RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

Module-1 Introduction: Principles of renewable energy; energy and sustainable development, fundamentals,
and social implications. worldwide renewable energy availability, renewable energy availability in India, brief
descriptions on solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal energy, biomass energy,
geothermal energy, oil shale. Introduction to Internet of energy (IOE).

Introduction:
Q.1 Define Energy and Power? Differentiate same (July2019/6M)
Energy and power are closely related but are not the same physical quantity.
Energy is the ability (capacity) to do work and work is the transfer of energy from one form to another. Energy
is the ability to cause change; power is the rate energy is moved, or used. The base unit of energy is the joule.
Power is how fast energy is used or transmitted - power is the amount of energy divided by the time it took to
use the energy. Its unit is the watt, which is one joule per second of energy used.

Difference between Energy and Power

Sl. No. Energy Power

1 Energy is defined as the capacity to do some Power is defined as the rate at which a specific
work. It is power which is integrated over time. work is done, or which the energy is transmitted.
2 The unit used to measure energy is joules or The unit used to measure this is watt or joules per
watt-seconds second
3 Energy changes from one form to another Power cannot be transformed from one type to
another
4 Energy is a time quantity or component It is an instantaneous quantity
5 Various types of energy are kinetic, thermal, Different kinds of power are electric power, optical
potential, gravitational, sound, electromagnetic, power, human power, etc.
light, elastic, etc
6 Energy is known to be stored which can be used Power quantity is not storable or cannot be stored
in future
7 Energy is used in moving a car, heating home, Power finds its uses in mechanical applications,
lighting night, flying an aeroplane, etc electrical applications, heat applications, etc
8 Capacitors often have a little bit of energy that Batteries, on the other hand, contain much more
can be discharged quite quickly. This short energy than a capacitor but discharge that energy
time means that they can have a fairly high far more slowly, meaning that they have a lower
power; even with a low amount of stored energy power output.
(this is useful with camera flashes,).
Q.2 List and explain various forms of energy in a brief manner (Jan2018/4M)
Energy can be classified into several types based on the following forms:
1. Primary and Secondary energy
2. Renewable and Non-Renewable energy
3. Potential Energy (Stored Energy) and Kinetic Energy (Working Energy )
1. Primary and Secondary energy
Primary energy sources are those that are either found or stored in nature that can be used directly. Examples:
coal, oil, natural gas and biomass, Nuclear energy from radioactive substances, thermal energy stored in earth’s
interior and potential energy due to earth’s gravity.
Secondary energy sources are derived from the transformation of primary energy resources. Examples: Petrol
from crude oil, Electric energy from various power plant (Hydel, Thermal, Nuclear, wind mill & Solar cell)

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 1
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Fig1.1 Major Primary & Secondary Energy Resources

2. Renewable and Non-Renewable energy
Renewable energy sources are inexhaustible and are renewed by nature itself. Examples: Solar, wind, tidal,
geothermal energy, hydro and biomass
Non-renewable energy sources are exhaustible within a definite period of time depending upon its usage.
Examples: Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and nuclear fuels

Fig1.2 Major Renewable and Non-Renewable energy Energy Resources

3. Potential Energy (Stored Energy) and Kinetic Energy (Working Energy )
Potential Energy (Stored Energy)
Potential energy is stored energy and the energy of position (gravitational). It exists in various forms.
i. Chemical Energy: Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. Biomass,
petroleum, natural gas, propane and coal are examples of stored chemical energy.
ii. Nuclear Energy: Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom - the energy that holds the
nucleus together. The nucleus of a uranium atom is an example of nuclear energy.
iii. Stored Mechanical Energy: Stored mechanical energy is energy stored in objects by the application of a
force. Compressed springs, stretched rubber bands and Rotating Flywheel are examples of stored mechanical
energy.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 2
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iv. Gravitational Energy: Gravitational energy is the energy of place or position. Water in a reservoir behind
a hydropower dam is an example of gravitational energy. When the water is released to spin the turbines, it
becomes motion energy.

Fig1.3 Major Potential Energy (Stored Energy) and Kinetic Energy (Working Energy)
Kinetic Energy (Working Energy)
Kinetic energy is energy in motion- the motion of waves, electrons, atoms, molecules and substances.
It exists in various forms.
i. Radiant Energy: Radiant energy is electromagnetic energy that travels in transverse waves. Radiant energy
includes visible light, x-rays, gamma rays and radio waves. Solar energy is an example of radiant energy.
ii.Thermal Energy: Thermal energy (or heat) is the internal energy in substances- the vibration and movement
of atoms and molecules within substances. Geothermal energy is an example of thermal energy.
iii.Motion: The movement of objects or substances from one place to another is motion. Wind and hydropower
are examples of motion.
iv.Sound: Sound is the movement of energy through substances in longitudinal (compression/rarefaction) waves.
v. Electrical Energy: Electrical energy is the movement of electrons. Examples: Lightning and electricity

Principles of Renewable energy

To analyze the full range of renewable energy supplies available for modern economies. Such renewables are
recognised as vital inputs for sustainability and so encouraging their growth is significant. Subjects will include
power from wind, water, biomass, sunshine and other such continuing sources, including wastes. Although the
scale of local application ranges from tens to many millions of watts, and the totality is a global resource, four
questions are asked for practical application:
1 How much energy is available in the immediate environment – what is the resource?
2 For what purposes can this energy be used – what is the end-use?
3 What is the environmental impact of the technology – is it sustainable?
4 What is the cost of the energy – is it cost-effective?
However, cost-effectiveness depends significantly on: Appreciating the distinctive scientific principles
of renewable energy
As a consequence the efficient use of renewable energy requires the correct application of certain principles.
➢ Energy currents: It is essential that a sufficient renewable current is already present in the local environment.
Renewable energy was once ridiculed by calculating the number of pigs required to produce dung for
sufficient methane generation to power a whole city. It is obvious, however, that biogas (methane) production
should only be contemplated as a by-product of an animal industry already established, and not vice versa.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 3
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Likewise for a biomass energy station, the biomass resource must exist locally to avoid large inefficiencies
in transportation. The practical implication of this principle is that the local environment has to be monitored
and analyzed over a long period to establish precisely what energy flows are present.

