MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT (MSW)

Following 3R’s is the best option

a) Reduce: Reduce the usage of raw materials

b) Reuse: Refillable container which is discarded after using can be reused.

c) Recycling: Recycling of discarded materials into new
products.

STEPS INVOLVED

Flow chart
Generation of wastes

On-site storage

Collection of wastes

Transportation

Off-site storage

Segregation of wastes

Disposal of waste

Disposal Methods:
a) Land fill b) Incineration c) Composting

a) Land fill:
➢ Solid wastes are placed in sanitary landfill system in alternate layers of 80 cm
thickness of refuse
➢ Covered with selected earth fill of 20 cm thickness
➢ After 2 or 3 days solid wastes volume shrinks by 25-30%
➢ Then the land is used for parks, roads, small buildings etc.

Advantages

1. Simple and economical

2. Segregation is not required Disadvantages:
3. Landfill areas can be used for other purposes
4.. Natural resources are retained to the soil. 1. Large area is required
2. Transportations cost is heavy.
3. Bad odors, if landfill is not properly
managed
4. Insecticides, pesticides should be
applied at regular intervals
5. Causes of fire hazards due to
formation of methane
b) Incineration (or) Thermal process

➢ In this method combustible substances (rubbish, garbage, dead

organisms) & non-combustable substances (glass, porcelain,
metals) are separated first.
➢ The combustible waste substances are first dried in a preheater
➢ Then it is taken in a large incinerating furnace which incinerate about 100 to
150 tonnes per hour
➢ The temperature is maintained between 700ºC to 1000ºC
➢ The left out ashes & clinkers from the furnace is further disposed
➢ The heat produced in the incinerator is used for generating electricity
➢ The non combustible substances are left out for recycling

Advantages
1. Little space is required
2. Reduces the volume of solid wastes upto 80%
3. Electricity can be produced
Disadvantages
1. Capital & operating cost is high
2. Skilled personnel is needed
3. Air pollution occurs if proper technology is not followed

c) Composting:

➢ In this method the bulk organic waste is converted into fertilizer by biological
action
➢ The separated compostable waste is dumped in underground trenches(1.5m)
➢ Covered with earth of 20 cm and left over for decomposition
➢ Microorganism (actinomycetes) is introduced to start decomposition.
➢ After 2 or 3 days the organic waste are destroyed by microorganism and
produce heat
➢ Composting will raise the temperature of about 75ºC
➢ Finally the refuse can converted to powdery brown colored odorless mass
called Humus (fertilizer).
➢ It contains lots of nitrogen, plants growth phosphates and other minerals.

Advantages:
1. Increase of water retention and ion exchange character of soil
2. Number of industrial wastes can also be treated by this method
3. Manure can be produced
Disadvantages:
1. Non combustible have to disposed separately
2. No assured market for manure
 HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
Hazardous waste
It is a type of waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect to
human health or the environment.
Characteristics and Types of Hazardous waste
• Corrosivity - Corrosive wastes are various materials like solids that are either acids/bases or make
acidic/alkaline solutions.
A corrosive waste is one with a pH level at/under 2.0 or at/above 12.5.
• Ignitability - In certain situations, these wastes can spark fires, have a flash point under 60°C
(140°F), or blow up (spontaneous combustion). Some examples include used solvents and waste oil.
• Reactivity - This kind of waste results in chemical reactions in particular conditions. This can trigger
explosions or give off different gases, fumes, or vapors. The activity happens when the substance is
mixed with H2O or compressed.
e. g. unused explosives and lithium/sulfur batteries.
• Toxicity - Toxic waste is dangerous or deadly when it’s absorbed or indigested. e.g. lead, mercury,
DDT, etc.
Hazardous waste Management
1. Analysis - This step involves determining whether a material is hazardous, as well as its specific
classification and properties.
2. Collection and storage: When large quantities are generated, special facilities are used that have
sufficient capacity to hold wastes accumulated over a period of several days. When only a small amount
is generated, the waste can be containerized and stored. Containers and facilities used in hazardous
waste storage and handling are selected on the basis of waste characteristics. For example, corrosive
acids or caustic solutions are stored in fiberglass or glass-lined containers to prevent deterioration of
metals in the container. Great care must also be exercised to avoid storing incompatible wastes in the
same container or locations.
3. Transportation: Hazardous waste must be transported in large vehicles using appropriate containers.
4. Treatment: Before disposal of wastes, they must be treated by following physical, chemical &
biological treatment methods.
Physical methods – Screening, sedimentation, centrifugation, floatation, adsorption etc.
Chemical methods – Neutralization process for acidic/ basic wastes, oxidation & reduction
methods, electrolysis etc.
Biological methods – Microorganisms are used to degrade hazardous wastes
e. g. Psuedomonas and flavo bacterium to degrade PCBs, benzene, cresol etc.
5. Disposal:
a) Secure landfills
 Landfilling of hazardous solid or containerized waste is regulated more stringently than
landfilling of municipal solid waste.
 Hazardous wastes must be deposited in so-called secure landfills, which provide at least 3
metres (10 feet) of separation between the bottom of the landfill and
the underlying bedrock or groundwater table.
  A secure hazardous-waste landfill must have two impermeable liners and leachate collection
systems.
 The double leachate collection system consists of a network of perforated pipes placed above
each liner. The upper system prevents the accumulation of leachate trapped in the fill, and the
lower serves as a backup.
 Collected leachate is pumped to a treatment plant. In order to reduce the amount of leachate in
the fill and minimize the potential for environmental damage, an impermeable cap or cover is
placed over a finished landfill.
 A groundwater monitoring system that includes a series of deep wells drilled in and around the
site is also required. The wells allow a routine program of sampling and testing to detect any
leaks or groundwater contamination.

