BT 362: Sustainable Energy Processes

MODULE – I
1. Introduction to Energy

Energy is the capacity for doing work, generating heat and emitting light. The historical as well as
present day civilization of mankind is closely interwoven with energy, and in future our existence
will be ever more dependent upon energy. Energy appears in many forms, but has one thing in
common – it is possessed of the ability to produce a dynamic, vital effect. Energy is the primary and
the most universal measure of all kind of works by human beings and nature. It is one of the major
building blocks of modern society. It pervades all sectors of society such as economics, labour,
environment and international relations in addition to our own personal livings i.e., housing, food,
transportation, recreation and quality of life.

Energy is measured in units of calorie and joule. In this era, energy is created in enormous
quantities. It exists in various forms such as mechanical, thermal, electrical etc. one form of energy
can be converted in to other by the use of suitable arrangements. Out of all these forms of energy,
electrical energy is more preferred due to the following advantages:

 It can be easily transported from one place to another.

 Losses in transport are minimum.
 It can be easily subdivided.
 Economical in use.
 It can be easily converted into other forms of energy.
 It can be easily controlled and regulated to suit various requirements.

Energy is a basic concept in all the science and engineering discipline. A very important
principle is that energy is a conserved quantity, i.e., the total amount of energy in the universe is
constant. As per the law of conservation of energy, ―Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed.
In a closed system, the total mass and energy remains unchanged. The energy is conserved in a
closed system‖. But energy can be converted or redistributed from one form to another such as from
wind energy to electrical energy or from chemical energy in to heat etc.

The different forms of energy are:

1. Mechanical energy (kinetic and potential)

2. Thermal (or) Heat energy

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3. Chemical energy
4. Electrical energy
5. Nuclear energy
6. Electromagnetic energy
7. Gravitational energy
2. General Classification of Energy
(a) Based on nature of availability of energy

On the basis of nature of availability of energy source, the energy can be classified as
follows:

(i) Primary resources: Primary energy sources can be defined as sources which are either found
or stored in nature. These energy sources provide a net supply of energy. Eg: Coal, natural
gas, oil, biomass, solar, tidal, hydro and nuclear energy.
(ii) Secondary resources: Secondary sources of energy are derived from the primary energy
sources. Producing electrical energy from coal and producing hydrogen from hydrolysis of
water are examples of this type of energy.
(b) Based on traditional use
On the basis of traditional use of energy source, the energy can be classified as follows:
(i) Conventional energy: it can be defined as the sources which are used traditionally and
provide a net supply of energy. Eg., Thermal energy and Hydro Power energy.
(ii) Non – Conventional Energy: These sources are developed in recent past and produce no net
energy. Examples of non – conventional energy sources are: solar energy, wind energy, tidal
energy, biomass energy etc.

(c) Based on long term availability

On the basis of long term availability of energy source, the energy can be classified as
follows:
(i) Non – Renewable energy sources: These are the energy sources that are derived from finite
and static stocks of energy. It is obtained mostly from coal, oil and gas which are likely to
deplete with time. Apart from different types of fossil fuels, nuclear fuels are also non-
renewable. Most of the non-renewable energy sources have high energy output which is not
observed in renewable sources.

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These resources often exist in a fixed amount and are consumed much faster than
nature can create them. Hence the supply of these fuels is limited.
(ii) Renewable energy sources: In this category, the energy sources which are direct in nature but
can be subsequently replenished are grouped. Renewable energy is obtained from sources that
are essentially inexhaustible. Examples of renewable resources include wind power, solar
power, tidal power, hydroelectric power and geothermal power. The most important feature
of renewable resources is that it can be harnessed without the release of harmful pollutants.

2.1. Classification of energy sources are summarized below:

Types of
Description Example
energy source

Direct – Coal, Oil,

These are the sources which can
nature gas, biomass,
be directly found in nature or
Stored - nuclear
Primary energy stored in nature and can be
energy from
sources extracted. Available in raw
radioactive material,
from which needs to be
Thermal in earth
processed first for utilization.
interior.

Secondary energy sources are

derived from primary sources in Steam energy
a form of either final fuel or from coal, Refined
Secondary energy supply. Involvement of crude oil products
energy sources technological processes in such as Gasoline,
this transformation in between Petrol, and
causes drop in primary energy Electricity.
on the way to consumers.

