Energy resources
Introduction:-
• Energy is defined as "any property which can be converted into work“ or "the capacity to do work“.
• Energy is available on earth in a number of forms and some forms may be used immediately while others might require some
transformation. It is difficult to imagine Life without energy.
• All the developmental activities in the world are directly or indirectly dependent on energy.
Growing Energy Needs:-
• Energy consumption of a nation is usually considered as an index of its development, because almost all the development activities are
directly or indirectly dependent upon energy. Power generation and energy consumption are crucial to economic development as
economy of any nation depends upon availability of energy resources. With increased speed of development in the developing nations
energy needs are also increasing.
• Energy resources are primarily divided into two categories i.e., renewable and non-renewable sources.It is inevitable truth that now
there is an urgent need of thinking in terms of alternative sources of energy, which are also termed as nonconventional energy sources
which include:
• Solar energy needs equipments such as solar heat collectors, solar cells, solar cooker, solar water heater, solar furnace and solar power
plants .
• Wind energy
• Hydropower, Tidal energy, ocean thermal energy, geothermal energy, biomass, biogas, biofuels etc.
• The non renewable energy sources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear energy.
Energy Scenario
Out of total energy, commercial fuels account for 60% where as the balance 40% is coming from non-commercial fuels. Of the total commercial
energy produced in the form of power or electricity,
69% is from coal (thermal power),
25% is from hydel power,
4% is from diesel and gas,
2% is from nuclear power, and
Less than 1% from non- conventional sources like solar, wind, ocean, biomass, etc.
Renewable Resources:-
• The resources that can be replenished through rapid natural cycles are known as renewable resource.
• These resources are able to increase their abundance through reproduction and utilization of simple substances.
• Examples of renewable resources are plants (crops and forests),and animals who are being replaced from time to time because they have the
power of reproducing and maintain life cycles.
• Some examples of renewable resources though they do not have life cycle but can be recycled are wood and wood-products, pulp products,
natural rubber, fibres (e.g. cotton, jute, animal wool, silk and synthetic fibres) and leather.
• Water and soil are also classified as renewable resources. Solar energy although having a finite life, is considered as a renewable resource.
Non-Renewable Resources:-
• The resources that cannot be replenished through natural processes are known as non-renewable resources. Ex- fossil fuels (petrol, coal etc.),
nuclear energy sources (e.g. uranium, thorium, etc). metals (iron, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc etc.), minerals and salts (carbonates,
phosphates, nitrates etc.).
• Once a non-renewable resource is consumed, it is gone forever. Then we have to find a substitute for it or do without it.
Use of Alternate Energy Sources:-
1. Hydel energy -
India has a total hydro energy potential of about 1.5 lakh MW, of which only about 20 % is installed. Small hydro plant potential is about 15000
MW and most of it is in the northern and eastern hilly regions.
2. Wind energy -
The wind power potential of India is about 45,000 MW out of which capacity of 8748 MW has been installed in India till 2008. India is one of
the leading countries in generating the power through wind energy.
3. Geothermal energy-
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter.
Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet (20%) and from radioactive decay of minerals (80%). Geothermal
power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate
boundaries.
4. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC )-
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) uses the difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat
engine and produce electricity. In the oceans the temperature difference between surface and deep water is greatest in the tropics, although still a
modest 20 to 25 °C. It is therefore in the tropics that OTEC offers the greatest possibilities. OTEC has the potential to offer global amounts of
energy that are 10 to 100 times greater than other ocean energy.
5. Biomass energy
Biomass is the oldest means of energy used by humans along with solar energy. Fire was generated using wood or leaves, which is basically a
biomass. The biomass could be used to generate steam or power or used as a fuel. Power is generated using rice husk in Andhra Pradesh, while
several bagasse based plants are there. India has a potential of 3500 MW from bagasse.
6. Bio-fuels
India has more than 50 million hectare of wasteland, which could be utilized for cultivating fuel plants. Jatropha is one of the options which can
be planted on arid lands and be used for production of bio fuels.
7. Solar energy
India being a tropical country has potential to use solar energy on commercial bases. According to estimates, 35 MW of power could be
generated from one sq km. With such potential, solar energy has bright future as energy source for the development of the country.
