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Conventional and Non-Conventional Energy Resources of India:

Present and Future

Conference Paper · September 2011

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 Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy Resources of India:
Present and Future
Pratibha Singh1, Harshit Gupta1, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta2, Vijay Kumar Dwivedi3
1
Student, GLAITM, Mathura, India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GLA University Mathura, India
3
Reader, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GLA University Mathura, India
Email id: pratibha.golu.singh@gmail.com, harshitgupta81@gmail.com

Abstract This paper describes in brief the potential of

Energy is the prime mover of economic
growth and is vital to sustenance of a modern
economy. Energy is the key input to drive and
improve the life cycle. Primarily it is the gift
of the nature to the mankind in various forms.
The consumption of energy is directly
proportional to the progress of mankind. With
ever growing population, improvement in
living standard of the humanity,
industrialization of developing countries, the
global demand of energy is expected to
increase rather significantly in the near future.
India rank fifth in the world in total energy
consumption and needs to accelerate the
development of the sector to meet its growth
aspiration. India has one of the fastest and
largest growing economies in the world, as
well as an expensive populace of above 1.17
billion people. There is a very high demand for
energy, which is currently satisfied mainly by
coal, foreign oil, and petroleum, which apart
from being a non – renewable, and therefore
non – permanent solution to the energy crisis;
it is also detrimental to the environment. Thus,
it is essential to tackle the energy crisis
through judicious utilization of abundant the
renewable energy resources, such as biomass
energy, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal
energy and Ocean energy.
conventional and non – conventional energy
resources and their utilization in India and also
describes the current and future aspects of
conventional and non – conventional energy
resources.
Keywords-Conventional Energy, Non –
Conventional Energy, Environment, Solar,
Biomass, Geothermal, Petroleum, Fossil fuels
etc.
1.Introduction
The energy which is derived from the
resources that can be regenerated and do not
deplete over the time is known as renewable
energy. It is a clean energy which would not
damage the quality of life. Fossils fuels too are
theoretically renewable but on a very long
time – scale and if continued to be exploited at
present rates then these resources may deplete
in the near future. Therefore, in reality,
renewable energy is energy from a source that
is replaced rapidly by a natural process and is
not subjected to depletion in a human time –
scale. Information on reserves of non-
renewable sources of energy like coal, lignite,
petroleum, natural gas and the potential for
generation of renewable energy sources is a
pre - requisite for assessing the country’s
potential for meeting its future energy needs.
The changes in the reserves over time indicate

the research and development going into the
discovery of new reserves and the pace of their
exploitation. They also facilitate in devising
effective conservation and management
strategies for optimum utilization of these
resource. The estimated reserve of lignite as on
31.03.2010 according to Energy Statistics
2011 (Ministry of Statics and Programme
Implementation, GOI) was 40 billion tonnes,
of which 80% was in the southern State of
Tamil Nadu. The increase in the estimated
reserve of lignite during the year 2009-10 was
2.1%, Rajasthan accounting for the maximum
increase of 5.5%. The estimated reserves of
crude oil and natural gas in India as on
31.03.2010 stood at 1206 million metric
tonnes (MMT) and 1453 billion cubic meters
(BCM), respectively. Geographical
distribution of Crude oil indicates that the
maximum reserves are in the Western
Offshore (46%) followed by Assam (23%),
whereas the maximum reserves of Natural Gas
are in the Western Offshore (40%) followed
by Eastern offshore (29%). The increase in the
estimated reserve of crude oil during 2009-10
was 56%, with Tamilnadu accounting for the
highest increase of 85.3% followed by Gujarat
(73.3%). In case of Natural Gas, the increase
in the estimated reserves over the last year was
30% which is the maximum contribution to
this increase.
Fortunately India is blessed with variety of
renewable energy sources, the main ones being
biomass, biogas, the sun, the wind,
geothermal, and small hydropower. (large
hydro power is also renewable energy in
nature but has been utilized all over the world
for many decades, and is generally not
included in terms ‘new and renewable source
of energy’). Future economic growth crucially
depends on the long – term availability of
energy from sources that are affordable,
Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 71
accessible and environment friendly. There is
a vast supply of renewable energy resources in
India. Indeed, it is the only country in the
world to have exclusive ministry for renewable
energy development, the Ministry of Non –
Conventional Energy Sources (MNES). Since
its formation, the Ministry has launched one of
the world’s largest and most ambitious
programs on renewable energy. In October
2006, MNES was renamed the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Renewable energy in India, excluding large
hydro projects already accounts for 12.21 % of
the total installed energy capacity, equivalent
to 20404.01 MW of energy. In combination
with large hydro, the capacity is more than
37.30%, i.e., 62169.35 MW, in a total installed
capacity of 167077 MW by January 2011.
2. Energy scenario in India
Coal and petroleum are the most widely used
non-renewable energy resource for energy
generation in present scenario. At present coal
alone accounts for about 70% of India’s
electricity supply but is not environment
friendly. The uncontrolled emission of CO2
leads to global climate change which is the
main culprit behind conventional non-
renewable energy resource. The developing
world community is struggling with scarcity of
power. Most of the power is derived from non
– renewable conventional energy resources
which are decreasing day by day. Therefore to
combat this problem, renewable energy
resources must be utilized. With high
economic growth rates and over 17% of the
world’s population, India is a significant
consumer of energy resources (4.04 % of
global energy consumption). India, at 1.2
billion people, is the second most populated
country in the world. India ranks fifth in the
world in total energy consumption, and is
projected to surpass Japan and Russia to

