Introduction to types of renewable energy, solar energy, wind energy,

geothermal energy, ocean thermal energy, tidal wave and geothermal energy,
biomass energy. Fuel cell and heat pump systems, energy efficiency issues
and
energy storage. Potential of using renewable energy resources as supplement
of conventional energy resources. Renewable and non- renewable energies
used as hybrid energy systems, Modern renewable energy plants. Wind energy,
wind turbine design specifications, compatible electric generators and major
operational issues of the wind mill for electric power generation. Wind mills
design usage for pumping water. Biomass energy conversion methods,
detailed
description of Biomass energy conversion plant, operational and maintenance
problems and their remedies.

Recommended Books:
1. Renewable Energy,2ndEdition By Godfrey Boyle.
Oxford University Press,

2. Renewable Energy Resources, By john Twidell, Tony Weir.
Spon Press;


Energy that uses natural sources to
generate power.


The sources must be naturally
reloaded.

No impact on electricity prices
Reduce energy bills
Reduce emissions
Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and
lower fossil fuel prices

Wind Hydro
Biomass Solar
Geothermal Tidal
Wave Biofuels

Energy resources can be classified in
the following ways.

Based on usability of energy
Based on traditional use
Based on long-term availability
Based on commercial application
Based on origin
Based on usability of energy
(a) Primary resources:

Resources available in nature in raw form are called primary energy
resources, e.g. fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), uranium, hydro energy, etc.

(b) Intermediate resources

This is obtained from primary energy by one or more steps of
transformation and is used as a vehicle of energy.


(c) Secondary resources

The form of energy, which is finally supplied to consumer for utilization
e.g. electrical energy, thermal energy (in the form of steam or hot water),
chemical energy (in the form of Hydrogen).

Based on traditional use
(a)Conventional Energy resources
which have been traditionally used for many decades, e.g. fossil fuels,
nuclear and hydro resources.

(b) Non-conventional Energy resources
which are considered for large scale use, e.g., solar, wind, biomass, etc.
Based on long-term availability
(a)Non-renewable Resources
which are finite and do not get reloaded after their consumption, e.g.
fossil fuels, uranium etc.

(b) Renewable Resources
which are renewed by nature again and again and their supply is not
affected by the rate of their consumption e.g. solar, wind, biomass, ocean
(thermal, tidal and wave), geothermal, hydro, etc.
Based on commercial application
(a)Commercial energy resource
The secondary usable energy forms such as electricity, petrol, diesel, gas,
etc. are essential for commercial activities.

(b) Non-commercial energy
The energy derived from nature and used directly without passing through
commercial outlet, e.g. wood, animal dung cake, crop residue, etc.
The different types of energy based on their origin
are as follows:

(a) Fossil fuels energy
(b) Nuclear energy
(c) Hydro energy
(d) Solar energy
(e) Wind energy
(f ) Biomass energy
(g) Geothermal energy
(h) Tidal energy
(I) Ocean thermal energy
(j) Ocean wave energy
Based on origin
IMPORTANCE OF NON-CONVENTIONAL
ENERGY SOURCES
The concern for environment due to the ever increasing use of fossil fuels
and rapid depletion of these resources have led to the development of
alternative sources of energy, which are renewable and environment friendly.

The conventional sources of energy will not be sufficient to meet the
growing industrial as well as domestic demand.

Conventional sources (except hydro) are non-renewable and bound to
finish one day.

Conventional sources (fossil fuels, nuclear) also cause pollution, thereby
their use degrade the environment.

Large hydro-resources affect wildlife, cause deforestation and cause
various social problems, due to construction of big dams.

Fossil fuels are also used as raw materials in the chemical industry (for
chemicals, medicines, etc.) and need to be conserved for future
generations.
COMMON FORMS OF ENERGY
1. Mechanical energy
Mechanical energy is used for movement of objects, changing the shape of
the objects, etc. in transportation, handling, processing, agriculture and
industry.

2. Electrical energy
Electrical energy is considered to be the top grade energy. It is used
universally as a vehicle of energy. About 3040% energy distribution in the
world is met through electrical supply system at present.

3. Chemical energy
Fuels and organic matter contain chemical energy. Exothermic chemical
reactions release heat energy. Also chemical energy is directly converted
into electrical energy in fuel cells, storage batteries, etc. and into thermal
energy by combustion.
4. Thermal energy
It is used to raise the temperature of an object during industrial processes. It
can also be converted to mechanical energy with the help of heat engines.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES
Advantages
1. Its very cheap.
2. Security by storing certain quantity, the energy availability can be ensured
for a certain period.
3. It is very convenient to use.
Disadvantages

1. Fossil fuels generate pollutants CO, CO2, NOX, SOX. The pollutants
degrade the environment, pose health hazards and cause various other
problems.

2. Coal is also a valuable petro-chemical and used as source of raw material
for chemical, pharmaceuticals and paints, etc. industries. long-term point
of view, it is desirable to conserve coal for future needs.
3. Safety of nuclear plants is controversial subject. Major problems with
nuclear energy are:

The waste material generated in nuclear plants has dangerous levels of
radioactivity.
It is a health hazard.
Possibility of accidental leakage of radioactive material from reactor.
(as happened in Chernobyl, former USSR in April 1986) Limited
resources.

