Definition of renewable

The word "renewable" has its roots in the 17th century, when it was first used in English to describe natural resources that could be replenished or replenished over time. The term was often paired with "non-renewable" to distinguish between resources that were finite and those that were bound to be used up. In the context of energy production, the term "renewable" became more widely used in the 1970s and 1980s, following the oil price shocks and the growing recognition of the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency (IEA) was instrumental in popularizing the concept of renewable energy, defining it in 1993 as "energy that comes from natural resources which can be replenished over time and are generally considered to be sustainable." Today, the term "renewable" encompasses a range of energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass, among others.