It is possible to reuse waste

energy liberated in the process
of utilization of primary and
Energy extracted
Waste energy secondary energy resources.
from cooling system
resources Practically it is achieved by
in power plants.
combined heat and power
which is more popular as
cogeneration.
This is the energy acquired from never
ending sources of energy available in Solar power, wind
Renewable nature. The main feature of this is, it energy, geothermal
(Non can be extracted without causing energy, tidal energy,
Conventional) pollution.
biomass.

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Non renewable energy is the

energy obtained from the
Non renewable
conventional fuels which are Coal, oil, gas, Hydro
energy
exhaustible today or tomorrow power, Diesel power.
Conventional
with time.

This is the energy accessible

from market at certain price.
These are the cardinal source
Electricity, lignite,
for industrialized countries as it
Commercial coal, oil, natural, gas
is basic need for industries,
etc.
commercial transport and
agricultural sectors.

These sources are not available

in the market unlike previous
Firewood , cattle,
type for a price. Instead these
None dung sugarcane crush
are traditionally gathered. Also
commercial ,solar thermal water
termed as traditional fuel and
heating etc.
mostly shrugged off in energy
accounting.

3. Global and Indian Energy Sources

Almost 87% of the world‘s total primary energy supply in the year 2014 comprises non-
renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas, coal and uranium. International Energy Agencies
predict further increase in demand for all kinds of non-renewables. Except for conventional oil,
global reserves appear to adequately cover the long term energy demand. The figure below shows the
fossil fuel extraction remaining for future as on 2013.

Fig: Years of fossil fuel extraction remaining as on 2013

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Oil is of tremendous importance for transportation, heat generation, and chemical industry;
natural gas is primarily important for heat and electricity production as well as for the chemical
industry. Coal is needed for electricity and steel production and uranium for electricity production.
Therefore, it is important to have knowledge of the reserves of these energy resources.

3.1. Global Energy Resources

 Non-renewable energy resources are coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear.
 Renewable energy resources are solar, bio-energy, wind, geothermal etc.
 Till 1800, only biomass was used. Expansion of oil did not begin until 1870.
 Coal consumption has increased significantly by 1900.
 Then, the oil usage increased in the mid of 20th century.
 The world moved in to nuclear electricity production by 1960.
 Till 1990, the renewable energy resources (like solar, wind, tidal etc.) were not used. After
that these resources are being used in larger quantities.
 Other energy resources like geothermal and marine technologies are not widely used because
of smaller amount of production.
 In 2015, the world consumed about 1,46,000 TWh of primary energy. It is 25 times more than
in 1800.

Other
Large Hydro Renewables
6% 2%
Nuclear
6%
Biomass Oil
11% 33%

Coal
22% Natural gas
21%

Fig: Percentage contribution of various energy sources to world primary

energy consumption

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(a) Oil Reserves

The world‘s oil reserves were estimated at a little over 300 billion barrels in 1963, about 998
billion barrels in 1994, 1016 billion barrels in 2000; but estimates have increased reserves to more
than 1300 billion barrels as 0f 2014. Vigorous exploration activities around the world resulted in
many new discoveries and exponential increase in the world reserves.
About 90% of the worlds proved reserves of crude oil are accounted for about 15 countries.
According to current estimates, 81.5% of the world‘s proven crude oil reserves are located in OPEC
member countries, with the bulk of OPEC oil reserves in the Middle East, amounting to 65.5% of the
OPEC total. Current exploration efforts are bound to prove additional reserves (especially in
countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Norway, India, Malaysia, Egypt, Australia and other large
countries) and it will add substantially to the known world reserves.

Fig: World oil reserves (Source: OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2017)
(b) Natural Gas Reserves
In contrast to the situation with crude oil, world reserves of natural gas have steadily
increased over the last two decades at a much faster rate. World‘s total proven natural gas reserves at
the end of 2014 stood at 187.1 trillion cubic metres (tcm), sufficient to meet 54.1 years of global
production. Based on data from British Petroleum Statistical Review, at the end of 2014, proved gas
reserves were dominated by three countries; Iran (34 tcm), Russia (32.6 tcm), and Qatar (24.5 tcm).

