Energy sources and distribution in India

Based on origin/ traditional use

Conventional Energy:- Energy source which is obtained from fixed reserves in nature like oil, gas
and coal.

Non-Conventional Energy are also known as renewable sources of energy. Like solar energy, bio-
energy, tidal energy and wind energy.

Based on Long Term Availability

Renewable Energy:- Energy obtained from the sources that do not deplete or can be replenished
within a human's life time.

Non-renewable Energy:- Energy Obtained from the conventional fuels which are exhaustible today or
tomorrow with time.

Consumption of non-renewable sources of energy has caused more environmental damage than any
other human activity.

Electricity generated from fossil fuels has led to high concentrations of harmful gases in the
atmosphere. This has in turn led to many environmental and health problems being faced today.
Therefore, alternative sources of energy have become very important and relevant.

Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural resources th are continuously replenished.
This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, and various forms of biomass. This energy
cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed. They are viable source of clean limitless energy
which cause less emission.

The use of renewable energy greatly reduces all sort of pollutions vis-a-vis non-renewable energy.
Most of the renewable sources of energy are fairly non-polluting and considered clean. But biomass
though a renewable source, is a major contributor of indoor pollution.
i. Solar Energy-

The energy from the sun in the form of radiation is called solar energy. The sun is a source enormous
energy. Its probable age is 4.6 x 10" years and it’s expected to radiate energy for another 5 x 10 9
years. India receives solar energy equivalent to over 5000 trillion KWh/year. Collecting solar energy
in the form of heat and using the heat as such is the principle of solar energy devices.

Example: solar cooker, solar water heater or geyser.

Solar energy can be utilized in two ways-

i. Passive Solar Heating- Trapping the sun's energy without using mechanical devices. e.g;
Greenhouse. A greenhouse uses glass or plastic sheeting to allow light rays from the sun to enter the
structure where they are absorbed by the plants and converted to heat. When the plants release the
heat energy, it is trapped by the glass and the greenhouse stays warm.

ii. Active Solar Heating- Uses mechanical and electrical equipment to enhance the conversion of solar
energy to heat and electric power. For active solar system we will need a solar collector or solar panel
which is a device used to absorb solar energy. Solar panels contain Photovoltaic Cells or Solar Cells
which are devices that directly convert light from the sun into electricity.

Difference between Active and Passive Solar Energy

As mentioned above, solar energy is divided into two categories based on how sunlight is being
converted and used. The two types differ in a few ways which we have listed below.

Active solar energy makes use of electrical and mechanical equipment. On the other hand, passive
solar energy is the power from the sun that requires no other energy or mechanical system. We can
call it the direct and live use of sunlight to generate electricity or heat.

Active solar uses special boxes called solar collectors to collect sunlight and convert it into heat while
passive solar uses the design of the home to capture sunlight.

We can also say that passive solar energy is a more natural form of solar energy while active solar
energy is a tweaked form of solar energy.

Active solar energy is more beneficial in the way that it does not require you to change the orientation
of your house while to use passive solar energy, you must have your house in a proper orientation.

Applications of active solar heating include active solar space heating, active space water heating,
active solar pool heating and the applications of passive solar energy are passive heating, passive
cooling, and day lighting.

ii. Wind Energy-

The motion of air along that is parallel to the surface of the earth is called wind. Air moves from the
regions of high pressure to the region lower pressure.
Solar energy is one of the main factors responsible for the air movement in atmosphere. The kinetic
energy possessed by air due to its velocity is called wind energy.

Wind mills capture the wind energy to produce electricity. In India, there are some areas which are
quite windy. An average annual wind density of 3 KW/m 2/day is prevalent in peninsular India and
also along the coastline of Gujarat, Western Ghat and parts of Central India. India’s largest wind
energy farm is in Kanyakumari.

iii. Ocean energy

(a) Tidal Energy-

Everyday movement of water level along the coast is known as a tide. The energy derived from rising
and falling of ocean tides is called tidal energy. The Gulf of Kutch, Cambay and Sunderbans are
prospective sites for tidal energy exploration.

Merits of Tidal Energy-

It is an inexhaustible and renewable source of energy.

It is independent of uncertainty of rainfall. Even if there is a continuous dry spell for many years,
there is no effect on tidal power generations

This is a pollution free source of energy as it neither requires any fuel nor does it produce any
unhealthy waste.

A tidal power plant does not require large area of valuable land as it built on the bay or the estuary.

Limitations of Tidal Energy-

Due to variation in tidal range, the power output is variable.

Power generation is intermittent and is not very large.

There are very few suitable sites available for construction of dams.

The most difficult problems in the use of tidal power are the barrage construction in areas of high tidal
flow; and corrosion of barrage and turbines by salty sea waters.

(b) Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)

The energy available due to the difference in the temperature of water at the upper surface and the
deeper layers of the ocean is known as ocean thermal energy. Ocean thermal energy is used to
generate electricity in an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion power plant (OTEC power plant). The
temp difference existing between the warm surface water (28-30˚C) and the cold deep sea water (5-7
˚C). Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar islands.

OTEC uses the ocean's warm surface water with a temperature of around 25°C to vaporize a working
fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands and spins a turbine coupled
to a generator to produce electricity.

Merits of OTEC

The electric power from OTEC is continuous, renewable and pollution free.
OTEC systems transfer nutrients from the unproductive deep water the warmer surface thereby
enriching the fishing grounds.

