Which of the following is not a conventional source of energy?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Conventional sources of energy are those that have been widely used for a long time and are generally exhaustible (non-renewable), commercially available, and utilized globally on a large scale in industries and households. These sources, primarily fossil fuels, form the backbone of current energy infrastructure. Solar Energy, however, is categorized as a non-conventional or renewable source of energy. Non-conventional sources are newer energy technologies, often derived from nature, which are inexhaustible and sustainable, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Therefore, Solar Energy is the correct answer because it does not fit the definition of a conventional energy source.

The incorrect option is 1:
Coal is a fossil fuel that has been the primary energy source since the Industrial Revolution. Since it is widely used, depletable (non-renewable), and has a long history of commercial use, it is definitively a conventional source of energy.

The incorrect option is 3:
Petroleum (crude oil) is a major fossil fuel globally, used extensively for transport fuel and generating electricity. Due to its long-term, large-scale commercial use and its status as an exhaustible resource, Petroleum is classified as a conventional source of energy.

The incorrect option is 4:
Natural Gas is another fossil fuel, often found in association with petroleum deposits. Although cleaner than coal or oil, it is still a depletable fossil fuel that has been a conventional source of energy for decades, used widely for heating, cooking, and power generation.