Global LNG supplies expand more than double over the outlook, with around 40% of that
expansion occurring over the next five years. The sustained growth in global LNG supplies greatly
increases the availability of gas around the world, with LNG volumes overtaking inter-regional
pipeline shipments in the early 2020s.

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Fig: Estimate of world natural gas reserves by region

(c) Coal Reserves
Coal is one of the most important energy resources of the world, and it was the first of the
fossil fuels to be used by mankind as a major source of energy. Most recent estimates confirm that
the world has very large quantities of recoverable coal reserves (about 900 billion tones in 2014).
There is enough coal to last for more than 100 years at current rates of production. Almost 73% of
the coal resources are concentrated in five countries; US (26.6%), Russia (17.6%), China (12.8%),
Australia (8.6%) and India (6.8%) as shown in figure below.

Fig: Estimate of coal reserves by top five countries

(d) Nuclear Energy Reserves
Nuclear energy has been a vital component of energy industry throughout the world and it
will remain so as technological advancements are made. The worlds known uranium resources
increased by about one-quarter in the last decade due to increased mineral exploration. The recent

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estimates confirm that the world has very large quantities of about 5.9 million tonnes (in 2013)
recoverable uranium reserves. Thus, the world‘s present measured resources of uranium used only in
conventional reactors are enough to last for about 90 years. The table below gives some idea about
present uranium resources. It can be seen that Australia has a substantial part (about 29%) of the
world‘s uranium, Kazakhstan 12%, Russia 9% and Canada 8%.

Table: Known recoverable resources of Uranium in 2013

(Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – Nuclear Energy Association)
Country Tonnes of U % of world reserve
Australia 1,706,100 29%
Kazakhstan 678,300 12%
Russia 505,900 9%
Canada 493,900 8%
Niger 404,900 7%
Namibia 382,800 6%
South Africa 338,100 6%
Brazil 276,100 5%
USA 207,400 4%
China 199,100 4%
Others 191,500 12%
World Total 5,902,500 100%

(e) Hydro – Electric Reserves

Hydro electricity will remain the predominant form of renewable energy in the world.
Countries and areas with mountains or plateau regions make for prime locations of hydroelectric
plants and have the greatest potential for hydro power. The recent estimates (in 2014) confirm that
the world hydroelectricity production and consumption is about 3884.6 Terrawatt-hour. Region-wise
global hydroelectricity production is shown in figure below. The countries producing most of the
hydroelectricity include China (27.4%), Canada (9.8%), Brazil (9.5%), US (6.7%), Russia (4.5%),
Norway (3.5%), India (3.4%), Japan (2.3%) etc.

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3.2. Indian Energy Resources

India is the largest energy consumer in the world. The energy sources in India are classified as:

 Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, geothermal, tidal etc.

 Non-Renewable: Coal, Petroleum, nuclear power etc.
The energy sources and their percentage are given below:
 Thermal – 67%
 Hydro – 17%
 Renewable energy – 13%
 Nuclear – 3%

India has a vast supply of renewable energy resources and it has one of the largest programs in
the world for deploying renewable energy products and systems. Renewable energy sources
contribute around 13% to the total power generation in the country producing 31,692 MW (as on
2014). There is high potential for generation of renewable energy from various sources – wind, solar,
biomass, small hydro etc.