➢ Dynamic characteristics End-use requirements for energy vary with time: For example, electricity
demand on a power network often peaks in the morning and evening, and reaches a minimum through the
night. If power is provided from a finite source, such as oil, the input can be adjusted in response to demand.
Unused energy is not wasted, but remains with the source fuel. However, with renewable energy systems,
not only does end-use vary uncontrollably with time but so too does the natural supply in the environment.
➢ Quality of supply: The quality of an energy supply or store is often discussed, but usually remains undefined.
We define quality as the proportion of an energy source that can be converted to mechanical work. Thus
electricity has high quality because when consumed in an electric motor >95% of the input energy may be
converted to mechanical work, say to lift a weight; the heat losses are correspondingly small, <5%. The
quality of nuclear, fossil or biomass fuel in a single stage thermal power station is moderately low, because
only about 33% of the calorific value of the fuel can be made to appear as mechanical work and about 67%
is lost as heat to the environment.
If the fuel is used in a combined cycle power station (e.g. methane gas turbine stage followed by steam turbine),
then the quality is increased to ∼50%. It is possible to analyse such factors in terms of the thermodynamic
variable energy, defined here as ‘the theoretical maximum amount of work obtainable, at a particular
environmental temperature, from an energy source’.

➢ Renewable energy supply systems divide into three broad divisions:

1 Mechanical supplies, such as hydro, wind, wave and tidal power. The mechanical source of power is usually
transformed into electricity at high efficiency. The proportion of power in the environment extracted by the
devices is determined by the mechanics of the process, linked to the variability of the source, as explained in
later chapters. The proportions are, commonly, wind 35%, hydro 70–90%, wave 50% and tidal 75%.
2 Heat supplies, such as biomass combustion and solar collectors. These sources provide heat at high efficiency.
However, the maximum proportion of heat energy extractable as mechanical work, and hence electricity, is
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 4
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given by the second law of thermodynamics and the Carnot Theorem, which assumes reversible, infinitely long
transformations. In practice, maximum mechanical power produced in a dynamic process is about half that
predicted by the Carnot criteria. For thermal boiler heat engines, maximum realisable quality is about 35%.
3 Photon processes, such as photosynthesis and photochemistry and photovoltaic conversion. For example,
solar photons of a single frequency may be transformed into mechanical work via electricity with high efficiency
using a matched solar cell.In practice, the broad band of frequencies in the solar spectrum makes matching
difficult and photon conversion efficiencies of 20–30% are considered good.

➢ Dispersed versus centralized energy: A pronounced difference between renewable and finite energy supplies
is the energy flux density at the initial transformation. Renewable energy commonly arrives at about 1 kW
m−2
(e.g. solar beam irradiance, energy in the wind at 10 m s−1), whereas finite centralized sources have energy flux
densities that are orders of magnitude greater. For instance, boiler tubes in gas furnaces easily transfer 100 kW
m−2, and in a nuclear reactor the first wall heat exchanger must transmit several MW m−2 . At end-use after
distribution, however, supplies from finite sources must be greatly reduced in flux density. Thus apart from
major exceptions such as metal refining, end-use loads for both renewable and finite supplies are similar. In
summary
finite energy is most easily produced centrally and is expensive to distribute. Renewable energy is most easily
produced in dispersed locations and is expensive to concentrate. With an electrical grid, the renewable generators
are said to be ‘embedded’ within the (dispersed) system.
A practical consequence of renewable energy application is development and increased cash flow in the rural
economy. Thus the use of renewable energy favours rural development and not urbanisation..
➢ Complex systems: Renewable energy supplies are intimately linked to the natural environment, which is not
the preserve of just one academic discipline such as physics or electrical engineering. Frequently it is necessary
to cross disciplinary boundaries from as far apart as, say, plant physiology to electronic control engineering.
An example is the energy planning of integrated farming Animal and plant wastes may be used to generate
methane, liquid and solid fuels, and the whole system integrated with fertilizer production and nutrient cycling
for optimum agricultural yields.
➢ Situation dependence: No single renewable energy system is universally applicable, since the ability
of the local environment to supply the energy and the suitability of society to accept the energy vary greatly. It
is as necessary to ‘prospect’ the environment for renewable energy as it is to prospect geological formations for
oil. It is also necessary to conduct energy surveys of the domestic, agricultural and industrial needs of the local
community. Particular end-use needs and local renewable energy supplies can then be matched, subject to
economic and environmental constraints. In this respect renewable energy is similar to agriculture. Particular
environments and soils are suitable for some crops and not others, and the market pull for selling the produce
will depend on particular needs. The main consequence of this ‘situation dependence’ of renewable energy is
the impossibility of making simplistic international or national energy plans. Solar energy systems in southern
Italy should be quite different from those in Belgium or indeed in northern Italy. Corn alcohol fuels might be
suitable for farmers in Missouri but not in New England. A suitable scale for renewable energy planning might
be 250 km, but certainly not 2500 km. Unfortunately present-day large urban and industrialized societies are not
well suited for such flexibility and variation.

Making each stage of the energy supply process efficient in terms of both minimizing losses and maximizing
economic, social and environmental benefits.
Like-for-like comparisons, including externalities, with fossil fuel and nuclear power.
When these conditions have been met, it is possible to calculate the costs and benefits of a particular scheme
and compare these with alternatives for an economic and environmental assessment.
Failure to understand the distinctive scientific principles for harnessing renewable energy will almost certainly
lead to poor engineering and uneconomic operation. Frequently there will be a marked contrast between the
methods developed for renewable supplies and those used for the nonrenewable fossil fuel and nuclear supplies.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 5
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Energy and sustainable development

➢ Principles and major issues
Sustainable development can be broadly defined as living, producing and consuming in a manner that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It has
become a key guiding principle for policy in the 21st century. Worldwide, politicians, industrialists,
environmentalists, economists and theologians affirm that the principle must be applied at international, national
and local level. Actually applying it in practice and in detail is of course much harder!
In the international context, the word ‘development’ refers to improvement in quality of life, and, especially,
standard of living in the less developed countries of the world. The aim of sustainable development is for the
improvement to be achieved whilst maintaining the ecological processes on which life depends. At a local level,
progressive businesses aim to report a positive triple bottom line, i.e. a positive contribution to the economic,
social and environmental well-being of the community in which they operate.
The concept of sustainable development became widely accepted following the seminal report of the World
Commission on Environment and Development (1987). The commission was set up by the United Nations
because the scale and unevenness of economic development and population growth were, and still are, placing
unprecedented pressures on our planet’s lands, waters and other natural resources. Some of these pressures are
severe enough to threaten the very survival of some regional populations and, in the longer term, to lead to
global catastrophes. Changes in lifestyle, especially regarding production and consumption, will eventually be
forced on
populations by ecological and economic pressures. Nevertheless, the economic and social pain of such changes
can be eased by foresight, planning and political (i.e. community) will.
Energy resources exemplify these issues. Reliable energy supply is essential in all economies for lighting,
heating, communications, computers, industrial equipment, transport, etc. Purchases of energy account for 5–
10% of gross national product in developed economies. However, in some developing countries, energy imports
may have cost over half the value of total