become the world’s third biggest energy
consumer by 2030 (EAI).Commercial energy
demand will grow at 4.5% per annum till
2020, as economy grows at 7 to 8% annually
over this period. At the same time, the country
is facing an acute energy scarcity which is
hampering its industrial growth and economic
progress. India is trying to tackle the energy
crisis through a judicious utilization of
renewable energy resources, such as biomass
energy, solar energy, wind energy and
geothermal energy. India consumes its
maximum energy in residential, commercial,
and agriculture purpose in comparison to
China, Japan and Russia and US.
Coming to the power generation in the
country, India has increased installed power
capacity from 1362 MW to over 167077 MW
since independence to January 2011. Ministry
of power has sanctioned 576 projects in which
546 projects are to electrify 1, 10,321 villages
and to provide free electricity connections to
2.30 crore BPL rural households. As on 30th
June, 2011, this work in 97,940 villages has
been completed and 165.79 lakh free
electricity connections have been released to
BPL households. The revised Bharat Nirman
target for RGGVY is to electrify 1 lakh
villages and to provide free electricity
connections to 175 lakhs BPL households by
March 2012.
There is a marked disparity between the
energy consumption pattern in urban and rural
segments which forces a shift of energy
scenario towards renewable energy systems.
Villages and areas situated in remote and far
flung areas can be depended on only self
generating source like renewable. Now it is
also possible to connect renewable
technologies to grid as they are now matured
and well understood technologies. They also
offer possibilities of distributed generation at
Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 72
or near actual load centre, thereby saving on
costly establishment and maintenance of
transmission and distribution networks.
3.Conventional energy resources
Conventional energy is the one which cannot
be renewed in human time – scale. Due to
large population the consumption of
conventional energy is increasing day by day.
It is an exhaustible energy resource and is
depleting at an alarming rate.
3.1 Coal and Lignite
India has a good reserve of coal and lignite.
According to Energy Statistics 2011 (Ministry
of Statics and Programme Implementation,
GOI) as on March 2010, the estimated reserves
of coal was around 277 billion tones, an
addition of 10 billion over the last year. Coal
deposits are mainly confined to eastern and
south central parts of the country. Coal
production in the country during the year
2009-10 was 532 million tones (MTs) as
compared to 493 MTs during 2008-09,
registering a growth of 8%. The total
availability of raw coal in India during 2009-
10 stood at 586.07 MTs. The estimated total
consumption of raw coal by industry has
increased from 71.2 MTs during 1970-71 to
586.07 MTs during 2009-10, with a CAGR
(Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 5.4.The
annual growth rate from 2008-09 to 2009-10
was 6.6%. The estimated reserve of lignite as
on 31.03.2010 was 40 billion tonnes, of which
80% was in the southern State of Tamil Nadu.
The increase in the estimated reserve of lignite
during the year 2009-10 was 2.1%. The
Lignite production during the period 2008-09
increased by 5%.The production of energy in
peta Joules by primary sources shows that
Coal and Lignite were the major sources of
energy, accounting for about 62% of the total
production during 2009-10. The availability of
lignite during 2009-10 increased by 6.6%
 Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 73