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3.2.1. Wind Energy

 The use of wind energy is rapidly increasing in India.
 India has installed a total capacity of 19,933 MW
3.2.2. Solar Energy
 India‘s theoretically calculated solar energy incidence on its land area alone is about 5,000
trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year.
 Solar energy can be easily used. Solar potential of India stands at 748 GW.
 In 2013, total capacity of 2219 MW was installed.
3.2.3. Tidal Energy
 Tide is periodic rise and fall of water level of the sea. It gives no harmful greenhouse
emissions.
 Tidal energy in India started in Gulf of Kutch which is still not completed.
 According to studies, the identified economic power potential is of the order of 8000 MW in
Gulf of Cambay, 1200 MW in the Gulf of Kutch in the state of Gujarat and 100 MW in
Ganges delta in the Sundarbans region in the state of West Bengal.
3.2.4. Biomass Energy
 Biomass is a renewable energy source obtained from waste materials. In India, bio energy is
installed with a capacity of 41449 MW
3.2.5. Geothermal Energy
 It is obtained from earth‘s crust.
 It can be divided in to four types: Hydrothermal, Geo pressured geothermal resource, hot dry
rock deposit, and magma source.
 In 1992, geothermal binary cycle plant (capacity 5 MW) was installed in Himachal Pradesh.
3.2.6. Coal Reserves
 It is the prime source of energy in India and accounts for 56% of commercial energy
requirement.
 India has total coal reserves of 240,748 million tonnes.
 Jharkhand (26.81%) has the maximum share in the overall reserves of coal in the country
followed by Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, AP, Maharashtra etc.
 Coal production was 211.73 million tonnes in 1990-91 which raised to 360 million tonnes in
2002-03 and to 730 million tonnes in 2016-17.

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Fig: Estimated reserves of coal in India (as on 2014)

3.2.7. Petroleum & Natural Gas Reserves

Fig: Estimated reserves of Crude oil & Natural gas in India (geographical distribution as on 2014)

 Crude oil is extracted from oil production wells, drilled either on-shore or off-shore.
 India is the world‘s sixth largest energy consumer, but produces only 30% of 110 million
tonnes of petroleum products it consumes.
 The estimated reserve of crude oil in India is at 762.74 million tonnes. (as on 2014)
 The estimated reserves of natural gas in India stood at 1427.15 billion cubic meters (BCM).
3.2.8. Hydroelectric Energy Reserves
 India is blessed with immense amount of hydroelectric potential and ranks 5th in terms of
exploitable hydro-potential on global scenario.
 India has an exploitable hydro-power potential of the range of 1,48,700 MW installed
capacity.
 Pumped storage projects – 56 nos (94,000 MW)
 Small, mini and micro schemes – 6782 MW from 1512 sites.
 Thus, total hydro potential is about 2,50,000 MW.

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3.2.9. Nuclear Power

 India‘s installed nuclear capacity for power generation is 4780 MW which is about 3% of the
total capacity.
 The natural uranium is used as fuel which is mined from our own resources of about 78,000
tonnes.

4. Global & Indian Energy Consumption

4.1. Global Energy Consumption

 Global primary energy consumption grew strongly in 2017, led by natural gas and renewable,
with coal‘s share of the energy mix continuing to decline.
 Primary energy consumption growth averaged 2.2% in 2017, up from 1.2% last year and the
fastest since 2013. This compares with the 10-year average of 1.7% per year.
 By fuel, natural gas accounted for the largest increment in energy consumption, followed by
renewables and then oil.
 Energy consumption rose by 3.1% in China. China was the largest growth market for energy
for the 17th consecutive year.
 Global energy demand will increase by around 30% in 2035 with an average growth of 1.3%
per year.
 Non – fossil fuels are expected to account for half of the growth in energy supplies over the
next 20 years.

World total primary energy supply (TPES), or "primary energy" differs from the world final
energy consumption because much of the energy that is acquired by humans is lost as other forms of
energy during the process of its refinement into usable forms of energy and its transport from its
initial place of supply to consumers. For instance, when oil is extracted from the ground it must be
refined into gasoline, so that it can be used in a car, and transported over long distances to gas
stations where it can be used by consumers. World final energy consumption refers to the fraction of
the world's primary energy that is used in its final form by humanity. In 2014, world primary energy
supply amounted to 155,481 terawatt-hour (TWh), while the world final energy consumption was
109,613 TWh or about 29.5% less than the total supply. According to International Energy Agency
(IEA) data from 1990 to 2008, the average energy use per person increased 10% while world
population increased 27%.

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Regional energy use also grew from 1990 to 2008: the Middle East increased by 170%, China by
146%, India by 91%, Africa by 70%, Latin America by 66%, the USA by 20%, the EU-27 block by
7%, and world overall grew by 39%.