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 6
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Social implications
The Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America and industrial development in all countries have
profoundly affected social structures and patterns of living. The influence of changing and new energy sources
has been the driving function for much of this change. Thus there is a historic relationship between coal mining
and the development of industrialised countries, which will continue for several hundred years. In the non-
industrialised countries, relatively cheap oil supplies became available in the 1950s at the same time as many
countries obtained independence from colonialism. Thus in all countries the use of fossil fuels has led to
profound changes in lifestyle.
➢ Dispersed living
The dispersed and small energy flux density of renewable sources was discussed. Renewable energy arrives
dispersed in the environment and is difficult and expensive to concentrate. By contrast finite energy sources are
energy stores that are easily concentrated at source and expensive to disperse. Thus electrical distribution grids
from fossil fuel and nuclear sources tended to radiate from central, intensive distribution points, typically with
∼1000MWe capacity. Industry has developed on these grids,with heavy industry closest to the points of
intensive supply. Domestic populations have grown in response to the employment opportunities of industry
and commerce. Similar effects have occurred with the relationships between coal mining and steel production,
oil refining and chemical engineering and the availability of gas supplies and urban complexes.
This physical review of the effect of the primary flux density of energy sources suggests that widespread
application of renewable energy will favour dispersed, rather than concentrated, communities. Electricity grids
in such situations are powered by smaller-scale, embedded, generation, with power flows moving intermittently
in both directions according to local generation and local demand. In Section 1.2.2 an approximate estimate
of 500 people per square kilometre was made of maximum population density for communities relying on
renewable sources. This is considerably greater than for rural communities (∼100 people per square kilometre)
and
corresponds with the population densities of the main administration and commercial towns of rural regions.
Thus the gradual acceptance of significant supplies of renewable energy could allow relief from the concentrated
metropolises of excessive urbanisation, yet would not require unacceptably low population densities. A further
advantage is the increased security for a nation having its energy supplies from such indigenous and dispersed
sources.
➢ Pollution and environmental impact Harmful emissions can be classified as chemical (as from fossil fuel
anduclear power plant), physical (including acoustic noise and radioactivity) and biological (including
pathogens); such pollution from energy generation is overwhelmingly a result of using ‘brown’ fuels, fossil
and nuclear. In
contrast, renewable energy is always extracted from flows of energy already compatible with the environment.
The energy is then returned to the environment, so no thermal pollution can occur on anything but a small scale.
Likewise material and chemical pollution in air, water and refuse tend to be minimal. An exception is air
pollution from incomplete combustion of biomass or refuses Environmental pollution does occur if brown
energy is used for the materials and manufacture of renewable energy devices, but this is small over the lifetime
of the equipment. The environmental impact of renewables depends on the particular technology and
circumstances. We consider these in the last section of each technology chapter that follows. General
institutional factors, often related to the abatement of pollution, are considered in the last chapter.
The future In short, we see that many changes in social patterns are related to energy supplies. We can expect
further changes to occur as renewable energy systems become widespread. The influence of modern science and
technology ensures that there are considerable improvements to older technologies, and subsequently standards
of living can be expected to rise, especially in rural and previously less developed sectors. It is impossible to
predict exactly the long-term effect of such changes in energy supply, but the sustainable nature of renewable
energy should produce greater socio-economic stability than has been the case with fossil fuels and nuclear
power. In particular we expect the great diversity of renewable energy supplies to be associated with a similar
diversity in local economic and social characteristics.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 7
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Worldwide renewable energy availability, renewable energy availability in

India/World
Q.3.With relevant statistics, enumerate the primary energy production trend for India (MP-2/9M)
Production
India produced about 1,487 terawatt hours (TWh) of net electricity in 2018, up more than 3% from 2017
(Figure 8). The economic and industrial slowdown over the past few years caused a deceleration in India’s
power generation since 2018. In 2019, EIA(Energy Information Administration) U.S. estimates that power
generation growth has slowed considerably as a result of economic slowdown. Further erosion of electricity
demand growth is set to occur in 2020 as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated
national lockdown on India’s economy and industrial output.
Coal, which accounted for 74% of India’s electric generation in 2018, is the cheapest and most abundant power
source for the country. Renewable energy made up the second-largest portion (18%) of power generation and is
the fastest-growing power source. Solar energy has increased by an average of 50% each year since 2013.
Natural gas, oil, and nuclear power together make up less than 10% of India’s power supply.
Although coal accounts for the majority of India’s electricity fuel supply, India experiences fuel shortages with
coal and natural gas. Utilization rates in India’s coal-fired power plants have fallen steadily since 2007 (from a
peak of about 79%) to 56% in 2019. Many natural gas-fired power plants remain suspended from operation as
a result of domestic natural gas production that fell sharply after 2010 and insufficient infrastructure. Renewable
energy production has increased significantly and is taking some market share from fossil fuel-fired power.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 8
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Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 9
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Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 10
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Capacity
India had more than 370 gigawatts (GW) of utility-based installed electricity generating capacity connected
to the national network by June 2020, according to India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Coal
contributed to most of the capacity (55%). Renewable energy made up a sizeable share of India’s electricity
capacity (12% for large hydropower projects and almost 24% for other renewables) and grew in share size
over the past several years. Natural gas (7%), diesel fuel (less than 1%), and nuclear power (2%) accounted
for much smaller shares (Figure 9). Generation capacity from smaller captive power plants, or those that
serve specific industries for in-house consumption and are not connected to the grid, was about 55 GW in
2018.
As part of India’s goal to reduce emissions and address acute problems of air pollution, particularly in urban
areas, and mitigate the use of coal-fired power, the government set a target for renewables other than large
hydroelectric plants to increase to 175 GW of capacity by 2022 from about 87 GW in early 2020. Solar and
wind power are intended to meet most of this growth.
India has seven nuclear power plants with a net generation capacity of 6.3 GW, representing about 2% of
total utility-based generation capacity. As of August 2020, seven reactors with a combined net installed
capacity of 4.8 GW are under construction and several others are in the planning stages.

