Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas are formed from the buried remains of plants and animals over a period of millions of years. Since fossil fuels are obtained from nature, they are referred as natural resources.

Inexhaustible natural resources:

There is limitless supply of these types of natural resources. The inexhaustible resources are not exhausted by the use of man. Sunlight and air are examples of inexhaustible natural resources.

Exhaustible natural resources:

These natural resources are exhausted by the use of man. It includes the renewable and non -renewable resources.
A renewable resource is a natural resource which can replenish with the passage of time, either through biological reproduction or other naturally recurring processes. Renewable resources are a part of Earth’s natural environment and the largest components of its ecosphere. Like soil, water, organisms
Soil nutrients: Crop rotation can improve soil structure and fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants.
Water can be considered a renewable material when carefully controlled usage, treatment, and release are followed. If not, it would become a non-renewable resource at that location.

For example, ground water is usually removed from an aquifer at a rate much greater than its very slow natural recharge, and so groundwater is considered non-renewable. Removal of water from the pore spaces may cause permanent compaction (subsidence) that cannot be renewed.

Renewable energy: Solar energy is the most abundant and easily available renewable resource, Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, Hydropower is energy derived from the movement of water in rivers and oceans, originally used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation.
Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats and is the most common biofuel in Europe.
Biogas is methane produced by the process of anaerobic digestion of organic material by anaerobes is also a renewable source of energy.
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be reproduced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate; once depleted they will be no more available for future use.
It includes Fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas), nuclear power (uranium). Metal ores are prime examples of non-renewable resources.

Energy resources:

There are multiple energy resources. It includes the fossil fuels, solar energy and different types of power like nuclear, wind and hydroelectric.
The energy from garbage and geothermal is also a good source of energy.
Geothermal energy comes from the Earth's crust and originates from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%). The available energy from the Earth's crust and mantle is approximately equal to that of incoming solar energy. Geothermal energy is used for heating applications. Since paleolithic times, naturally occurring Hot springs have been used for bathing
Geothermal electricity is electricity generated from geothermal energy using technologies like super heaters, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants. The first geothermal power station was built at Landrello, Italy