Question

Distinguish between the following.
Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy

How are conventional sources of energy different from non-conventional sources? Explain.

Answer 1

Conventional sources of energy	Non-conventional sources of energy
Have been in common use for a long time	Are not commonly used
Are generally exhaustible	Are generally inexhaustible
Are mostly polluting	Are mostly non-polluting
Example: Firewood, coal	Example: Solar energy, nuclear energy

Answer 2

Conventional Sources of Energy:

1. The energy sources that cannot be renewed are known as conventional energy sources.
2. It includes firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas, and electricity.
3. Conventional sources are categorised into commercial-coal, petroleum, electricity and non-commercial sources- firewood, straw, and dried dung.

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy:

1. The potential of non-conventional sources of energy is large.
2. They use renewable resources for energy generation.
3. Six main non-conventional sources of energy:
   Namely, solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, and hydropower.