Others
(Renewables)
2%

Coal
Oil 30%
33%

Natural Gas
24%
Nuclear
4%
Hydro
7%

Fig: World total primary energy consumption by fuel in 2015

4.2. Indian Energy Consumption
India‘s energy demand was increased by 3.7% in 2016, but imports increased by 5.7% for
CNG, LNG and gasoline. In India, the unbalanced consumption and demand equation clearly reflect
the shortages in supply.

Fig: India‘s energy consumption by fuel sources in 2012

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Oil is of tremendous importance for transportation, heat generation, and chemical industry;
natural gas is primarily important for heat and electricity production as well as for the chemical
industry. Coal is needed for electricity and steel production and uranium for electricity production.
Therefore, it is important to have knowledge of the reserves of these energy resources.

3.1. Global Energy Resources

 Non-renewable energy resources are coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear.
 Renewable energy resources are solar, bio-energy, wind, geothermal etc.
 Till 1800, only biomass was used. Expansion of oil did not begin until 1870.
 Coal consumption has increased significantly by 1900.
 Then, the oil usage increased in the mid of 20th century.
 The world moved in to nuclear electricity production by 1960.
 Till 1990, the renewable energy resources (like solar, wind, tidal etc.) were not used. After
that these resources are being used in larger quantities.
 Other energy resources like geothermal and marine technologies are not widely used because
of smaller amount of production.
 In 2015, the world consumed about 1,46,000 TWh of primary energy. It is 25 times more than
in 1800.

Other
Large Hydro Renewables
6% 2%
Nuclear
6%
Biomass Oil
11% 33%

Coal
22% Natural gas
21%

Fig: Percentage contribution of various energy sources to world primary

energy consumption

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The various problems related to the use of fossil fuels are described below:

5.1. Climate Change

The rise in mean surface temperature of the earth due to emission of greenhouse gases will
probably cause an increased frequency of climatic extremes, such as floods or droughts, and serious
disruption to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Mean sea levels are likely to rise by around 0.5m by
the end of the century which would inundate some low-lying areas. And beyond 2100, much greater
sea level rises could occur if major Antarctic ice sheets were to melt. Reduction of carbon dioxide
emissions in the range of 60-80% may be needed by the end of 21st century and, ultimately switch to
low or zero – carbon energy sources such as renewables.

5.2. Non-renewable

Nonrenewable energy sources are destined to deplete in the near future. Fossil fuels do not
qualify as renewable energy resources because their supply is limited. In fact, they are projected to
run out in the next 50 years. Also, formation of fossil fuels takes years, which means when they
deplete, we may have to wait for another 60 years or so for new ones to form.

5.3. Environmental Hazards

Environmental pollution is one of the major disadvantages of fossil fuels. It is a known fact
that carbon dioxide, gas released when fossil fuels are burnt, is one of the primary gas responsible
for global warming. Rise in temperature of earth has resulted in melting of polar ice caps, flooding of
low lying areas and rise in sea levels. If such conditions continue, our planet Earth might face some
serious consequences in near future.

5.4. Accidents can be disastrous

Unlike renewable energy resources like solar and wind, accidents involving fossil fuels are
highly dangerous and can cause massive damage. Oil spills have occurred in the past, especially in
the United States. Oil spills lead to pollution of water bodies and death of aquatic animals including
those living offshore. Also, the environment around the shore is severely devastated.

5.5. Effect on Human Health

Emissions of greenhouse gasses and other toxic elements as a result of fossil fuel combustion
can cause serious health complications such as chronic asthma, low lung functioning, chronic
bronchitis and cardiovascular diseases

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5.6. Need Huge Amount of Reserves

The coal power plants require huge and regular supply of coal to produce large amount of
energy on a constant basis. This means that these plants need train-loads of fuel near power stations
to carry out the process of generating power. This is needed as many countries are still dependent on
coal as a major source for producing power.

5.7. Impact on Aquatic Life by Oil Spill

Fossil fuels are needed in huge reserves wherever their plants are set up. This requires them
to be transported to the desired location via truck, train, ship or airplane. Often we hear of some leaks
in oil tankers or ship getting drowned deep under the sea that were carrying crude oil to get refined.
The impact of this is that crude oil contains some toxic substances which when mixed up with water
poses serious impact on aquatic life. Transportation of crude oil via sea can cause oil spill which can
pose hazard to the aquatic life by lessening the oxygen content of water

5.8. Pollution
The release of hazardous chemicals from fossil fuel combustion cause unknown quantities of
people to be diagnosed with ailments such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease and
developmental impairments – especially vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Toxins
include oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulphur (SOx), and fine particulates including heavy
metals, which cannot be filtered.

