Examples of inexhaustible natural resources

An inexhaustible natural resource is, as the name implies, a type of resource that is present in nature and that can be used continuously and without limits since its use does not diminish in quantity and either in quality. In fact, these types of resources are called inexhaustible because, at least from a human perspective, their endurability is continuous.

Naturally, when talking about a resource is inexhaustible Reference is being made to the human scale. That is, if we take solar energy as an example (one of the most abundant natural and inexhaustible resources that exist), to say that it is an inexhaustible resource means that the human being can make use of it without having to worry about a possible exhaustion of it. This does not mean that the energy of the sun is infinite. In fact, in millions of years, when our star exhausts its hydrogen fuel (the main chemical element that is in constant combustion in the sun and through which the light and heat that emits) occurs, the sun will explode in the form of Supernova and will end this resource called as inexhaustible. However, when talking about “inexhaustible natural resources” it is done in a virtual way, since it is always referred to a human time scale.

In this way, inexhaustible natural resources are virtually infinitewhich means that they are a source of energy that we can consume unlimitedly since, by their very nature, they are sustainable regardless of the type of use that the hand of man does with them.

Likewise, another of the characteristics that define this type of natural resources is that, in all cases, these are energies that, when used, do not produce No type of physical residue. In other words, which are completely clean energies.

Solar energy

Solar energy, either photovoltaic (the one obtained from sunlight) or thermosolar (which is obtained from the heat of the sun), is the more abundant inexhaustible natural resource of all those who can be found on earth. In fact, the action of the sun is the direct responsible for atmospheric phenomena such as rain and wind, as well as the tides and the presence of liquid water on the surface of the planet. Therefore, in reality, it is the main energy source of any type of energy from inexhaustible natural resources from which we have, with the exception of geothermal energy.

Mareomotor and undymootriz energy

In this case it is the energy that can be produced by using the sea, whether it is treated from the waves of the surface (undymootriz) and the movement of the tides (Mareomotriz). In both cases, the systems used transform the movement of water into electricity that can be used by humans to meet their needs.

Hydraulic energy

In this type of resource we are also talking about water but, in this case, it is the energy that can be obtained through river water and swamps. To take advantage of this natural resource, gravity is used. When river water descends through the natural course of the river or by jumping a waterfall, a turbine that rotates thanks to the passage of water is installed and, thus, generates usable electricity. There are different types, in the following article we explain how hydraulic mini energy works.

Wind energy

On this occasion, the natural and inexhaustible resource used is the wind, which is capable of producing electricity when used to make the airway turbines move.

Geothermal energy

This natural and inexhaustible resource is the only one that is not directly related to solar activity, and that is not due to the incidence of solar energy on the planet’s surface, but from its internal geological activity. Because the interior of the planet is hot, this heat can be used to generate heat or electrical energy when a geothermal device is located that can take advantage of the heat that emanates from inside the planet to the surface. The heart of volcanoes can be an inexhaustible energy source.

Another of the activities that regulates the activity of the sun on the surface of the planet is the photosynthesis of the plants that, in broad strokes, is the biosphere engine because of the trophic chain and the oxygen it produces. In addition, as it is a natural process, it seems that, at least in theory, it is inexhaustible. That is, if biomass is obtained from organic matter, it would be disposed of a resource that, at least apparently, seems to be running as another possible inexhaustible natural resource.

Despite this, the reality is that Biomass is an exhaustible resource. This is because it is an energy that, if it abuses it, in effect it can be exhausted, since for its production it would be necessary to expand the space of plantations aimed at obtaining such fuel, which implies a real and tangible physical limit. In this way, biomass is a good example that there are certain renewable resources that can cease to be if their use rate is so high that its renewal is avoided or if, simply, its production capacity does not give more of itself.

In addition, as previously mentioned, inexhaustible natural resources are completely clean energy sources that do not produce physical waste. This characteristic is not met in the use of biomass, since During their combustion, physical waste is produced such as ash and gases, among which CO2, the main greenhouse gas that exists on our planet. So biomass would definitely be outside any list of inexhaustible natural resources despite constituting renewable energy.

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