Primary energy consumption in India has nearly tripled between 1990 and 2018, reaching an estimated 916
million tons of oil equivalent. Coal continued to supply most (45%) of India’s total energy consumption in 2018,
followed by petroleum and other liquids (26%), and traditional biomass and waste (20%). Other renewable fuel
sources make up a small portion of primary energy consumption, although the capacity potential is significant
for several of these resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectricity. The country has moved away from
traditional biomass and waste over the past several years as the availability of electricity connections spread for
the residential and commercial sectors. Although natural gas accounts for 6% of the country’s energy
consumption, India plans to boost the natural gas market share to 15% by 2030 as part of the country’s plan to
reduce air pollution and use cleaner-burning fuels as shown in fig.1

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 11
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Consumption
India was the third-largest consumer of crude oil and petroleum products after the United States and China in
2019. The gap between India’s oil demand and supply is widening. Demand for crude oil in 2019 reached 4.9
million b/d, compared to less than 1 million b/d of total domestic liquids production (Figure 2). The economic
slowdown and heavy monsoon season eased the pace of India’s oil demand growth, which grew 2% in 2019
compared to the 2018 level.
As of August 2020, EIA expects the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to drastically lower India’s growth in
petroleum products—primarily jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel—with the most acute demand destruction occurring
during the second quarter of 2020.11 India’s refiners began curtailing oil product output in March 2020. Once the
country’s economy recovers from the pandemic, India’s transportation and industrial sectors are likely to expand
under economic development; a rising population; and government policy initiatives that increase highway and
airport infrastructure, promote Indian manufacturing, and increase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use in the
residential sector.
Diesel remains the most-consumed oil product in India, accounting for 39% of petroleum product consumption
in 2019, and is used primarily for commercial transportation and, to a lesser degree, in the industrial and
agricultural sectors. Gasoline consumption, which accounts for 14% of India’s total oil consumption and has
increased at an accelerated rate over the past few years, has been replacing diesel in the swiftly-growing passenger
vehicle sector since 2014.
India has supported LPG consumption through targeted subsidies for the lowest income population since 2016,
which is likely to sustain LPG growth through 2020. However, LPG consumption growth began slowing through
the first half of 2019, and LPG penetration rate of households reached nearly 97% at the beginning of 2020
compared to 56% in 2016. LPG consumption growth may slow once all households have LPG access.

We need to learn the basic principles of renewable energy. We suggest the following points:
The basic principles of renewable energy
1. Batteries are not included.
A tank of gas works just like a battery. You decide when to use it. Renewable energy from wind and sun has no
such function. We have to make that ourselves.
It may seem self evident, but this simple fact has consequences most people never think about. Fossil fuels work
like batteries. It is stored energy. That battery was charged 300 million years ago when vegetation fell into
swampland covering much of the planet. Compacted over eons of time, it became stored energy in the form of
coal, gas and oil. Shifting to renewable sources means we lose that battery. No tank holds the wind. We do not
control the weather. The wind may spin a wind turbine blade, and the sun may shine on a solar cell. That energy
only exists then and there. We either use it or lose it. This is the most important systemic consequence of shifting
to renewable energy.
If we are to succeed in harnessing the wind and sun, on a large scale, we need to replace the missing battery
function. It’s not just about wind turbines and solar panels. We need to bring our own batteries. Charge them
using the energy we get from wind farms and photovoltaic cells, and disconnect the time energy is made from
when it is used.
2. Stable energy is a value in itself.: Without stabilization, you wouldn’t be able to run a toaster let alone a
factory on renewable energy. We need to stabilize renewable energy.
Not knowing how strong the winds will be, but still having to guarantee a specific level of energy seems like a
dilemma for sailors. It’s not. This is our challenge as people. We’re running an entire civilization on electricity
and need it in stable amounts. However, renewable energy is never stable. There are no constant winds. No
permanent sunshine. The more variable sources we use, the more we will have to rely on a stabilizing force on
top of it to counteract this effect. In fact this instability may increase our reliance on coal and gas if we do not
pay serious attention to the job of storing and stabilizing renewable energy. The alternative is unimaginable and
unrealistic. Imagine timing your arrival at work, based on the prevailing winds. Or worse, timing your
production quota.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 12
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Industry will neither accept, nor be able to, switch to renewable energy sources unless it is stabilized. Again,
this can be done through the use of batteries. This way an unstable input can be converted to a predictable and
stable output. No matter the prevailing winds or sunshine. This function is much the same as the output of a
battery holding not just an amount, put guratenteeing a steady output.

3. There is enough renewable energy for everyone.

We get more energy from the sun and wind than we can use. We’re just not capturing or storing enough.
Every hour we get more energy from the sun than we use in a year. In addition the atmosphere works like a
thermal engine, producing kinetic energy through wind. Again, much more than we can use. There is more than
enough renewable energy for everyone. An estimated 500W passes over every liveable square meter of our
planet. If that is harnessed at 4% efficiency, 2kW of power can be drawn from an area of just 10x10m. Energy
demand for a residential suburban area could therefore be obtained by using just 5% of local land area for energy
production, assuming an energy demand of 1000kW per square km.
Our challenge is not the availability but capture, storage and delivery of it to users in a cost efficient way. In
other words, the problem is infrastructure. Our current system has been optimizing fossil fuel delivery for profit
for eighty years. Reaching the same level of proficiency for renewables will take investment and time.
4. Renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuels, when it’s not actually free.
And not because of subsidies, either.
You might assume the reason we still burn so much fossil fuels is that those fuels are cheaper than renewable
energy. That used to be true. Solar panels used to be extremely expensive. If you owned some, it was because
they were on your satellite being launched into space. One watt of power would cost you a whopping 1800 US$
in 1956. Since then prices have dropped dramatically, and 90% in the last decade alone. A watt of sun now costs
0.2 US$ and is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in tough competition with onshore wind. As the supply
chain, markets and end users are accustomed to buying their megawatts from renewable sources, price goes
down according to Wrights law. It states that the doubling of production volume leads to 20% cut in cost. The
reason we still burn fossil fuels in coal and gas plants is partially because energy from an existing plant is cheaper
than building a new one.
5. All batteries are not equal.
Some are good for sports cars, others good for industry. We need to generate renewable energy specifically for
the intended use.
You wouldn’t put jet fuel in your car, even if it sounds like a cool experiement. Large ships use a gloopy fuel
that needs to be heated, before it can even flow through the engine. Fossil fuels take on different shapes and
sizes to adapt for their intended uses. So do batteries. It is the storage medium that must replace all the engines
and furnaces we currently have. It is important to be able to distinguish between the different technologies for
the public, politicians and companies looking for a solution to the climate change we are facing. These are three
important examples of battery technology and their use.
Lithium ion batteries - A very expensive but highly efficient battery.
This technology is very good for quick charging and discharging. The kind you need for putting the pedal to the
metal on the road, or balancing the entire electricity grid. Your local power company is likely to need one, and
may use it to buy and sell electricity. At the moment, this is too expensive for industrial use.
Hydrogen - Inefficient and not ready to fill the need.
Hydrogen is a popular substance among companies seeking to replace fossil fuels with another tank of
combustible liquid. At the moment efficiency is low. You need five units of energy to produce one unit of
Hydrogen. Sometimes that Hydrogen is made using other fossil fuels, which defeats the purpose. The plan is to
increase efficiency and use electricity from wind to make Blue Hydrogen. The industrial application may still
be more than a decade off. And one might ask if another tank of combustible material is really necessary, as
electricity bypasses the need for combustion in many areas. Hydrogen is most likely used where low weight and
high temperature is involved.
Molten salt - highly efficient, proven technology suitable for industrial applications.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 13
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Humans need energy for heat more than anything else. This is not about keeping warm. Heat is used for
production. Molten salt-batteries are especially suited to fill this need. Wind and solar power can be used to
charge a thermal battery using cheap electricity - when demand is low, releasing heat when needed at 90%
efficiency.
6. We don’t need a portable fire.
Why? Because most of the energy we need doesn’t have to fit in a car. It needs to make heat. Renewable energy
is not about replacing fossil fuels.
Combustion engines have made us want renewable energy to behave like fossil fuels. We want to stick it in a
tank and light it. We discovered fire long ago, now we want it “to go”. Humans have found one million year old
charred remnants of dinner time, in caves where distant ancestors used to live. That actually makes our
relationship with fire older than our species. Now, we can break that bond. We don’t need combustion. We don’t
have to invent an energy source that has to bring itself from a to b at all cost. Why? Most energy demand is
spent on things not actually moving. It’s spent making energy for manufacturing and production. It doesn’t have
to burn anything to be effective, transportable or accessible. It just needs to make heat. Not just for dinner, or to
keep warm, but for industrial production and manufacturing.

