No, coal is not renewable.
Coal is categorized as a nonrenewable energy source because of the extremely long timescales required for its formation. Here's a breakdown:
- Formation Time: It takes millions of years for coal to form.
- Source Material: Coal is formed from the remains of plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago in swampy forests.
- Depletion: Because its formation is so slow, coal is considered finite and can be depleted faster than it can be replenished.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Renewability | Nonrenewable |
| Formation | Formed from ancient plant matter over millions of years. |
| Replenishment | Cannot be replenished at a rate comparable to its consumption. |