Limitations of OTEC

OTEC system requires a lot of capital investment.

Due to small temperature difference between the surface water and the deep water, the conversion
efficiency is low (3% 4%)

Adverse effects on marine ecosystem

Rough weather can also affect the production

(c) Wind wave energy

Wave energy is a form of renewable energy that can be harnessed from the motion of the waves.
Waves are generated by winds blowing across the sea. Such waves have kinetic energy which is used
to rotate turbine to produce electricity. It can only be used when strong winds are blowing. On India’s
west coast, they have identified potential wave power development areas in Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka, and Kerala. Kanyakumari, close to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, has the
maximum power as a result of refraction and strong winds.

One of the bigger roadblocks to wave energy is that most wave energy systems are fairly small, and
aren’t suitable for powering large buildings or structures.

Another problem with wave energy is that, similar to solar or wind power, the amount of energy that
can be harnessed is contingent upon the size of the waves at any given time. Variable factors that go
into wave energy include the wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and wave density – all of which
can be unpredictable.

iv. Geothermal energy

* Geothermal energy is the heat that comes from the core of the earth.

* Geo means earth and thermal means heat = heat energy from earth. |

*It is contained in the rocks and fluids beneath the earth’s crust and can be found as far down to the
earth’s hot molten rock, magma.

Merits of geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is the most versatile and least polluting renewable source of energy.

It can be harnessed for 24 hours throughout the year.

Geothermal energy is relatively inexpensive.

As compared to solar energy and wind energy, the power generation level of geothermal energy is
higher if it is utilized efficiently.

Geothermal energy can be used for power generation as well as direct heating, in USA, water is
pumped from underground hot water deposits and is used to heat houses.
Limitations of geothermal energy

Geothermal hot spots are scattered and usually some distance away from the areas that need energy.

The overall power production has a lower efficiency (about 15%) as compared to that of fossil fuels
(35% to 40%).

Though as a whole, geothermal energy is inexhaustible, a single bore has a limited life span of about
10 years.

Noise pollution is caused by drilling operations at geothermal sites.

v. Biomass energy

Biomass is defined as living matter or its residues and is a renewable source of energy.

© Example: Agricultural and forest residues, Carbonaceous wastes, Biodegradable organic effluents
from industries

Fig: Bio gas plant

Advantages of biogas production

It is a eco-friendly fuel.

The required raw materials for biogas production are available abundantly in villages.

It not only produces biogas, but also gives us nutrient rich slurry that can be used for crop production.

It prevents the health hazards of smoke in poorly ventilated rural households that use dung cake and
fire-wood for cooking.

It helps to keep the environment clean, as there would be no open heap of dung or other waste
materials that attract flies, insects and infections

Availability of biogas would reduce the use of firewood and hence trees could be saved.

vi. Hydro Power Plant

The electricity produced from the kinetic energy of water is called hydroelectricity and a plant which
generates electricity on a large scale from flowing water s called hydroelectric power plant.

Advantages of hydroelectric energy

1. Renewable

Hydroelectric energy is classified as a renewable energy source because it is powered by water, and
water is a naturally replenishing resource.

2. Low emissions

The action of generating electricity with hydropower energy does not emit carbon dioxide, a
greenhouse gas that drives global climate change. After a hydropower plant is built, it does not emit
pollution into the atmosphere like many of its non-renewable energy counterparts, like coal and
natural gas.

3. Reliable

Hydroelectricity is a very reliable renewable energy source. Water flow is usually very predictable
and is taken into consideration when determining where a hydropower plant is built, either on an
actively flowing river or built with a dam to manage water flow. Additionally, the output of electricity
can be adjusted. If energy demand is low, water can be averted from the turbines and less energy will
be produced. The opposite is true if more energy is needed - more water can flow into the plant for
electricity production.

4. Safe

Generally, hydropower is a very safe form of power generation. No sickness-causing pollution is

emitted during energy generation and there is zero chance of oil spills or gas pipes breaking, since the
only fuel used to power a hydropower plant is water.

Disadvantages of hydroelectric energy

1. Environmental consequences

Hydropower facilities can be tricky because when one is built with a dam. A non-natural water flow
leads to issues ranging from less sediment reaching the end of the river, a natural way to build up and
maintain land, to affecting fish migration patterns. Also, many rivers travel through multiple counties
and if they are dammed, upstream countries could take more water than is fair and leave less water for
countries downriver. Before choosing locations for hydropower plants, the potential environmental
effects should be carefully considered to make sure that the plant can be as environmentally-friendly
as possible.

2. Expensive to build

Building any type of power plant is expensive - hydroelectric power plants can cost as much as $580
per kilowatt to be built, and they usually range from 10MW to 30MWs (where one MW is equal to
1,000 kilowatts). This means that the upfront cost of building a hydropower plant can be millions of
dollars. Compared to the falling prices of solar installations, for example, hydropower is a more
challenging renewable project to finance.

3. Drought potential

The ability to create electricity can be severely reduced if there is a drought and not enough water is
flowing into the plant. The good news is, most droughts are a short-lived break from the typical water
cycle and should only create a minor delay in electricity generation.

4. Limited reservoirs

It is challenging to find a suitable spot that has a large year-round water supply, with the right amount
of water and is close enough to existing power lines. It is also a delicate balancing act to keeping
enough river water wild (meaning without dams), versus damming up many rivers for power.