Solar Power Plant : Types of Solar Power Plant: There are 2 types of solar power plant
1. Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant & 2. Solar Thermal Power Plant
The photovoltaic technology will directly convert the sunlight into electricity, while the solar thermal technology
will capture the heat of the sun.
Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant

Solar Cell (Photovoltaic Cell) :The solar cell is a device which is made of p-n junction diode which effect photo
voltaic effect to convert light energy into electrical energy. The capacity of solar cells is 0.5 V and 6 Amp
generating 3W power. The number of cells is connected in series or parallel and makes a module. The number
of modules forms a solar panel.
Solar panels are wired in series when you connect the positive terminal of one panel to the negative terminal
of another. When solar panels are wired in series, the voltage of the panels adds together, but the amperage
remains the same. And in parallel connection voltage remains same, the current gets added.
Construction of Solar Cell: The junction diode is made of SI OR GaAs. A thin layer of p-type is grown on the n-
type semiconductor. Top of the p-layer is provided with a few finer electrodes which leaves open space for the
light to reach the thin p-layer and it under lays p-n junction. Bottom of the n-layer is provided with a current
collecting electrode
Inverter; The output of the solar panel is in the form of DC. The most of load connected to the power system
network is in the form of AC. Therefore, we need to convert DC output power into AC power. For that, an
inverter is used in solar power plants.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 14
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Battery storage The storage components are the most important component in a power plant to meet the
demand and variation of the load. This component is used especially when the sunshine is not available for
few days. The capacity of a battery is that how much amount of electrical power it can store. The capacity of
batteries is measured in Ampere-hours (AH) rating. Example: Lead-Acid battery, Nickel-Cadmium battery
Charge Controller; The charge controller is used to avoid the overcharging of the battery. The overcharging of
a battery may lead to corrosion and reduce plate growth. And it may damage the electrolyte of the battery.
Example: MPPT (“Maximum Power Point Tracking”) charge controller.
System balancing component; It is a set of components used to control, protect and distribute power in the
system. These devices ensure that the system working in proper condition and utilize energy in the proper
direction. Blocking diode is a diode that is connected between the battery and panel to avoid reversal current
from battery to panel. Voltage regulator; The output of solar panels depends on sunlight. And the sunlight is
not constantly available. It is continuously varying. Similarly, the output of the solar panel is also varying with
respect to sunlight. This results in fluctuation in load current. The voltage regulators are used to maintain
fluctuation within an acceptable range.
. Solar constant: the total radiation energy received from the Sun per unit of time per unit of area on a
theoretical surface perpendicular to the Sun’s rays and at Earth’s mean distance from the Sun. It is most
accurately measured from satellites where atmospheric effects are absent. Its value for earth is 1366w/m2

Fig. Construction of Solar Cell Fig. Solar Constant

Working Principle of Solar Cell:
When light reaches the p-n junction, electron is excited to the valance band under the condition that light
energy is higher than the band gap energy, it generates the electron and holes which are equal in number in
the valance and conduction band respectively. These electron hole pairs move in opposite directions to the
barrier field. Electrons move towards the n-side and the hole is moved towards the p-side. So a voltage is set
up which is known as photo voltage and when a load is connected, the current flows.
Materials Used in Solar Cell: The materials which are used for this purpose must have band gap close to 1.5ev.
Commonly used materials are- 1.Silicon. 2. GaAs. 3. CdTe. 4.CuInSe2
Criteria for Materials to be Used in Solar Cell
1. Must have band gap from 1ev to 1.8ev.
2. It must have high optical absorption.
3. It must have high electrical conductivity.
4. The raw material must be available in abundance and the cost of the material must be low.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 15
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Advantages of Solar Cell Disadvantages of Solar Cell

1. No pollution associated with it. 1. It has high cost of installation.
2. It must last for a long time. 2. It has low efficiency.
3. No maintenance cost. 3. During cloudy day, the energy cannot be produced and also
at night we will not get solar energy.
Uses of Solar Generation Systems
1. It may be used to charge batteries.
2. Used in light meters.
3. It is used to power calculators and wrist watches.
4. It can be used in spacecraft to provide electrical energy.
Solar thermal power plants: Solar thermal power plants are electricity generation plants that utilize
energy from the Sun to heat a fluid to a high temperature. This fluid then transfers its heat to water, which
then becomes superheated steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines in a power plant, and this
mechanical energy is converted into electricity by a generator.
It's like coal fired thermal power plants work except the steam is produced by the collected heat from sun. The
solar thermal power plants, generally install in desert which use parabolic trough solar collectors covered with
more mirrors that are north-south aligned and able to pivot to follow the sun as it moves east to west during
the day to generate maximum 80MW of electricity The hot fluid with 400C got from parabolic collectors is 30
to 100 times their normal is used to produce steam, and the steam then spins a turbine that powers a generator
to make electricity.