compared to 2008-09. The availability of March 2010 was 178 million tonnes per annum.
lignite has increased at a CAGR of about There was an addition of 29 million tonnes per
3.17% during the period from 1998-99 to annum to the installed refining capacity due to
2009-10. Consumption of Lignite increased RPL(SEZ), Jamnagar, Gujarat refinery. India is
from 3.39 MTs in 1970-71 to 34.42 MTs in highly dependent on import for crude oil. India
2009-10 registering a compound growth of produced roughly 880 thousand barrels per day
5.9%. Consumption of Lignite is highest in (bbl/d) of total oil in 2009 from over 3,600
Electricity Generation sector, accounting for operating oils wells. Approximately 680
about 80% of the total lignite consumption. thousand bbl/d was crude oil and the
3.2 Natural Gas remainder was other liquids and refinery gain.
According to Energy Statistics 2011 (Ministry The EIA (Energy Information Administration)
of Statics and Programme Implementation, expects India to become the fourth largest net
GOI), the availability of natural gas has importer of oil in the world by 2025, behind
steadily increased from a mere 0.65 BCMs the United States, China, and Japan.
during 1970-71 to 46.49 BCMs during 2009- 4. Non - conventional energy
10, registering a CAGR of 11.3%. Most of this resources
increase in the indigenous production is due to There is a large potential for renewable energy in
discovery of new reserves. The total world India, an estimated aggregate of over 150,000
production of Natural Gas has increased from MW. As against the estimated 84776 MW
2431 million tonne oil equivalent (Mtoe) in renewable energy based grid connected power
2004-05 to 2696 Mtoe in 2009-10. The generation potential in the country, so far only
production has decreased by 2.4% from 2008-09 about 20556.05 MW installed capacity has been
to 2009-10. The total world consumption of achieved. The renewable energy excluding large
natural gas has increased from 2420 Mtoe in hydro power based power generation capacity
2004- 05 to 2653 Mtoe in 2009-10. The world presently constitutes 12.30 % of the total
consumption of natural gas has decreased by installed capacity in the country for power
2.4% from 2008-09 to 2009-10. According to generation from all sources. The country is
EIA (Energy Information Administration) aiming to achieve up to 10% of additional
estimation in 2009, India consumed roughly installed capacity to be set up till 2012 to come
1.8 Tcf of natural gas, almost 300 billion cubic from renewable energy sources.
Potential Installed India’s
feet (Bcf) more than in 2008. Natural gas Sources (MW) Capacity (MW) position in
demand is expected to grow considerably, the world
Wind 46,092 14550.68 5th
largely driven by demand in the power sector. Solar 200MW/km2 39.66 1st
The power and fertilizer sectors account for Small Hydro 16,000 2953.58 10th
Biomass 16881 1045.10 4th
nearly three-quarters of natural gas Cogeneration bagasse 5000 1742.53 -
consumption in India. Energy Recovery 2700 72.46 -
from Waste
3.3 Crude Oil
Geothermal 10,600 - -
According to Energy Statistics 2011 (Ministry of Ocean Energy 50,000 - -
Statics and Programme Implementation, GOI) on Wave Energy - - -
Tidal Energy - - -
March 2010, there were a total of 20 refineries in Total 20404.01
the country out of which 17 in the Public Sector
and 3 in the private sector. Total installed crude Table 1 Grid Interactive Renewable Energy in India
(Source: MNRE by 31 March 2011)
oil refining capacity in the country at the end of
 Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 74

4.1 Wind Energy projects, sufficient to generate 700 to 2,100

The origin of wind energy is sun. When the gigaWatts. India is endowed with rich solar
sun rays fall on the earth, its surface gets energy resource. The average intensity of solar
heated up and as a consequence winds are radiation received on India is 200 MW/km
formed. Kinetic energy in the wind can be square.
used to run wind turbines but the output power Number of solar street 54795
lighting systems
depends upon the wind speed. Turbines
Number of home lighting 342607
generally require a wind in the range between systems
5.5 and 25 m/s. Solar lanterns 560295
The development of wind power in India Solar photovoltaic power 1566 kW
began in the 1990s. Although a relatively plants
Solar water heating systems 140 km2 of
newcomer to the wind industry compared with
collector area
China (44733 MW), USA (40180 MW), Box-type solar cookers 575,000
Germany (27,215 MW), and Spain (20676 Solar photovoltaic pumps 6,818
MW), India has the fifth largest installed wind Table 3 Total Solar Energy Consumption in India
power capacity in the world by February 2011 (Source: Energy Alternative India)

According to the MNRE, the potential of wind The amount of solar energy produced in India
power in India is approximately 46092 MW is merely 0.4% compared to other energy
and installed capacity of wind power is resource. The grid – interactive solar power as
14550.68MW by the end of March 2011. of March 2011 was merely 39.66 MW.
Major states with higher capacity and wind According to EAI, as of March 1011, India is
power potential are Tamil Nadu, Andhra currently ranked number one along with the
Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh United States in terms of installed Solar Power
and Maharashtra. generation capacity.
Country Wind Power Rank 4.3 Biomass Energy
Capacity Biomass has been a key player in energy
(MW) generation even in the past. Biomass, defined
China 44,733 1
as all land and water based vegetation as well
USA 40,180 2
Germany 27,215 3 as organic wastes, fulfilled almost all of
Spain 20,676 4 human kind’s energy need prior to the
India 13,066 5 industrial revolution. In present day scenario,
Table 2 Top Five Wind Power Countries once again its utilization for generation of
(Source: World Wind Energy Association by February 2011)
energy has gained momentum because of
4.2 Solar Energy
limited availability of the conventional energy
Because of its location between the Tropic of
resources as well as environmental concern
Cancer and the equator, India has an average
due to (Green House Gas) GHG emissions.
annual temperature ranges from 25oC –
According to EAI, India has biomass
27.5oC. This means that India has huge solar
production of 546 million tonnes per year from
potential. The sunniest parts are situated in the
the agricultural sources alone to generate
south/east coast, from Calcutta to Madras. . In
electricity at a capacity of 17,981 MW.
solar energy sector, some large projects have
According to MNRE as on March 2011, India
been proposed, and a 35,000 km² area of the
is very rich in biomass energy and has a
Thar Desert has been set aside for solar power
potential of 16,881MW (agro-residues and

