclusion

Is solar energy renewable or non-renewable? Based on the data presented here, one must have understood the importance and benefits of choosing solar energy. While all renewable energy sources have certain advantages, solar power is considered one of the cleanest and safest sources, as it does not emit harmful carbon dioxide and further helps you reduce your electricity bills.

Solar energy sources are also a great way to reduce the high monthly electricity bills and save money in the long run. Renogy offers a wide range of off-grid energy solutions, like solar panels, solar batteries, etc., that can help you charge appliances, leading you to choose a better alternative to non-renewable sources.