Non-renewable energy

A colourful nodding donkey in the United States. It is a pump, usually used to raise petroleum from oil wells. Nodding donkeys are also known as walking beams.
Source: United States Department of Energy

Non-renewable energy sources are those that cannot be replenished (replaced) in a short period of time. There are many types of non-renewable energy that Australia and the rest of the world depend on such as oil, coal, natural gas and uranium.

Most of the world’s electricity is generated using non-renewable energy sources; 95 per cent of Australia’s energy sources are non-renewable (source: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet )

Two main types of non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels and nuclear energy.