Atria Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

Module-1
Introduction:

Classification of energy resources:

1. Based on usability of energy:
a) Primary resources: Resources available in nature in raw form is called primary energy
resources. Ex:Fossil fuels(coal,oil &gas),uranium, hydro energy.
These are also known as raw energy resources.
b) Secondary resources: The form of energy, which is finally supplied to consume for utilization.
Ex:electrical energy, thermal energy(in the form of steam or hot water),chemical energy(in the
form of hydrogen or fossil fuels).
2.Based on traditional use:
a) Conventional: energy resources which have been traditionally used for many decades.
Ex:fossil fuels ,nuclear & hydro resources
b) Non-conventional: energy resources which are considered for large scale & renewable .Ex:
solar, wind & bio-mass
3. Based on term availability:
a) Non-renewable resources: resources which are finite & do not get replenished after their
consumption. Ex: fossil fuels, uranium
b) Renewable resources: resources which are renewed by nature again & again & their supply are
not affected by the rate of their consumption .Ex: solar, wind,
bio - mass , ocean (thermal ,tidal & wave), geothermal, hydro
4. Based on commercial application:
a) Commercial energy resources: the secondary use able energy forms such as electricity, petrol
and diesel are essential for commercial activities. The
economy of a country depends on its ability to convert natural raw energy into
commercial energy. Ex: coal, oil, gas, uranium & hydro
b) Non-commercial energy resources: the energy derived from nature & used–directly without
passing through commercial outlet. Ex: wood, animal dung cake, crop residue.
5. Based on origin:
a) Fossil fuels energy f) bio-mass energy
b) Nuclear energy g) geothermal energy

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

c) Hydro energy h) tidal energy

d) Solar energy i) ocean thermal energy
e) Wind energy j) ocean wave energy
World energy use and reserves of energy resources
World energy production and Consumption:
The total available global energy about 80% is contributed by the primary energy sources such as
oil, coal and natural gas. Remaining 20%is contributed by all other sources that include the
nuclear and the renewable energy sectors. The global production of primary energy was
equivalent to about 10 billion tonnes of oil (BTOE). New energy sources and resources are being
explored continuously all over the world. The projected total energy supply for the year 20l0 is
about 11.5 BTOE. It is expected to reach 13.7 BTOE by 2020. The global energy sources
available (in per centage) is listed in Table below. The world energy reserves of primary sources
(as on 2023) are as follows:

Coal: Global coal production stood at 7700MToE as on 2015.Global coal production fell by 4%
when compared to historical data. China accounted for a larger share with about 46%, other Asian
countries about 17%, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
countries about 25%.
Oil: Global oil production stood at 4300 MToE as on 2015. Global oil production increased
rapidly (3.2%). Middle east accountedfor about 32%, Euope and Asia about 16%, America about
9% compared to historical data. The global proven oil reserve was estimated to be 1147 billion
barrels by the end of 2015 (one barrel of oil is approximately 160 litres). Saudi Arabia had the
largest share of the reserve with almost 23%. It is estimated that India has a very small portion of
the world oil resources, at about 760 million tonnes (MT). India is producing about 33 MT oil per
year as again a demand of 110 MT per year (1 tonne is about 6.5 barrels).
Gas: Global natural gas production stood at 4000 billion cubic meter (bcm) as on 2015. The
Russian Federation had the largest share of the reserve with almost 27%. India has estimated gas
reserves of about 920 billion cubic metres, and is producing about 32 billion cubic metres per
year. That means the indian gas reserves may last about 30 years, at the same production levels.
The global primary energy consumption at the end of 2015 was equivalent to 9740 million tonnes
of oil equivalent (MTE).

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

The primary energy consumption for some of the developed and developing countries, and the
total world are shown in Table below.

