Difference Between Conventional and Non-conventional Sources of Energy

Energy implies the capacity or ability to work vigorously. It has a significant role to play in our day to day life, in fact, it is predominantly required in every field, whether it is a household, industry, communication, transport, defence or agriculture. Energy resources are broadly classified as Conventional and Non-conventional sources of energy. Conventional sources of energy are not present in the environment in abundance, however there uses are unlimited.

On the contrary, non-conventional energy sources are the sources present in the environment in large quantity but are used for limited purposes only. This article sheds light on the differences between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.

Content: Conventional Vs Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Conventional Sources of Energy	Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
Meaning	Conventional sources of energy are the sources that are commonly in use since long time.	Non-conventional sources of energy refers to the sources that are identified few decades ago.
Exhaustible	They can be exhausted due to over consumption.	They cannot be exhausted.
Pollution	They pollute environment, on a large scale and adds to global warming.	They are environment friendly sources, which does not causes pollution.
Use	They are primarily used for industrial and commercial purposes.	They are mainly used for domestic purposes.
Expense	Costly.	Comparatively less expensive.

Definition of Conventional Sources of Energy

Conventional sources of energy are the natural energy resources which are regularly used for many years and are accepted as fuel to produce heat, light, food and electricity.

The energy sources include firewood, fossil fuels, cow dung cake etc. Of these sources, fossil fuel is the greatest conventional source, wherein fossil implies the remains of plants and animals, that got buried under the earth and transformed into rocks over the years. These fossil fuels are coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas.

Conventional sources of energy are generally non-renewable sources of energy as the accumulation or creation of conventional sources of energy takes years, once they are exploited or consumed. As these sources are used on a large scale, the reserves have been depleted, and their alternative is hard to find.

Definition of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

An alternative to conventional sources of energy is the non-conventional sources of energy, that achieved popularity in recent years, after the oil crisis in 1973 and since then they are in use on a large scale. The energy can be obtained from various sources such as the sun, wind, biological wastes, hot springs, tides, etc. to generate heat and power.

These are not only renewable sources of energy but are also pollution free. These sources are present in abundance in nature, and they are constantly generated, so it cannot be exhausted easily, and used again and again.

Conclusion

With the rapid industrialization and growth in population, the demand for energy is increasing continuously. To meet out this demand for energy, the conventional sources are not enough as their quantity is limited and can be expired one day. In this way, non-conventional resources reduce the dependency on conventional resources. So, the two types of energy supplement each other.