Sources of Energy

When we use energy in its usable form we convert the form of energy and get our work done
during the process. Since we cannot reverse the change involved in this process so we cannot
get back the original usable form of energy. Due to this, it becomes important to think about
energy shortage and the related energy crisis.

Characteristics of a good source of energy:

 It should be able to do large amount of work for each unit of mass or volume.
 It should be easily accessible.
 It should be easily stored and transported.
 It should be economical.
 Safe to handle and use.
 Does not cause environmental pollution.

Fuels: The materials which are burnt to produce heat energy are known as fuels.
Example: wood, coal, LPG, kerosene.

Characteristics of a Good Fuel

 → High calorific value (give more heat per unit mass).

 → Burn without giving out any smoke or harmful gases.
 → Proper ignition temperature.
  → Cheap and easily available.
 → Easy to handle, safe to transport.
 → Convenient to store.
 → Burn smoothly.

Conventional Sources of Energy Non-conventional Sources of Energy

Fossil fuels (Coal, Petroleum) Solar energy (example: solar cooker,
solar cell panel)
Thermal power plant Energy from the sea (tidal wave, OT energy)
Hydro power plants Biomass-biogas plant and Wind energy
Geothermal energy Nuclear energy

Conventional Sources of Energy:

The sources of energy which have been in use since a long time are called conventional
sources of energy. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydro energy, wind energy and nuclear
energy are considered to be the conventional sources of energy. Additionally, firewood is
also a conventional source of energy but its usage is now limited to kitchens in the rural parts
of India.
Fossil Fuels:
Fuels developed from the fossils e.g., coal, petroleum.
→ Take millions of years to form.
→ Available in very limited amount.
→ These are non-renewable sources of energy.
• India has about 6% share in the world reserved coal, that may last 250 years more at the
present rate of consumption.
Coal: Coal was formed millions of years ago. The plants got buried under swamps and due to
high pressure and high temperature inside the earth; they were converted into coal. Coal is the
highest used energy source in India. During the days of steam engine, coal was used in steam
engines. Moreover, coal was also used as kitchen fuel; before LPG became popular. Now-a-
days, coal is mainly being used in the industries.
Petroleum: Petroleum was also formed millions of years ago. The organic matter which got
buried under the ocean surface and were converted into petroleum; in due course of time.
Petroleum is the third major source of energy being used today. Petroleum products are used
as automobile fuel and also in the industries. Natural gas mainly comes from the oil wells and
is also a major source of energy.
Disadvantages caused by Fossil Fuels
Pollution is the major disadvantage in fossil fuels.
→ Released oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur (acidic in nature) which causes acid rain
that damages trees, plants, reduces fertility of soil.
→ Produces large amount of CO_2 in the atmosphere which causes green house effect
leading to excessive heating of the earth.
Controlling Pollution Caused by Fossil Fuels
→ Increasing the efficiency of the combustion process.
→ Using various techniques to
reduce the escape of harmful
gases and ashes into the
surroundings.
Hydro Energy: Hydro energy is produced by utilizing the kinetic energy of flowing water. It
is a conventional source of energy, and has been enhanced by use of modern technology.
Working of Hydro power plant: Huge dams are built over a source of water. Water is
collected behind the dam and released. When the water falls on the turbine; the turbine
moves; because of kinetic energy of water. Thus, electricity is generated by the turbine.
Electricity; thus generated is called hydel energy or hydroelectricity. Water in the reservoir is
replenished with rainwater and so availability of water is not a problem till it rains regularly
for hydroelectricity. 25% of India`s power supply coes from hydro power plant.
Drawbacks of Hydro Plant: this type of power generation can be done only in certain
locations. Building large dams is not good for the ecosystem. When a large dam is built, a
vast tract of land in its vicinity gets submerged. This destroys a large part of vegetation and
wildlife which does immense damage to the ecosystem. Moreover, when the submerged
vegetation decomposes; it produces a huge amount of methane gas. Methane is a potential
greenhouse gas and thus is not good for the environment, although the power generation is
pollution free.
Building large dam also affects a huge section of population which lives in the surrounding
areas. Many villages need to be evacuated. Although the government comes with some
rehabilitation plan for them but the displacement of people from their roots has its own costs
involved.
Thermal Power Plant:

Bio-mass: The plants and animals constitute the biomass. Firewood from plants is used as
kitchen fuel. If large number of trees can be planted, then a continuous supply of firewood
can be ensured. Farm waste; such as stalks of harvested plants and dung of cattle; can be used
to generate methane. The decomposition of biomass produces methane; which can be
channelized for useful purposes.
(i) Wood: It is a biomass and used as a fuel for a long time.
• Disadvantages of using wood as fuel
→ Produces a lot of smoke on burning.
→ Do not produce much heat.
→ Thus by improvement in technology we can improve the efficiency of traditional sources
of energy.
For example: wood can be converted into much better fuel called charcoal.

(ii) Charcoal: When wood is burnt in limited supply of air, then water and other volatile
materials gets removed and charcoal is formed.
→ Wood on limited supply of Oxygen gas get converted into Charcoal.
• Charcoal is better fuel than wood because
→ It has higher calorific value than wood.
→ Does not produce smoke while burning.
→ It is a compact fuel, easy to handle and convenient to use.

(iii) Cowdung: It is biomass but it is not good to burn cow dung

directly as fuel because :
→ produces lot of smoke.
→ cowdung does not burn completely, produces lot of ash as residue.
→ low calorific value.
→ by making bio gas (or gobar gas) from cow dung, we get a smokeless fuel.
Bio-gas Plant: Bio-gas plant can be very useful in solving the energy need of rural areas. A
bio-gas plant is a dome-like structure which is usually built from bricks and concrete. In the
mixing tank; the slurry is made from cow-dung and water. The slurry then goes to the
digester; which is a closed chamber. Since oxygen is absent in the digester, the anaerobes
carry on their work of decomposition. The process of decomposition produces biogas. Biogas
has about 70% of methane and the rest is composed of other gases. The biogas is channelized
through a pipe and can be utilized as kitchen fuel and also as fuel for getting light. The slurry;
left behind; is removed. It is used as manure, once it dries.
Advantages of Bio gas
→ It is an excellent fuel as it contains upto 75% methane (CH_4 ).
→ It burns without smoke.
→ Leaves no residue like ash in wood & coal burning.
→ Heating capacity is high.
→ It is also used for lighting.
→ Slurry left behind is used as excellent manure rich in nitrogen and phosphorus.
→ Safe and efficient method of waste disposal.
Biogas s used for cooking purpose, for street lighting, generation of electricity.

Wind Energy: Wind energy has been in use since ages. The sail boats of the pre-
industrialization era used to run on wind power. Windmills have been in use; especially in
Holland; since the medieval period. Now-a-days, windmills are being used to generate
electricity.

At present, Germany is the leading country in terms of wind energy production and India
comes at number five. In India, Tamil Nadu is the largest wind energy producing state. The
largest wind farm in India is near Kanyakumari; in Tamil Nadu; which generates 380 MW of
electricity.
• Uses of kinetic energy generated by wind energy
→ to generate electricity by turning the rotor of the turbine.
→ to lift water from the well.
→ to run the flour mills.
→ The output of a single wind mill is quite small so a number of windmills are erected over a
large area called wind energy farm.
Advantages of wind energy
→ Eco-friendly.
→ Efficient source of renewable energy.
→ No recurring expenses for production of electricity.
• Disadvantages of wind energy
→ Wind energy farms need large area of land.
→ Difficulty in getting regular wind speed of 15-20 Kmph.
→The fact, that it has to suffer the vagaries of the nature further compounds the problem.
→ Initial cost of establishing wind energy farm is very high.
→ High level of maintenance of blades of wind mill.