Consumption: The developed countries attributed to high energy consumption as compared to

developing countries. 80% of the world population lies in developing countries. Their energy
consumption amount is only 40% of the world’s total energy consumption. Industrialized
countries/people use 4-5 times more than world average energy consumption & 9 times more than
the average of the developing countries. Primary energy consumption is projected to grow at an
average annual rate of 2.7% between 2001-2020. Global energy consumption was 9425 MToE as
on 2014. Oil accounted for 40%, Electricity about 18%, natural gas about 15%, Coal about 11%.
Coal: Global coal consumption fell by 1.8% compared historically. This was accounted by US by
a decline of 12.7%.China of 1.5%.India recorded an increase in coal dependence by about 5%.
Oil: Global Oil consumption grewby 1.9 million barrels/day (nearly 1.9%) as compared to
historical data. US accounted for increase in 1.6%,, China about 6.5%. India about 8.1% with an
exception of Japan which recorded a decline of about 4%.
Natural Gas: Global natural gas consumption grew by nearly 1.7%. lran accounted for 6.2%,
China about 4.7%, US about 3%.Meanwhile, few countries recorded largest volumetric decline
including Russia (5%) and Ukraine (21%).
Conclusion: Developed countries are consuming more energy with energy demand continuing to
grow strongly. Renewable sources will gain importance and energy system will become more
complex rapidly. Energy efficiency is crucial in dealing with demand outstripping supply.
Investments should be huge with focus on the requirement of solid ecological arrangements.
Energy production and Reserves in India
India has a good resource of both commercial and non-commercial energy sources. The
commercial sources include fossil fuels, water power and nuclear power. The non-commercial
sources are fire wood and agricultural wastes.

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

Coal: The coal production in india in 1950 was about 35MT per year, which has increased to
about 220 MT/year in 1990, and 414 MT/year in 2006. Thus the production has increased by
about 12 times in a span of 50 years. India has a good reserve of coal. It is estimated that the
coking and non-coking coal reserves together is about 84000 MT.
Oil: the production of crude oil in india in 1950 was about 0.25 MT, which increased to about 33
MT in 2003. The low production in fifties was due to non-discovery of proper crude resources.
However, it increased in late sixties due to crude oil discoveries in Assam and Gujarath. In
seventies it was further increased with better resources in the western coast of india. The present
day reserves of crude oil are estimated around 760 MT. It is believed that, an estimated reserves of
about 1000MT of crude is available both on the eastern and western coasts of India. 3. Natural
Gas: It is estimated that the useful natural gas reserves in india are about 920 billion cubic metres
(2003 estimates), which are derived along with crude oil. India is producing about 32 billion cubic
metres of natural gas per year. At this production rates, the Indian gas reserves may last about 30
years.
Water Power: In India, a major contribution of the power generation comes from water power.
Initially, it was about 40 percent of the total power generation (1980). Now it has steadily
reduced, and is about 2.5% of the total power generated (by 2006). It is estimated that the total
water power reserve in our country are about 150000 Mw (2006), out of which only about 32000
MW water power is being utilised. That means only about one-fifth the potential of hydro power
is utilized, and a large amount of hydro power is yet to be developed. Hence, about 80% of the
water power reserves are still available for use in India.
Nuclear Power: India has established its capability to design, build and operate nuclear power
plants on its own. It has come out its dependence for nuclear technology on the Russian and
Western countries. The present installed capacity of nuclear power plants is about 3300 MW, and
consists of two Boiling Water Reactors and twelve Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors. These
reactors contribute to about 3% of total power generated in the country. Eight more reactors, with
a total capacity of 3420 MW, are under construction at different parts of the country. The main
nuclear fuel is uranium and the estimated reserves of this fuel are about 60000 tonnes in India
Environmental aspects of energy utilization
Pollution:
Air: India is burning more fossil fuels and biomass than it has at any other time in the past.
Releasing more pollutants, including fine particulate matter and sulphur and nitrogen oxides, into
the air. Deteriorating air quality in growing urban centres is becoming an alarming issue for India'
Estimated that life expectancy, as a result, is reduced by 3.2 years for each person living in these
areas.
Land: Welfare of India's rural population is closely linked to the amount of land they have
available for productive use. Land acquisition for public or private enterprises wishing to build
infrastructure, from roads and railways to power plants and steel mills, is therefore an issue.
Legislative changes introduced in 2013 introduced stringent procedural requirements for land
acquisition.

