Which of the following energy resources is considered a non-renewable resource because it forms over millions of years and is depleted as we use it?

Introduction / Context:
Modern energy discussions often divide resources into renewable and non-renewable categories. Renewable resources can be replenished naturally on a human time scale, while non-renewable resources are used up faster than nature can replace them. This question tests whether you can correctly classify natural gas as a non-renewable fossil fuel and distinguish it from truly renewable sources like wind and solar energy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Wind power and solar energy come from ongoing natural processes driven by the Sun.
• Hydrogen fuel can be produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, making it effectively renewable if the production process is sustainable.
• Natural gas is obtained from underground fossil fuel deposits formed over millions of years.
• Non-renewable resources are exhausted when their reserves are used up.

Concept / Approach:
Non-renewable energy resources are those that exist in finite quantities and take geological time scales to form. Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas fit this description because they originate from the decomposition of ancient plants and animals under high pressure and temperature over millions of years. When we burn them, the stored chemical energy is released, and the resource is depleted. In contrast, wind power and solar energy are continuously available as long as the Sun shines and atmospheric processes continue. Hydrogen fuel, when produced from water using renewable electricity, can also be considered renewable because water is abundant and the process can be repeated endlessly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which option is clearly a fossil fuel: natural gas from underground deposits.Step 2: Recall that fossil fuels are formed over millions of years and are finite in quantity in the Earth crust.Step 3: Recognise that once we burn natural gas, the original resource is consumed and cannot be quickly replaced.Step 4: Note that wind power is driven by atmospheric movements caused by solar heating and Earth rotation, so it continually renews.Step 5: Understand that solar energy comes directly from ongoing nuclear reactions in the Sun and is effectively inexhaustible on human time scales.Step 6: Conclude that natural gas is the only clearly non-renewable energy source among the given options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Energy policy documents and school textbooks consistently list coal, petroleum and natural gas as non-renewable fossil fuels. They also list solar, wind, hydroelectric and sometimes geothermal energy as renewable. Hydrogen is usually treated as an energy carrier that can be renewable if produced from renewable sources. This classification supports identifying natural gas as the non-renewable resource here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Wind power relies on air movement, which is continuously regenerated by natural processes; we do not deplete the wind by using it. Solar energy is based on sunlight, which will continue to reach Earth for billions of years. Hydrogen fuel, when produced from water using renewable electricity, does not deplete a finite geological store and can be considered renewable in that context. Therefore, these options do not match the standard definition of a non-renewable resource.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the idea that wind or sun might not be available at a particular moment with the concept of non-renewability. Intermittent availability is different from long term depletion. Others may think hydrogen is non-renewable simply because it is stored in tanks, ignoring how it is produced. To avoid confusion, focus on whether nature can replace the resource on human time scales.

Final Answer:
Natural gas from fossil fuel deposits is a non-renewable energy resource because it forms over millions of years and is depleted when used.