A proven form of storage system operates with two tanks. The storage medium for high-temperature heat
storage is molten salt. The excess heat of the solar collector field heats up the molten salt, which is pumped
from the cold to the hot tank. If the solar collector field cannot produce enough heat to drive the turbine, the
molten salt is pumped back from the hot to the cold tank and heats up the heat transfer fluid. Figure 3 shows
the principle of the parabolic trough power plant with thermal storage.
Advantages of Solar Thermal Power Plants Disadvantages of Solar Thermal Power Plants
Renewable Source of Energy High Initial Investment
Round the Clock Operation Issue of Thermodynamic Fluid (Water)

Space Efficient Technology Ecological Issues

Cost-Efficient Technology Larger Space Requirement

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 16
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

Wind Power Plant (Wind Mill): The major parts are 1.The tower: most often metallic and cone
shaped, it is usually white and meets aeronautical requirements. It is 40 to 110 meters tall, with a base
diameter of 4 to 7 meters. It contains an opening on the ground to allow access to variety of equipment. The
rotor is located upwards where the wind is strongest, and which allows for a lengthy blade.
2. The rotor: It is made up of three blades of composite material from 25 to 60 meters in length, connected by
a hub. The rotor pivots 360° to face the wind and to allow a maximum production of electricity. The height at
the tip of the blade varies between 90 and 150 meters for the largest wind turbines. The blades of a wind
turbine turn at an average speed of 10 to 20 rotations per minute.
3. Gearbox: Inside the nacelle (the main body of the turbine sitting on top of the tower and behind the blades),
the gearbox converts the low-speed rotation of the drive shaft (perhaps, 16 revolutions per minute, rpm) into
high-speed (perhaps, 1600 rpm) rotation fast enough to drive the generator efficiently.
4. The pivoting nacelle: located at the peak of the tower, it houses the generator that transforms the
mechanical wind energy into electric energy. The nacelle pivots automatically depending on the direction of
the wind. Access to the nacelle is made by a ladder and/or a lift located inside the tower. The primary
characteristic of a wind turbine is its power or capacity. It is measured in kilowatts (kW) or in megawatts (MW).
Wind turbines installed today range from 850 kW to 3,000 kW (or 3 MW). The energy produced by a wind
turbine during its operation is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) and mainly depends on the wind speed.
5. Anemometers: is an automatic speed measuring devices and wind vanes on the back of the nacelle provide
measurements of the wind speed and direction. The Brakes are also applied during routine maintenance.

Working Principle: To start, a wind mill needs wind of at least 12 to 15 km/hr. The strength of the wind makes
the blades turn and initiates the rotor that transmits the energy received to a generator that produces electric
energy. The electricity is channeled by an underground electric cable to the public grid. The difference in
pressure between the two sides of the blade creates an aerodynamic force that puts the rotor in motion. This
motion is generally accelerated by a gear-box and the mechanical energy transmitted by the gear-box is
transformed into electrical energy by the generator. The generator’s rotor turns at a high speed and produces
an electric charge of around 690 volts. This electricity cannot be used directly. It is handled thanks to a
converter, and then its charge is increased to 20,000 volts by a Step up transformer. The wind turbines are set
in the ground thanks to reinforced concrete foundations, often circular, covered over with seeded soil. They
are interconnected among themselves by underground electric cables. Each wind turbine is connected to the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 17
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

transformer located at the foot and inside the tower. The electric energy produced is sent towards the public
distribution grid through a delivery station.
Advantages of Wind Power Disadvantages of Wind Power
Very low carbon dioxide emissions (effectively zero once High up-front cost (just as for large nuclear or fossil-fueled
constructed). plants).
No air or water pollution. Economic subsidies needed to make wind energy viable
No environmental impacts from mining or drilling. (though other power forms are subsidised too, either
No fuel to pay forever! economically or because they don't pay the economic and
Completely sustainable—unlike fossil fuels, wind will never social cost of the pollution they make).
run out. Extra cost and complexity of balancing variable wind
Turbines work almost anywhere in the world where it's power with other forms of power.
reliably windy, unlike fossil-fuel deposits that are Extra cost of upgrading the power grid and transmission
concentrated only in certain regions. lines, though the whole system often benefits.
Unlike fossil-fueled power, wind energy operating costs are Variable output—though that problem is reduced by
predictable years in advance. operating wind farms in different areas and using
Freedom from energy prices and political volatility of oil and interconnectors between neighboring countries.
gas supplies from other countries. Large overall land take—though at least 95 percent of
Wind energy prices will become increasingly competitive as wind farm land can still be used for farming, and offshore
fossil fuel prices rise and wind technology matures. turbines can be built at sea.
New jobs in construction, operation, & manufacture of Can't supply 100 percent of a country's power all year
turbines round, the way fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroe, and biomass
power can.Loss of jobs for people working in mining .

Tidal Power Plant:

Tide or wave is periodic rise and fall of water level of the sea. Tides occur due to the attraction of sea water by
the moon. Tides contain large amount of potential energy which is used for power generation. When the water
is above the mean sea level, it is called flood tide. When the water level is below the mean level it is called ebb
tide. Working: The arrangement of this system is shown in figure. The ocean tides rise and fall and water can be
stored during the rise period and it can be discharged during fall. A dam is constructed separating the tidal basin
from the sea and a difference in water level is obtained between the basin and sea.

During high tide period, water flows from the sea into the tidal basin through the water turbine. The height of tide
is above that of tidal basin. Hence the turbine unit operates and generates power, as it is directly coupled to a
generator.
During low tide period, water flows from tidal basin to sea, as the water level in the basin is more than that of the
tide in the sea. During this period also, the flowing water rotates the turbine and generator power.
The generation of power stops only when the sea level and the tidal basin level are equal. For the generation
of power economically using this source of energy requires some minimum tide height and suitable site. Kislaya
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 18
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

power plant of 250 MW capacity in Russia and Rance power plant in France are the only examples of this type
of power plant.
The main components of tidal power plants are:Dam,Sluice ways from basin to sea and vice versa &Power
house
1.Dam:The function of dam is to form a barrier between the sea and the basin or between one basin to the
other basin in case of multiple basins.. Barrages ;have to resist waves whose shock can be serve and were
pressure changes sides continuously.
2. Sluice ways from basin to sea and vice versa: The sluice ways are gate-controlled devices. Sluice gates are
employed to fill the basin during the high tide or empty the basin during low tide. Flap gates are also used for
this purpose. Flap gates allow only in the direction of sea to basin.
3.Power house:
Auxiliary equipment’s ,turbines and generators are the main components of the power house.Large sized
turbines are used because of low head available
Advantages of Tidal Power Limitations of Tidal power
1. Free source of energy 1. It has uneven operation.
2. Everlasting source of energy 2. It has heavy initial capital and long construction period.
3. No extra submerging of land 3. Sea water is corrosive.
4. Pollution free source 4. The plant efficiency is affected because of variable tidal range.
5. It is inexhaustible 5. Sedimentation and siltation of basins are the serious problems

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 19
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

A flat plate collector has area of interception equal to the area of

absorption for solar radiations.