6. Energy and Sustainable Development

Sustainable energy is energy that is consumed at insignificant rates compared to its supply
and with manageable collateral effects, especially environmental effects. Another common definition
of sustainable energy is an energy system that serves the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their energy needs. Not all renewable energy is sustainable.
While renewable energy is defined as energy sources that are naturally replenished on a human
timescale, sustainable (often referred to as 'clean') energy must not compromise the system in which
it is adopted to the point of being unable to provide for future need.

The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the
four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture. Technologies
promote sustainable energy including renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar
energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal energy, bio-energy, tidal power and also technologies

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(a) Oil Reserves

The world‘s oil reserves were estimated at a little over 300 billion barrels in 1963, about 998
billion barrels in 1994, 1016 billion barrels in 2000; but estimates have increased reserves to more
than 1300 billion barrels as 0f 2014. Vigorous exploration activities around the world resulted in
many new discoveries and exponential increase in the world reserves.
About 90% of the worlds proved reserves of crude oil are accounted for about 15 countries.
According to current estimates, 81.5% of the world‘s proven crude oil reserves are located in OPEC
member countries, with the bulk of OPEC oil reserves in the Middle East, amounting to 65.5% of the
OPEC total. Current exploration efforts are bound to prove additional reserves (especially in
countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Norway, India, Malaysia, Egypt, Australia and other large
countries) and it will add substantially to the known world reserves.

Fig: World oil reserves (Source: OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin 2017)
(b) Natural Gas Reserves
In contrast to the situation with crude oil, world reserves of natural gas have steadily
increased over the last two decades at a much faster rate. World‘s total proven natural gas reserves at
the end of 2014 stood at 187.1 trillion cubic metres (tcm), sufficient to meet 54.1 years of global
production. Based on data from British Petroleum Statistical Review, at the end of 2014, proved gas
reserves were dominated by three countries; Iran (34 tcm), Russia (32.6 tcm), and Qatar (24.5 tcm).

Global LNG supplies expand more than double over the outlook, with around 40% of that
expansion occurring over the next five years. The sustained growth in global LNG supplies greatly
increases the availability of gas around the world, with LNG volumes overtaking inter-regional
pipeline shipments in the early 2020s.

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7. Energy Planning

Energy planning is the process of developing long-range policies to help guide the future of
a local, national, regional or even the global energy system. Energy planning is often conducted
within Governmental organizations but may also be carried out by large energy companies such
as electric utilities or oil and gas producers. Energy planning may be carried out with input from
different stakeholders drawn from government agencies, local utilities, academia and other interest
groups.

Sustainable Energy Planning takes a more holistic approach to the problem of planning for
future energy needs. It is based on a structured decision making process based on seven key steps,
namely:

1. Exploration of the context of the current and future situation

2. Formulation of particular problems and opportunities which need to be addressed as part of the
Sustainable Energy Planning process. This could include such issues as "Peak Oil" or "Economic
Recession/Depression", as well as the development of energy demand technologies.

3. Create a range of models to predict the likely impact of different scenarios.

4. Based on the output from a wide range of modelling exercises and literature reviews, open forum
discussion etc., the results are analyzed and structured in an easily interpreted format.

5. The results are then interpreted in order to determine the scope, scale and likely implementation
methodologies which would be required to ensure successful implementation.

6. This stage is a quality assurance process which actively interrogates each stage of the Sustainable
Energy Planning process and checks if it has been carried out rigorously, without any bias and that it
furthers the aims of sustainable development and does not act against them.

7. The last stage of the process is to take action. This may consist of the development, publication
and implementation of a range of policies, regulations, procedures or tasks which together will help
to achieve the goals of the Sustainable Energy Plan.

Sustainable energy planning is particularly appropriate for communities who want to develop
their own energy security, while employing best available practice in their planning processes.

