Pros & Cons of Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Convenience plays a major role in the popularity of nonrenewable energy sources.fuel station image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com

With the increased concern about the limited supply of nonrenewable energy sources, researchers have begun looking for permanent, realistic solutions to the energy crisis. While they have made some progress with sources such as wind, water and solar energy, nonrenewable sources continue to provide the majority of the world's energy. Nonrenewable energy sources have a number of benefits and drawbacks.

Pro and Con: Availability

Availability is both an advantage and a disadvantag of nonrenewable energy. In one sense, nonrenewable sources are much less available compared to the virtually limitless renewable energy sources. For this reason, nonrenewable energy sources will one day cease to be an option. However, because there are still a number of scientific breakthroughs necessary to make renewable energy sources practical for the population at large, nonrenewable sources are more readily available for general use. Nonrenewable energy sources are also somewhat more reliable. For example, wind turbines fail to work as soon as the wind stops blowing, and solar panels can only provide electricity during the day.

Because of the high start-up costs to facilitate the use of renewable energy, nonrenewable energy sources are generally less expensive to use. However, as nonrenewable energy sources become more and more depleted, prices are expected to increase dramatically. The main financial advantage of nonrenewable energy sources lies in the fact that the initial start-up costs have already been paid.

Since oil and fossil fuels produce a high amount of carbon emissions, they are considered significantly more threatening to the environment than renewable sources. While dams and wind turbines do tend to negatively affect the wildlife surrounding them, these concerns are minimal compared to concerns about global warming and other environmental consequences of nonrenewable energy sources.

Political complications create another drawback to the use of nonrenewable energy sources. Oil that is purchased from foreign countries may be subject to price fluctuations and other limitations depending on the United States' international relations. The U.S. will not be able to achieve full self-sufficiency while it continues to rely primarily on nonrenewable energy sources.

Political and environmental concerns aside, nonrenewable energy sources are simply more convenient than renewable sources. If you rent an apartment, it's more than likely that your electricity is generated from nonrenewable fossil fuels. While it's possible to own a home that is powered by solar energy, the resources are much less readily available. In the same way, gas stations are easier to find than a refueling station for hydrogen-powered cars. For as long as nonrenewable fuels are the most convenient, they are unlikely to decrease in popularity.