Components:-
1. Absorber
2. Transparent cover
3. Heat Transfer Medium
4. Insulation
5. Housing

Flat plate solar collector

▪ It consists of absorbing surface – surface with high absorptivity (Metal with black point), transparent
cover – one or two sheets of glass or radiation transmitting plastics, fluid flowing tubes or passages – are
integral with the collector absorber plate or connected to it, insulation – provided at the back and sides
to minimize the heat losses (Mineral wood or glass wood), casing or container – encloses other
components and protects them from the weather (wooden of plastic).
▪ Based on the types of heat transfer fluid used flat plate collectors are classified as: Liquid heating
collector and Air heaters. All the components of solar air heater are same as of liquid collector except it
is having air passages or duct in place of fluid tubes and fins are attached at the underside of the absorber
plate to increase the heat transfer coefficient.

Problem: How renewable energy works, is not common knowledge. It’s time we learn the
basic principles of renewable energy.
A mistake was made at the end of the industrial revolution. We chose fire. Not electricity. Humans have an
intimate relationship with heat, and have always used fire to make it. No wonder. The fuel for fire is self
contained and requires no equipment. The problem is chemistry. Fire destroys what it burns and emits carbon.
Elon Musk has called it the dumbest experiment in history. A fire and forget policy. To base our most important
source of energy on a finite supply of coal, oil and gas, while injecting millions of years worth of carbon into
the atmosphere. All within two centuries. Now, we are having to make the choice we should’ve made long ago.
To stop borrowing energy from the past. It took 300 million years to make that petrol in your tank. But the wind
is blowing outside right now. We’re switching from a chemical process to a physical one, but how to do it’s not
common knowledge.
Concentrating Solar Thermal Plant (CSP): It contains; Collector Field, Turbine, Generator, Cooling Tower
Transformer

Wave energy is a form of renewable energy that can be utilized from the motion ... As waves are
formed in the ocean, they create kinetic energy or movement.
Unequal solar heating of the earth generates wind and wind blowing over the surface of water generates waves.

So, the energy possessed by the ocean and sea waves is called the wave energy.
A wave energy converter (WEC), which is essentially a power station, converts wave energy hitting the coast
into electricity.
Ocean Wave Energy: The water of the oceans of the world is almost always in motion. The uninterrupted waves
breaking at the coastlines are sometimes strong and sometimes weaker.

These waves have tremendous potential energy round the clock and are free-of-charge.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 20
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

Advantages of Wave Power Limitations of Wave power

➢ Non-polluting ➢ Variable output
➢ Renewable source of energy ➢ Affects marine life
➢ Exponential Growth of Remote Areas ➢ Expensive High Upfront Capital Costs

➢ Undamaged Land ➢ sound generated by the generators may be too much to bear.

If the potential of these waves is fully utilized. They can satisfy 40% of the worldwide power demand and this
output is equal to 700 to 800 nuclear power stations.
The point hydroelectric chain is developing technologies to transform this inexhaustible into electric power
without the emission of the harmful greenhouse gases.

Wave Energy System

Wave energy stems from wave motion and its power is related to the wave height and period.

Deep-water sea waves generate large energy fluxes under predictable conditions over the periods of days.

The power is given by:

P = (1/64)(ρg2/π)(Hs^2Te^2)

Here, P = Power per unit width of a wavefront measured in W/m

ρ = Density of seawater in Kgm-3,

g = Acceleration due to gravity in ms-2,

Hs =The significant wave height in m, and

Te = The wave period in s-1.

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a process or technology for producing energy by
harnessing the temperature differences (thermal gradients) between ocean surface waters and deep
ocean waters.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 21
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

Energy from the sun heats the surface water of the ocean. In tropical regions, surface water can be
much warmer than deep water. This temperature difference can be used to produce electricity and
to desalinate ocean water. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems use a temperature
difference (of at least 20° Celsius or 36° Fahrenheit) to power a turbine to produce electricity. Warm
surface water is pumped through an evaporator containing a working fluid. The vaporized fluid
drives a turbine/generator. The vaporized fluid is turned back to a liquid in a condenser cooled with
cold ocean water pumped from deeper in the ocean. OTEC systems using seawater as the working
fluid can use the condensed water to produce desalinated water.

Advantages of Ocean Thermal Power Limitations of Ocean Thermal power

➢ Power from OTEC is continuous, renewable, ➢ Capital investment is very high.
➢ and pollution-free. ➢ Conversion efficiency is very low about 3-4% due
➢ Unlike other forms of solar energy, the output to the small temperature difference between the
➢ of OTEC shows very little daily or seasonal variation. surface water and deep water
➢ Drawing of warm and cold seawater and returning ➢ The low efficiency of these plants coupled with hig
➢ the seawater, close to the thermocline, could be cost and maintenance cost makes them uneconomica
➢ accomplished with minimal environmental impact. small plants.

Biomass energy is energy generated or produced by living or once-living organisms. The most common
biomass materials used for energy are plants, such as corn and soy, above. The energy from these organism can
be burned to create heat or converted into electricity.
Advantages of Bio mass Limitations of Bio mass
➢ Biomass is always and widely available as a ➢ Biomass energy is not as efficient as fossil fu
renewable source of energy. ➢ It is not entirely clean
➢ It is carbon neutral. ➢ Can lead to deforestation.
➢ It reduces the overreliance of fossil fuels.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 22
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

➢ Is less expensive than fossil fuels. ➢ Biomass plants require a lot of space.
➢ Biomass production adds a revenue source for
manufacturers.
➢ Less garbage in landfills.