plantations), 5000MW (bagasse cogeneration)
and 2700MW (energy recovery from waste),
out of which only 2860.09 MW is installed in
various form.
4.4 Hydropower
Hydropower is a renewable, non - polluting,
and environment friendly source of energy. It
is perhaps the oldest renewable energy
technique to the mankind for mechanical
energy conversion as well as electricity
generation. Hydropower represents the use of
water resources towards inflation free energy
due to absence of fuel cost characterized by
highest prime moving efficiency and
spectacular operation flexibility. According to
MNRE as on March 2011, out of total power
generation installed capacity of 167,077 MW
in the country, the large hydropower
contributes 25% i.e. 62169.35 MW.
In India, hydropower projects with a station
capacity of up to 25 MW each fall under the
category of small hydropower (SHP). India
has an estimated SHP potential of about 16000
MW, of which about 18.5% has been tapped
so far i.e. 2960 MW. Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) has created a
database of potential sites of small hydro and
5718 potential sites with an aggregate capacity
of 15384.15 MW for projects have been
identified out of which only 801 sites with an
aggregate capacity of 2953.58 have been
installed so far.
4.5 Geothermal Energy
A power plant based on geothermal energy
basically harnesses the heat from the earth's
inner layers to produce electricity. This energy
is accessed by drilling water or steam wells in
a process similar to drilling for oil. Geothermal
energy is an enormous, underused heat and
power resource that is clean (emits little or no
greenhouse gases), reliable (average system
Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 75
availability of 95%), and home-grown (making
us less dependent on foreign oil).
India has reasonably good potential for
geothermal; the potential geothermal provinces
can produce 10,600 MW of power. India's first
geothermal plant is expected to come up by
2012, with an initial capacity of 25 mega watt
(MW) at an investment of US$ 64.66 million
in the Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh
(AP). It will be set up by Mumbai-based
GeoSyndicate Power Private Ltd, a company
incubated by the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Bombay, which has a
special focus on exploration and production of
geothermal energy. . The estimated total
potential of the Khammam site is
approximately 60 MW that will be realized
over a period of time.
S.No. Geothermal Number of Heat Flow
Province Thermal Rate
Springs (MW/m2)
1 Himalaya 100 100
2 Krishna - 13 180
Godavari
3 West Coast 25 93 -1 29
4 Sonata 23 -
5 Combay 15 80
Table 4 Geothermal Potential in India
(Source: Geological Survey of India)
5. Conclusion
There is an urgent need for transition from
petroleum-based energy systems to one based
on renewable resources to decrease reliance on
depleting reserves of fossil fuels and to
mitigate climate change. . In addition,
renewable energy has the potential to create
many employment opportunities at all levels,
especially in rural areas. So Isolated systems,
whose cost depends on load factor are needed
to be linked with rural industry. The need to
boost the efforts for further development and
promotion of renewable energy sources has
been felt world over in light of high prices of
 Conventional and Non- Conventional Energy ….. 76

crude oil. The cost-effectiveness of Wind and

Small Hydro power energy should also be
taken into account. An emphasis should be
given on presenting the real picture of massive
renewable energy potential. India’s quest for
energy security and sustainable development
rests a great deal on the ability to tap energy
from alternate sources or the renewable
sources.
References
1. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),
Government of India.
2. Energy Alternatives India (EAI).
3. Ministry of Power, Government of India.
4. Geological Survey of India.
5. Energy Statics 2011, Ministry of Statics and
Programme Implementation, GOI.
6. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
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Vijay Kumar Dwivedi, 25 – 26 March 2011, “An
Option for Energy Security and Environmental
Sustainability: Wind Energy”, National Conference on
Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering, BSA
College of Engineering and Technology, Mathura,
Page Number – 239 – 243, ISBN: 978 – 81 -906515 –
3 – 0.
8. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Vijay Kumar Dwivedi, Pratibha
Singh, Harshit Gupta, 26 – 27 February 2011, “Present
Scenario of Renewable Energy Resources and its
Utilization in India”, International Conference on
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Geothermal Energy for Food Processing Indian
Status”, Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay,
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