4. Hydroelectric plants are cleanest but large hydro-reservoirs cause the
following problems:

As large land area submerges into water, which leads to deforestation.
Causes environmental disturbances such as earthquakes.
Affects wildlife.
Causes dislocation of large population and consequently their
rehabilitation problems.
SALIENT FEATURES OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
SOURCES
Merits

1. Non-conventional sources are available in nature, free of cost.
2. They cause no or very little pollution. Thus, by and large, they are
environment friendly.
3. They are infinite.
4. They have low development period.

Demerits

1. Though available freely in nature, the cost of controlling energy from non-
conventional sources is high, as in general, these are available in dilute
forms of energy.
2. The energy flow depends on various natural Phenomena beyond human
control.
3. Difficulty in transporting this form of energy.
Greenhouse Effect
The CO2 envelope present around the globe in the atmosphere
behaves similar to a glass pane, and forms a big global
greenhouse. This tends to prevent the escape of heat from earth,
which leads to global warming. This phenomenon is known as
green house effect.
Pollution


(a) Indoor pollution

Indoor pollution is mainly caused due to the use of conventional Chulhas,
Gas Heaters in rural areas.

This requires the need of improved household stove (Chulhas), Electric
Heaters to reduce indoor pollution.


(b) Outdoor pollution

Outdoor pollution is mainly caused due to use of fossil fuels. Emissions
from fossil fuel based plants degrade the environment and cause various
other problems. Coal and oil are more pollutant than gas.
Remedy

1. Use of fossil fuels should be slowly curtailed, i.e. gasified coal, which is
less polluting should be used in power plants.

2. Clean alternative fuels such as hydrogen should be used.

3. Electric vehicles or battery-operated vehicles should be used in place of
I.C engine based vehicles.

Various pollutants and their harmful effects

1. Particulate matter

The presence of particulate matter

Reduces sunlight.
Reduces visibility.
Results in respiratory problems.
Results in bronchitis. (Bronchitis: inflammation of mucus membrane
inside the bronchial tubes, branches of wind pipe).
2. CO2

It is not considered as toxic gas.
It is essential for photosynthesis to produce oxygen.
Excess emission of CO2 in the atmosphere causes global warming due to
greenhouse effect.

(a) Large-scale combustion of fossil fuels in coal fired thermal power.
(b) Felling of trees on large scale (deforestation) for urbanization,
agriculture, industrialization, etc. resulting in reduced photosynthesis
process.

3. CO

CO is formed due to incomplete burning of carbon in insufficient air.
Seriously impairs the oxygen dependent tissues in the body particularly,
brain, heart and skeleton muscles.
4. SOX

The presence of SO2 in air is mainly due to man-made reasons involving
combustion of fuels containing sulphur.

Power plants 70%
Industry 15%
Motor vehicles 8%
Solid waste disposal 5%
Others 2%

SO2 + O2 SO3 + H20 H2SO4

Harmful effects:

Causes respiratory diseases. Like asthma, irritates eyes and respiratory track.
Causes acid rains. agriculture, forest, vegetation, soil and stones (and thus to
buildings).
Causes corrosion of metals.
5. NOX

Oxides of nitrogen such as N2O, NO, NO2, N2O3 are commonly referred to
as NOX.

Man-made causes include:

(a) Motor vehicles 7%
(b) Industry 7%
(c) Power plants 4%
(d) Solid waste 2%

Harmful effects:

(a) Causes respiratory and cardiovascular illness.
(b) It dispossess body tissues of oxygen.
(c) It also forms acid in lungs and therefore more toxic than CO.

Energy Resources and Future Trend

(a)Conventional resources

(i) Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are formed in several parts of earth at varying depths, during
several million years by slow decomposition and chemical actions of
buried organic matter under favorable pressure, heat and bacterial marine
environment. These are coal, oil and gas.

(ii) Hydro resources

Among all renewable, hydropower is the most established source of
electric power. Hydro installations and plants are long lasting (turbine life
is about 50 years). This is due to the continuous steady operation without
high temperature or other stresses. Therefore, it often produces electricity
at low cost with consequent economic benefits.

(iii) Nuclear resources

U235, U233 and Pu239 are used as nuclear fuels in nuclear reactors (thermal
reactors) and are known as fissile (fissionable) material. Out of these only
U235 occur in nature, and U233 and Pu239 are produced from Th232 and
U238 respectively in fast breeder reactors (FBRs).
(b) Non-conventional sources

Non-conventional technologies are presently under development stage. At
present its share is very small.

(i) Solar energy

Solar energy can be a major source of power and can be utilized by using
thermal and photovoltaic conversion systems. Solar radiation received on
the surface of earth on a bright sunny day.

(ii) Wind energy

The power available in the winds over the earth surface is estimated to be
1.6 * 10
7
MW, which is more than the present energy requirement of the
world. Wind power has emerged as the most economical of all renewable
energy sources.

(iii) Biomass energy

Energy resources available from animal and vegetation are called biomass
energy resources.
(iv) Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is derived from a huge amount of stored thermal energy
in the interior of the earth.

(v) Ocean tidal energy

The potential in ocean tides resource

World Energy Usage in 2006
oil
coal
gas
nuclear
solar pv
biofuels
geothermal
wind
solar heat
hydro
biomass
oil
coal
gas
nuclear
biomass
hydro
solar heat
wind
geothermal
biofuels
solar pv
World Energy Usage in 2007
World Energy Usage in 2008
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States