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8. Renewable Energy Sources – Potentials and Achievements

Renewable energy can be defined as ‗energy obtained from the continuous or repetitive
currents of energy occurring in the natural environment. They are the energy flows which are
replenished at the same rate as they are used. They occur in nature which is regenerative or
inexhaustible like solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, tidal and wave
energy. Most of these alternative sources are the manifestation of solar energy as shown in figure
below.

Fig: Renewable sources of energy

India has been making continuous progress in conventional as well as renewable power
generation. The need for renewable energy arises as energy security is important to our country. As
per World Energy Outlook report, India will become the third largest net importer of oil before 2025
after the United States and China. It will not be sustainable in the long run given the high volatility of
international crude oil prices. India‘s approach is to meet its energy needs in a responsible,
sustainable and eco-friendly manner. The country has made a remarkable growth recently in the field
of renewable energy power generation.

8.1. Renewable Energy Potential in India

India has a vast supply of renewable energy resources and it has one of the largest programs
in the world for deploying renewable energy products and systems. India has been making
continuous progress in conventional as well as renewable power generation. It is observed that the
renewable grid capacity has increased from 1628 MW (in 2002) to 31,692 MW (in 2014). Hence,
renewable energy sources contribute more around 12% to the total power generation in the country
as on 2014.

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There is high potential for generation of renewable energy from various sources – wind, solar,
biomass, small hydro, geothermal, wave etc. The total potential for renewable power generation in
the country as on 2014 was estimated as 1,47,615 MW. It includes wind power potential of 1,02,772
MW (70%), small-hydro power (SHP) potential of 19,749 MW (13.38%) and biogas power potential
of 17,538 MW (12%).

Fig: Estimated potential of renewable power in India (as on 2014)

The figure reveals that Gujarat has the highest share of renewable power potential – 36956
MW (about 25%), followed by Karnataka – 19315 MW (13%) and Tamil Nadu with 11.17% share
(16483 MW), mainly on account of wind power potential. The renewable energy potential of top 5
states which has more than 67% of total potential of India is given in table below:

Table: Source wise and State wise estimated potential of renewable power in top five states (in MW) as on 2014

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8.1.1. Solar Energy Potential in India

With about 300 clear, sunny days in a year, India‘s theoretically calculated solar energy
incidence on its land area alone is about 5,000 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. Solar potential
of India stands at 748 GW. The solar energy available in a year exceeds the possible energy output of
all fossil fuel energy reserves in India. The daily average solar power plant generation capacity over
India is 0.25 kWh per m2 of used land area which is equivalent to about 1500-2000 peak (rated)
capacity operating hours in a year with the available commercially – proven technologies.

8.1.2. Tidal Energy Potential in India

As per studies, the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat and Sundarbans area West
Bengal are the only potential sites in India for the development of tidal energy projects. According to
studies carried out by Central Electrical Authority (CEA), the identified economic power potential is
of the order of 8000 MW in Gulf of Cambay, 1200 MW in the Gulf of Kutch in the state of Gujarat
and 100 MW in Ganges delta in the Sundarbans region in the state of West Bengal.

8.2. Renewable Energy Achievements in India

Table: Renewable Energy Achievements in India (during the year 2015-16)

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Data published by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) reveals that India‘s total
installed cumulative capacity of grid – interactive renewable energy is 263.66 GW as on march 2015.
The table shows the renewable energy achievements in India during the financial year 2015-16. All
sectors of renewable energy are being developed and promoted in India. However, the wind power
program has been the fastest growing contributing to around 75% of the grid – connected renewable
energy power installed capacity.
8.2.1. Wind Power
 The development of wind power in India began in 1990s and it has significantly increased in
the last few years.
 India now ranks 5th in the world, with the total wind power capacity of 24088 MW (as on
2015).
 Most of the capacity is installed in the state of Tamil Nadu (7394 MW).
 Other more contributing states of wind power are: Maharashtra (4370 MW), Gujarat (3582
MW), Rajasthan (3053 MW) and Andhra Pradesh (2549 MW).
8.2.2. Solar Energy
 India possesses a very large solar energy resource which is seen as the highest potential for
future.
 25 MW was added in 2010 and 468 MW in 2011.
 As on 2015, the installed grid connected solar power capacity is 4229 MW.
 With the current solar generation capacity, India stands 11th rank in the world production.
8.2.3. Biomass Energy
 Biomass energy has 25 GW of potential out of which around 2.1 GW has been realized.
 There are plans to cover about 10,000 villages from biomass-based systems and over 1000
villages from solar power by 2022.
8.2.4. Small Hydro Plants
 Small Hydro Plants are supposed to have a 15 GW potential out of which about 4 GW has
been realized.
 Under the small – hydro category, 106.55 MW generation capacities was added till October
2015 taking the total generation capacity in this segment to 4161.90 MW.
 The central government has set a target of adding 250 MW of small-hydro power generation
capacity in coming financial year.