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

Some of the measures include

❖Defining compensation payments and
❖Rehabilitation and resettlement benefits
❖Need to secure the consent of 80% of affected families in the case of land acquisition (70% for
acquisitions by public private Partnerships)
Water: High rates of population and economic growth, along with highly inefficient patterns of
water use in the agricultural sector, are putting severe strain on India’s water resources. With
renewable water resources of some 1,130 cubic metres per capita in 2013, India has now passed
the defined threshold for “water stress” (1700 cubic metres per capita). This has major
implications for the energy sector: more than 70% of India’s power plants, for example, are
located in areas that are water stressed or water scarce (WRI, 2014) and India’s warm
temperatures and the poor quality coal used in the bulk of its power plants add to their cooling
requirements.
Global climate change could exacerbate these stresses. Around 90% of India’s water withdrawal
is for use in agriculture and livestock, often extracted by tube wells powered from the grid and
drawing from groundwater reserves. Subsidized electricity tariffs for agricultural users and a lack
of metering have led to hugely inefficient consumption of both electricity and water. In 2010,
more water was withdrawn in India for agricultural use alone than for all purposes in China. A
number of national and state-level initiatives have sought to encourage more efficient water use,
via metering, tariff reform (linked to more reliable supply) and changes to agricultural practices.
Plans to introduce more efficient equipment, including solar powered groundwater pumps, while
relieving some pressures on the grid, could reduce incentives for water conservation unless they
are accompanied by the introduction of systems that use water more efficiently, such as drip
irrigation networks.
Carbon-dioxide emissions: India’s CO2 emissions can be seen through two lenses. Calculated on
a per-capita basis, emissions are extremely low, standing at just one-quarter of China’s and the
European Union’s and one-tenth the level in the United States (Figure 1.8), while India also
accounts for only a small share of cumulative historical GHG emissions. On the other hand, India
is the third-largest country in volume terms of CO2 emissions in the world, behind only China and
the United States. Heavy dependence on coal for power generation and the use of inefficient
subcritical plants to burn it push up the carbon intensity of India’s power sector to 791
programmers of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour (g CO2/kWh), compared to a world average of
522 g CO2/kWh.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE PRODUCTION & RESERVE
These sources include wind energy, solar energy, biomass and biofuel, small hydro resources,
geothermal energy etc. The mankinds have started the use of these sources recently, hence they
are known as non- conventional energy sources.
The share of these sources in the world's electricity generation is around 3% in2011. The use of
wind power is increasing at an annual rate of 20% with a worldwide installed capacity of 238,000

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

MW at the end of 2011, and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Since 2004,
photovoltaics’ passed. Wind as the fastest growing energy source, and since 2007 has more than
doubled every two years. At the end of 2011 the photovoltaic (PV) capacity worldwide was
67,000 MW, and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Italy. Solar thermal power
stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354MW SEGS power plant
in the Mojave Desert. The world's largest geothermal power installation is the Geysers in
California; with aerated capacity of 750 MW Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy
programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, and ethanol now
provide 18% of the country’s automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.
India’s non-conventional sources
Grid based: As of June 2011, the Government of India was successful in deploying a total of
2051.05 MW capacity of grid based renewable energy 14550.68 MW of which was from wind
power, 3105.63 MW from small hydro power, 1742.53 MW from bagasse cogeneration, 1045.10
MW from biomass power, 39.66 MW from solar power (SPV), and the rest from waste to power.
Off-grid: As of June 2011, the total deployment total deployment of off-grid based renewable
energy capacity was 601.23 MW of these; biomass (non-bagasse) cogeneration consisted of
316.76 MW, biomass gasifier was 133.63 MW; waste to energy was 73.72 MW. SPV
systems(less than 1 kW) capacity was 69 MW, and the rest from micro-hydro and wind power. As
was the case for the world, in India also, wind energy is the main contributor. India has the fifth
largest installed wind power capacity in the world. In 2011, wind power accounted for 6% of
India's total installed power capacity, and 1.6% of the country's power output. Suzlon is the
leading Indian company, in wind power, with an installed generation capacity of 6.2 GW in India.

