renewable

Everyday

1. Renewable describes energy or a resource that is not used up because nature replaces it, like sunlight, wind and moving water. tree →
2. Renewable describes something, like a library card or a contract, that can be made to last longer by renewing it. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography, renewable energy sources are solar (sunlight), wind, hydro (moving water), tidal, wave, geothermal (heat from the Earth) and biomass (wood, plants); non-renewable sources like coal, oil and gas take millions of years to form and will run out, and burning them adds to climate change. Countries like New Zealand get much of their electricity from renewables. Phrases: «renewable energy», «renewable resources», «non-renewable», «renewables».

Examples

• Wind and sunlight are renewable energy sources. tree →
• Coal is not renewable; one day it will run out. tree →
• Solar panels turn renewable energy into electricity. tree →
• Wood can be renewable if new trees are planted. tree →
• New Zealand makes lots of electricity from renewable hydro power. tree →
• Renewable energy causes less pollution. tree →
• My library card is renewable each year. tree →
• Wind farms produce renewable electricity. tree →

Note

Opposite: non-renewable. Verb: renew. Spelling: renew + able, no extra e. «Renewable» does not always mean «harmless»: making solar panels and dams still affects nature, though much less than burning coal.