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9. Applications of Renewable Energy Sources

9.1. Solar Energy
 Solar energy can be utilized through two different routes, as solar thermal route and solar
electric (solar photovoltaic) routes.
 Solar thermal route uses the sun's heat to produce hot water or air, cook food, drying
materials etc. Solar photovoltaic uses sun's heat to produce electricity for lighting home and
building, running motors, pumps, electric appliances, and lighting.
 In solar thermal route, solar energy can be converted into thermal energy with the help of
solar collectors and receivers known as solar thermal devices.
 The Solar-Thermal devices can be classified into three categories:
o Low-Grade Heating Devices - up to the temperature of 100°C.
o Medium-Grade Heating Devices -up to the temperature of 100°-300°C.
o High-Grade Heating Devices -above temperature of 300°C.
 Low-grade solar thermal devices are used in solar water heaters, air-heaters, solar cookers
and solar dryers for domestic and industrial applications.
9.2. Wind Energy
 Utility interconnected wind turbines generate power which is synchronous with the grid and
are used to reduce utility bills by displacing the utility power used in the household and by
selling the excess power back to the electric company.
 Wind turbines for remote homes (off the grid) generate DC current for battery charging.
 Wind turbines for remote water pumping generate 3 phase AC current suitable for driving an
electrical submersible pump directly.
 Wind turbines suitable for residential or village scale wind power range from 500 Watts to 50
kilowatts.
9.3. Bio - energy
 Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous waste of various
human and natural activities. It is derived from numerous sources, including the by-products
from the wood industry, agricultural crops, raw material from the forest, household wastes
etc.
 Bio energy is being used for cooking, mechanical applications, pumping, power generation
etc.

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 Biomass briquettes can replace almost all conventional fuels like coal, firewood and lignite in
almost all general applications like heating, steam generation etc.
 It can be used directly as fuel instead of coal in the traditional chulhas and furnaces or in the
gasifier. Gasifier converts solid fuel into a more convenient-to-use gaseous form of fuel
called producer gas.
 Using biomass gas, it possible to operate a diesel engine on dual fuel mode-part diesel and
part biomass gas. Diesel substitution of the order of 75 to 80% can be obtained at nominal
loads.
 The mechanical energy thus derived can be used either for energizing a water pump set for
irrigational purpose or for coupling with an alternator for electrical power generation.
 Direct combustion of biomass has been recognized as an important route for generation of
power by utilization of vast amounts of agricultural residues, agro-industrial residues and
forest wastes.
 Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels—
biofuels— for our transportation needs (cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and trains). The two
most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.
9.4. Tidal Energy
 Tidal electricity generation involves the construction of a barrage across an estuary to block
the incoming and outgoing tide.
 The head of water is then used to drive turbines to generate electricity from the elevated water
in the basin as in hydroelectric dams.
9.5. Ocean Energy
 The ocean contains two types of energy: thermal energy from the sun's heat, and mechanical
energy from the tides and waves.
 Ocean thermal energy is used for many applications, including electricity generation. There
are three types of electricity conversion systems: closed-cycle, open cycle, and hybrid.
 Closed cycle systems use the ocean's warm surface water to vaporize a working fluid, which
has a low boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapour expands and turns a turbine. The
turbine then activates a generator to produce electricity.
 Open-cycle systems actually boil the seawater by operating at low pressures. This produces
steam that passes through a turbine / generator.
 The hybrid systems combine both closed-cycle and open-cycle systems.

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