 Comparison of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

Environmental Benefits
 Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
 Renewables like wind and solar emit little to no greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels.
 Mitigation of Climate Change
• Decreasing carbon footprint and slowing global warming.
 Air Quality Improvement
• Reduced air pollution by cutting down on the burning of fossil fuels.
 Conservation of Natural Resources
• Unlike fossil fuels, renewables are replenished naturally and do not deplete Earth’s
resources.
 Biodiversity Preservation
• Solar and wind energy have minimal impact on land and wildlife compared to traditional
energy extraction.
 Sustainable Land Use
• Geothermal and solar power plants can coexist with agricultural land use, benefiting
ecosystems.
 Cleaner Water
• Hydropower and wind farms use significantly less water compared to coal and nuclear
energy production.

Challenges of Renewable Energy

 Intermittency & Reliability
• Wind and solar power generation depend on weather conditions, making energy supply
less predictable.
 Storage and Grid Integration
• Difficulty in storing energy for periods of low generation (e.g., at night or on calm days).
 Land Use & Space Requirements
• Large areas required for solar farms and wind turbines, potentially impacting ecosystems
or agricultural land.
 Wildlife Impact

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

• Wind turbines can pose a threat to birds and bats; hydropower can affect fish migration
patterns.
 Production of Renewable Energy Equipment
• Manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries requires raw materials like rare
earth metals, which have environmental costs.
 E-waste
• Recycling and disposing of renewable energy equipment can create environmental
challenges (e.g., solar panel waste).
 Mining for Raw Materials
• Mining activities for materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals can cause land
degradation and pollution.

SOLAR RADIATION

Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun, particularly electromagnetic energy. Solar
radiation helps sustain life and affects climate changes. Solar radiation comes in many forms,
such as visible light, radio waves, heat (infrared), x-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet rays.
Only the portion of the spectrum that includes Ultraviolet rays, Visible light, infrared rays
reaches the earth's surface as shown in the Fig

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 Atria Institute of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

Measurements for solar radiation are higher on clear, sunny days and usually low on cloudy
days.In case of Sun being down, or when there are heavy clouds blocking the sun, solar
radiation is measured at zero. Energy from the Sun can be tapped and used for various
applications like cooking, water heating, lighting, in power plants, and much more.
SOLAR RADIATION AT THE EARTH'S SURFACE
From the point of view of utilization of solar energy we are more interested in the energy
received at the earth's surface than in the energy. Solar radiation received at the surface of the
earth is entirely different due to various reasons. Before studying this it is important to know
the following terms:

The solar radiation that penetrates the earth's atmosphere and reaches the surface differs in
both amount and character from the radiation at the top of the atmosphere. In the first place,
part of the radiation is reflected back into space, especially by clouds. Furthermore, the
radiation entering the atmosphere is partly absorbed by molecules in the air. Oxygen and
ozone (Og), formed from oxygen, absorb nearly all the ultraviolet radiation. Water vapour and
carbon dioxide absorb some of the energy in the infrared range. In addition, part of the solar
radiation is scattered (i.e., its direction has been changed) by droplets in clouds, by
atmospheric molecules, and by dust particles.

Beam radiation: Solar radiation that has not been absorbed or scattered and reaches the
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Department of Mechanical Engineering
RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANT BME654B

ground directly from the sun is called "direct radiation" or Beam radiation. It is the radiation
which produces a shadow when interrupted by an opaque object.
Diffuse radiation: It is solar radiation received from the sun after its direction has been
changed by reflection and scattering by the atmosphere. Because the solar radiation is
scattered in all directions in the atmosphere, diffuse radiation comes to the earth from all parts
of the sky.
The total solar radiation received at any point on the earth's surface is the sum of the direct
and diffuse radiation.

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