Pyrolysis entails heating organic materials to 800–900oF (400–500 oC) in the near complete absence of free
oxygen. Biomass pyrolysis produces fuels such as charcoal, bio-oil, renewable diesel, methane, and hydrogen.
Hydrotreating is used to process bio-oil (produced by fast pyrolysis) with hydrogen under elevated
temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst to produce renewable diesel, renewable gasoline, and
renewable jet fuel.
Gasification entails heating organic materials to 1,400–1700oF (800–900oC) with injections of controlled
amounts of free oxygen and/or steam into the vessel to produce a carbon monoxide and hydrogen rich gas
called synthesis gas or syngas. Syngas can be used as a fuel for diesel engines, for heating, and for generating
electricity in gas turbines. It can also be treated to separate the hydrogen from the gas, and the hydrogen can be
burned or used in fuel cells. The syngas can be further processed to produce liquid fuels using the Fischer–
Tropsch process.
A chemical conversion process known as transesterification is used for converting vegetable oils, animal fats,
and greases into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which are used to produce biodiesel.
Biological conversion includes fermentation to convert biomass into ethanol and anaerobic digestion to
produce renewable natural gas. Ethanol is used as a vehicle fuel. Renewable natural gas—also called biogas or
biomethane—is produced in anaerobic digesters at sewage treatment plants and at dairy and livestock
operations. It also forms in and may be captured from solid waste landfills. Properly treated renewable natural
gas has the same uses as fossil fuel natural gas.

Oil shale is an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen from which liquid hydrocarbons
can be produced. oil shale is first extracted from the earth by surface or underground mining. The rock is crushed,
and then retorted (heated) to release the shale oil. The shale oil is then refined of impurities, such as sulfur. In
Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 23
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

Situ In situ is a new, experimental method of extracting shale oil.

Advantages of Oil shale Limitations of Oil shale

➢ It reduces the energy dependence ➢ It is a resource which quickens the global
➢ It reduces the energy dependence warming
➢ It balances the oil prices ➢ It may be one of the reasons of earthquake
➢ It breaks the monopoly of oil exporting ➢ Its production is highly costly
countries ➢ It may pollute the water sources
➢ Continuity of the usage of fossil fuel
➢ It has the power of providing employment
➢ It has the power of improve the
economic indicators

Internet of Energy (IoE):

Q. Discuss Emerging Trends and Technologies in Energy sectors and contribute to the GDP:
Gross domestic product (GDP) is National Income i.e., the total market value of all the finished goods and services
produced within a country's borders in a specific time period. GDP = G + C + I + (X - M)

GDP = Government Expenditure +Consumer Spending+ Investment + (Exports - Imports)

Though GDP is typically calculated on an annual basis, it is sometimes calculated on a quarterly basis as well.
It can be calculated into two categories:
Nominal GDP: It refers to the GDP at the current market prices i.e., the GDP is calculated as per the market
prices for the year for which the GDP is calculated.
Real GDP: It refers to the GDP at base year prices i.e., the GDP is calculated as per the market prices in the
base year. Thus, the Real GDP negates the inflation in goods and services.
As economies grow, energy demand increases; if energy is constrained, GDP growth pulls back in turn. Once
the pandemic is under control, demand and emissions may easily return to pre-pandemic levels. Hence, keeping
work efficiency at a high level will be a primary focus. And to accomplish this goal energy sector must shift its
working strategy into a new direction and that is “emerging trends in renewable energy”.
1) Renewable
Renewable is one of the emerging trends in energy sector. This Renewable energy trend helps to safeguard the
environment by emitting little to no harmful pollutants. The fundamental premise of renewable energy is to
obtain it from a consistent source in the environment, such as the sun, wind, or geothermal sources. The source
is then converted into useful power or fuel.
A variety of technologies that address various facets of generating power and heat from renewable sources is
one of the latest technology trends in renewable energy. This involves lowering the cost of building renewable
infrastructure and enhancing the efficiency of power generation.
2) Internet of Energy (IoE)
Internet of Energy (IoE) is a technological term that refers to the upgrading and automating of electricity
infrastructures for energy producers and manufacturers.
In the traditional method, during the time of construction, the electric power system uses the central architecture,
and this poses a number of obstacles to the industry. And here IoE comes into the frame. It helps to recognize
some of the challenges and accordingly propose the best efficiency and optimal design to build an energy system.
Technology trends in the energy industry refer to automate the power infrastructure in order to manufacture and
produce energy.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 24
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (22ETS15E/25E)

The Internet of Energy builds on the principles of the Internet of Things to provide people with the data
necessary to optimize and manage the power grid. The goal is to increase the autonomous operation
of the power grid. Using IoT devices, such as smart sensors and communication technologies,
the energy industry is creating the Internet of Energy to manage energy generation and energy
resources.
The IoE is a smart energy infrastructure system that incorporates the IoT to connect every point within
the power grid: generation, load, distribution, storage, smart meters. As a result, the IoE supports
the power grid’s ability to operate with more efficiency, resiliency, and reliability. Not limited to a two-
way flow of information, the IoE allows for a multi-directional flow of information.
The Internet of Energy uses IoT technology to collect data and manage operations at many points in
the power grid’s infrastructure. Sensors within the energy industry’s IoT support the diagnostic,
analytic, optimization, and integration processes. The result is increased energy efficiency for
the energy sector players and residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and plants.
Smart meters, such as those used in your home or business, are an example of how
the IoE works. Smart meters use two wireless networks to communicate with your utility company.
The Home Area Network (HAN) connects your appliances and lights to the meter itself, while
the Wide Area Network (WAN) submits the data to the utility. Gas and electric utilities use smart
meters.
Benefits of Internet of Energy:
• Reduce insufficiency
• Make the transmission of energy more productive
• Reduce the expenses
• Decrease in the wastage of energy
3) Energy Storage
Energy storage is one of the effective energy industry emerging trends. Energy storage permits steady pricing by
proactively maintaining demand from consumers.
In response to shifting energy demands and technological advancements, the energy storage business has
evolved, adapted, and innovated during the last century. Energy storage systems offer a diverse set of
technological solutions for improving our power supply to build more resilient energy infrastructure and save
money for utilities and customers.
The many methods of energy storage can be classified into five categories based on their technology:
Batteries, Thermal ,Mechanical, Pumped hydro& Hydrogen
It has the potential to save consumers money while also improving dependability and resilience, integrating
power sources, and reducing environmental impacts.
4) Blockchain
Blockchains or distributed ledgers are emerging technology trends in the energy industry that has drawn
significant interest from energy supply firms, startups, financial institutions, governments, technology
developers, and the academic community.
Blockchain technology proposes to combine all energy stakeholders under a single decentralized system.
Electricity producers, metering operators, distribution network operators, and traders potentially avail from
utilizing smart contracts. These agreements ensure that all energy-related transactions are routed through a safe
and immutable network, reducing the risk of losses. Blockchain also can achieve some degree of equity between
energy generators and consumers. Therefore, we could say that Blockchain has the potential to transform the
energy sector.
It has been estimated that after the pandemic the demand and consumption of power will dramatically
increase. Thus, during that pressurize period along with meeting consumer demand business has to consider the
factors that will improve the efficiency.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, BKIT, Bhalki Dr. Rajashekar Matpathi. ME(Design), Ph.D. 25