Which among the following is a non-conventional source of energy?

Energy sources are broadly classified into conventional and non-conventional categories. Conventional sources, such as coal and petroleum, are fossil fuels that are exhaustible and have been traditionally used for a long time [4]. Radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium are also classified as conventional sources because they are exhaustible mineral fuels used in nuclear power generation [5]. In contrast, non-conventional sources are those that are renewable, eco-friendly, and relatively newer in terms of large-scale adoption [3]. Solar energy is a primary example of a non-conventional source as it is derived from the sun, is inexhaustible, and provides a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels [5]. Other examples include wind, tidal, and geothermal energy [5]. Therefore, among the given options, solar energy is the only non-conventional source of energy.

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Non-Conventional Energy Sources > p. 61
2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > ENERGY CONSERVATION > p. 31
3. [4] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Energy Resources > p. 57
4. [5] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Energy Resources > p. 113
5. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY > p. 27