MODULE 1

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION
Introduction:
• Energy is the physical ability to do work.
• Energy is one of the major inputs for the economic development of any country.
• In the case of the developing countries, the energy sector assumes a critical importance in view of the
ever increasing energy needs requiring huge investments to meet them.

Non-conventional Energy Sources:

• Energy extracted or obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible is called non-conventional
energy source or renewable energy sources.
• The most important feature of renewable energy is that it can be harnessed without the release of
harmful pollutants.
Example: Wind power, Solar Power, geothermal energy, tidal power, hydroelectric power

Advantages of Non-Conventional Energy Source:

 Non-Conventional energy source or Renewable energy sources can never run out because these
sources are continuously filled by nature. For Example: solar energy can never run out until the Sun
exists in the solar system.
 As compared to non-renewable sources like fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are easily available
to humans and are reliable because these energy sources are distributed equally on the planet.
 Renewable energy sources are environment friendly because they are produced naturally, and they do
not emit any harmful gases or pollutants that can cause damage to the ozone layer or to the
environment.
 Renewable sources require less maintenance as compared to non-renewable energy sources. For
instance, if you can see turbines in hydropower stations or in wind farms, you will observe that these
power generating systems do not require any external system for rotating parts. Although their initial
cost is high, once they are installed, you can benefit from them for a lifetime.

Disadvantages of Non-Conventional Energy Source:

 Renewable energy sources are not available round the clock because these sources are natural forces
that depend strongly on the weather condition.
 The efficiency of renewable energy is low because every type of energy requires a particular kind of
technology to convert it into electricity.
 The storage cost of renewable energy is very high, and also it requires a lot of space for its installation.
Conventional Energy Sources:

• Conventional sources of Energy or Non-renewable energy sources are finite resources that will deplete
over time.
• Conventional fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, which are likely to deplete with time is called non-
renewable energy sources.
Example: Coal, Natural gas, Nuclear, oil etc

Advantages of Conventional Energy Sources:

• Conventional energy sources are high in energy. Resources such as coal and oil tend to provide us
more energy in comparison to renewable energy like solar or wind energy.
• Huge profits can be generated in the mining of coal, selling of oil or the construction of natural gas
pipelines.
• These resources are easy to use whether in a home or anywhere else.
• Consumers can find non-renewable resources at a very cost-effective price.
• For some people, new machines and other energy sources cannot replace their traditional minerals like
coal and oil. So, it is also known as traditional energy
• Non-renewable energy is easily found anywhere and everywhere. This implies that they can be
conveniently moved across the world.
• Most importantly, non-renewable recourses are job-creating. Extracting, transporting and refining are
the parts of non-renewable sources that provide employment.
• Most of the non-renewable sources are also quite easy to store.

Disadvantages of Conventional Energy Source:

• One of the major disadvantages of non-renewable energy is that it is time-consuming. Mining of coal,
searching for oil, installing oil drills, building oil rigs, inserting pipes to extract and transporting natural
gases are very time-consuming processes. It also takes a lot of effort.
• Since non-renewable energy takes billions of years to form, they are slowly but gradually vanishing
from the earth. Using non-renewable resources indiscriminately without thinking for our future
generations could be selfish.
• Non-renewable energy can be dangerous and can cause respiratory problems in humans because
sources like fossil fuels emit gases such as carbon monoxide.
• The workers working in coal mines or oil drills are more prone to a number of health risks. As a result,
there are a large number of diseases, injuries and even deaths.
• Sources like coal, oil and natural gas release a large amount of carbon dioxide when burnt. As a result
of these chemicals, they are rapidly destroying the ozone layer.
 • Oxides like sulphur oxide and others released while burning fossil fuels convert the rain into acidic
rain, which is harmful to wildlife as well as human beings.
• Many non-renewable sources release smog which envelopes the buildings. Mostly in modern cities,
people complain about the same. Over time, black smog can make your building and other property
appear dark and dirty.
• Sometimes it may be risky to transport non-renewable sources as huge cargo ships and oil tankers
crash and spill the contents in the sea or elsewhere. It can be deadly for the sea animals and human
beings who may come in contact with it.
• To keep the power station working, every time we need to keep a huge amount of fuel in reserve. This
can be expensive and occupy a lot of space.

Difference between Non-conventional and conventional energy sources

Sl.No. Non-Conventional Energy Source Conventional Energy Source

1 It can be used again and again throughout its life. It cannot be used again and again.

These are the energy sources which is These are the energy sources which is
2
inexhaustible exhaustible.
It has low carbon emission and hence It has high carbon emission and hence it is
3
environment friendly not environment friendly
It is present in limited quantity and vanishes
4 It is present in unlimited quantity
one day.

5 Cost is low Cost is high

Non-renewable energy sources are not

6 Renewable resources are pollution free
pollution free
Life of resources is finite and vanishes one
7 Life of resources is infinite
day

8 It has high maintenance cost It has low maintenance cost

Large land are is required for the installation of its Less land area is required for its plant
9
power plant installation
Example: Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydro
10 Example: Coal, petroleum, Natural gas etc.
energy etc
General Structure of Electrical Power System Using Single line diagram:

Power System:
The flow of electric power from generating station to the consumer is called an Electrical
Power System or Electrical supply system.
It consists of following components

• Generating Station

• Transmission network

• Distribution network

Power Stations: The electric power is generated in bulk at the generating stations which are also called
Power Stations.
An electric power system or electric grid is known as a large network of power generating plants
which connected to the consumer loads. The lines network between Generating Station (Power Station)
and consumer of electric power can be divided into two parts.
1. Transmission System
2. Distribution System

Single line diagram of Electrical Power System:

The single line diagram of typical electrical power system is as shown in figure.

At the generating station, an electrical power is generated with the help of three phase alternators
running in parallel. In the figure, the voltage level is 11KV but the voltage level may be 6.6KV, 22KV or
33KV depending upon the capacity of the generating station.

After the generating station, actual transmission and distribution starts. The overall scheme can be
divided into four sections, they are

1. Primary Transmission: It is basically with the help of overhead transmission lines. For the economic
aspects, the voltage level is increased to 132KV, 220KV or more with the help of step up transformer.
Hence this transmission is also called high voltage transmission.
2. Secondary Transmission: The primary transmission line continues via transmission towers till the
receiving stations. At the receiving stations, the voltage level is reduced to 22KV or 33KV using step
down transformer. There can be more than one receiving stations. Then at reduced voltage level of
22KV or 33KV, the power is then transmitted to various substations. This is called secondary
transmission. The conductors used for secondary transmission is called feeder.
3. Primary Distribution: At the substation the voltage level is reduced to 6.6KV, 3.3KV or 11KV with
the help of step down transformers. Power is further transmitted to local distribution centres. This is
called primary distribution, also called high voltage distribution. For the large consumers like factories
and industries the power is directly transmitted to such loads from a substation. Such big loads have
their own substations.
4. Secondary Distribution: At the local distribution centres, there are step down transformers. The
voltage level of 6.6KV, 11KV is further reduced to 400V using distribution transformers. Sometimes
it may be reduced to 230V. The power is then transmitted using distributors and service mains to the
consumers. This is called secondary distribution also called low voltage distribution. The voltage
between any two lines is 400V while the voltage between any of the three lines and a neutral is 230V.
The single line loads are supplied using a line and neutral while loads like motors are supplied using
three phase lines.