Reasons for alternate sources of energy

→ The fossil fuel reserves in the earth are limited which may get exhausted soon if we use
them at the current rate.
→ Reduce the pressure on fossil fuels making them last for a much longer time.
→ To reduce the pollution level and to save the environment.
Solar Energy: The sun is the main source of energy for all living beings on this earth. Even
the energy in the fossil fuels has come from the sun. The sun has an endless reservoir of
energy which would be available as long as the solar system is in existence. Technologies for
harnessing the solar energy have been developed in recent times.
Solar Cooker: Solar cooker is very simple in design and mode of function. It is usually made
from mirrors. Plain mirrors are placed inside a rectangular box. The light reflected from the
plain mirrors concentrates the solar energy inside the solar cooker which generates enough
heat to cook food.
Solar Furnace: Solar furnace is made like a concave mirror. Large solar furnace has many
smaller mirrors to compose a very large convex mirror. The material to be heated is place
near the focus of the mirror.
Solar Cells: Solar cells are made from silicon. The solar panel converts solar energy into
electrical energy which is stored in a battery; for later use.
Limitations of Solar Energy: The technologies for harnessing solar energy are at a critical
stage. At present, the cost benefit ratio for using solar energy is not conducive. Using solar
energy is costly, the worry is about the efficiency and durability of solar panels.

Energy from Sea

Tidal Energy: Due to the gravitational pull of the moon, tides happen near seashores. Water
rushes up near the seashore during a high tide and goes down during a low tide. Dams are
built near seashores to collect the water which comes during a high tide. Turbines in the
barrier generate electricity as the tide floods into the reservoir.When the water runs back to
the ocean, the flow of water can be again utilized to generate electricity.
Wave Energy: Waves can also be a good source of energy. Many devices are being designed
and tested to produce wave energy. For example; a hollow tower is built near the seashore.
When water gushes in the tube because of wave, it forces the air upwards. The kinetic energy
of air in the tube is used to run a turbine. When the wave goes down; air from up goes down
the tube which is also used in running the turbine.
Ocean Thermal Energy: The water at sea surface is hot during daytime, while the water at
lower level is cold. The temperature differential in water levels can be utilized to generate
energy. If the temperature differential is more than 20°C, then ocean thermal energy can be
utilized from that place. For this, a volatile liquid; like ammonia; is boiled using the heat from
the hot water at the surface. The steam of the volatile liquid is utilized to run the turbine to
generate electricity. Colder water from the surface below is utilized to condense ammonia
vapour which is then channelized to the surface to repeat the cycle.
Various methods of harnessing energy from the sea are still at experimental stages.

Geothermal Energy: The molten rocks from the inside of the earth are pushed in certain
regions of the earth. Such regions are called the hot spots of the earth. So, ‘Geo’ means
‘earth’ and ‘thermal’ means ‘heat’. When groundwater comes in contact with such hot spots,
lot of steam is generated. This steam can be harnessed to produce energy. Many power plants
in New Zealand and USA operate on geothermal energy.
Advantages of Geothermal energy
→ Economical to use geothermal energy.
→ Does not cause any pollution.
Limitations of Geothermal energy
→ Geothermal energy is not available everywhere.
→ Deep drilling in the earth to obtain geothermal energy is very difficult and expensive.

Nuclear Energy: Nuclear fission is the process during which a nucleus breaks to form two
nuclei. The process in which the heavy nucleus of a radioactive atom (such as uranium,
plutonium or thorium) split up into smaller nuclei when bombarded with low energy
neutrons, is called nuclear fission. U-235 is used as a fuel in nuclear reactor in form of
uranium rods.
(ii) Nuclear Fusion

→ When two nuclei of light elements (like hydrogen) combine to form a heavy nucleus (like
helium) and tremendous amount of energy is released is called nuclear fusion.
→ Very-very high temperature and pressure is needed for fusion.
→ Hydrogen bomb is based on this phenomenon.
→ Nuclear fusion is the source of energy in the sun and other stars.

Advantage of Nuclear Fusion

→ Production of large amount of useful energy from a very small amount of nuclear fuel.
→ Does not produce green house gases like CO_2 .

Limitations of Nuclear Fusion

→ Environmental contamination due to improper nuclear waste storage and its disposal.
→ Risk of accidental leakage of harmful radiations.
→ High cost of installation.
→ Limited availability of nuclear fuel.

Environmental Consequences
→ Exploiting any source of energy disturbs the environment in some way or the other.
→ The source we would choose depends upon following the factors:
(i) Ease of extracting energy from the source.
(ii) Cost of extracting energy from the source.
(iii) Efficiency of technology available to extract energy.
(iv) The environmental damage caused by using that source.
→ In other words, no source of energy is said to be pollution free. Some source are cleaner
than the other.
→ For example, solar cells may be pollution free but the assembly of the device would have
cause some environmental damage.