b) Deep-well injection

The disposal of liquid hazardous waste is done by deep-well injection, a procedure that involves
pumping liquid waste through a steel casing into a porous layer of limestone or sandstone. High
pressures are applied to force the liquid into the pores and fissures of the rock, where it is to be
permanently stored. The injection zone must lie below a layer of impervious rock or clay, and it may
extend more than 0.8 km (0.5 mile) below the surface. Deep-well injection is relatively inexpensive
and requires little or no pre treatment of the waste, but it poses a danger of leaking hazardous waste
and eventually polluting subsurface water supplies.
c) Incineration
Incineration is the process of burning hazardous materials at temperatures high enough to destroy
contaminants. Incineration is conducted in an “incinerator,” which is a type of furnace designed for
burning hazardous materials in a combustion chamber.
Many different types of hazardous materials can be treated by incineration, including soil, sludge,
liquids, and gases. Although it destroys many kinds of harmful chemicals, such as solvents, PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyls), and pesticides.
Incineration does not destroy metals, such as lead and chromium.
 E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

E-Waste: E-waste is electronic and electrical products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the
end of their “useful life.”
Sources of E-waste:
1. Waste generated from the products used for data processing like computers and computer devices such as
monitors, printers, key boards, speakers etc.
2. Electronic devices used for entertainment like televisions, VCRs, DVDs and CD players
3. Devices used for communication such as cell phones, fax machines etc.
4. House hold equipments such as vaccum cleaners, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens
etc.
Effects of E-wastes on human being:

S.No. Source Constituent Effects

1. Solders in Printed Circuit Lead Damage to central nervous
Boards system
Affects brain development of
children
2. Chip resistors and Cadmium Accumulates in kidney &
semiconductors liver
Causes neural damage
3. Cables and computer PVC Immune system damage
housings

4. Front panel CRTs Barium Muscle weakness, Damage to

heart, liver & spleen
5. Motherboard Beryllium Carcinogenic -lung cancer

E-waste management:
1. Inventory management – Reduction of waste at source by reviewing purchase of materials
2. Production-process manage modification - modification in procedures & equipment
3. Sustainable product design – Design of products with less hazardous waste
4. Recovery and Reuse – Useful parts from wastes are recovered and reused
 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMNT SYSTEM (OHASMS)
OHASMS:
 As per a statistic by International Labor Organization, more than 7500 labor dies every year
from work related accidents and risks exposure.
 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is one such body which certifies the quality
management system related to health and safety of workers on various principles and norms and
on its satisfaction, it grants the ISO Certificate ISO 45001:2018 to business organization with
an annual inspection or audit.
 It provides guidelines and procedures to minimize the risk exposure to employees and other
workers at the work place. It establishes principles that there is proper health and safety
mechanism for workers and employees and a consistent mechanism for further improvement.

 Organizations that implement the ISO 45001 standard will be able to provide a safe and healthy
work environment and prevent work-related injury, accidents, and ill health which will, in turn,
prolong the organizations’ lifespan.
CASE STUDY
Radium Girls - The Radium Girls were female factory workers who contracted radiation
poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. The incidents occurred at three different
factories in United States: one in Orange, New Jersey, beginning around 1917; one in Ottawa, Illinois,
beginning in the early 1920s; and a third facility in Waterbury, Connecticut, also in the 1920s.
After being told that the paint was harmless, the women in each facility ingested deadly amounts
of radium after being instructed to "point" their brushes on their lips in order to give them a fine
tip; some also painted their fingernails, faces and teeth with the glowing substance.
Many of the women later began to develop anemia, bone fractures, and necrosis of the jaw, a condition
now known as radium jaw. The women also experienced suppression of menstruation, and sterility.
 ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND LAWS – IMPORTANT PROTECTION ACTS

WATER ACT 1974:

This act provides for maintaining & restoring the source of water
Provides guidelines for preventing & controlling water pollution.
Objectives:
To protect water from all kinds of pollution
To preserve the quality of water
Establishment of Central & State Boards for preventing water pollution
Restrain any person for discharging sewage/effluent into any water body
Any contravention of the standards leads to prison for 3 to 6 months
Requires permission to set up an industry which discharges effluent.

State pollution Control Board:

Take step to establish any industry, disposal system, extension/addition in industry, discharge of effluent
into river
Use any new / altered outlet for discharge of sewage
Begin to make any new discharge of sewage.

Punishment: Stoppage of supply of electricity, water / any other services

Imprisonment for 1½ years to 6 years & Rs. 5000/- fine.

AIR ACT 1981:

Enacted in the Conference held at Stockholm in 1972.
Deals with problems related to air pollution, quality of air etc.

Objectives of air act:

To prevent, control & abatement of air pollution
To maintain the quality of air

Important features of air pollution:

The Central Board settle disputes between state boards, provide technical assistance & guidance to State board.
The State Board verify the emissions of air pollutants from industrial / automobile units
The State Board Collect information about air pollution
SB examine the standards of manufacturing process & control equipment
SB can advise State Government to declare the heavily polluted areas & advice to avoid burning of waste products.
Operation of industrial unit is prohibited in a heavily polluted areas
Violation of law is punishable with imprisonment & Fine
FOREST ACT 1980:
Provides conservation of forests & related aspects.Arrest deforestation
Objectives:
To protect & conserve the forest
To ensure judicious use of forest products
Important Features of Forest Act:
Forests are not diverted without the prior permission of the Central Government
Land registered for forest may not be used for non-forest purposes
Any illegal activity in a forest area can be stopped immediately
Clearance of forest land for re-afforestation is forbidden
One who violates the forest law is punishable.

Wildlife Act 1972:

Aimed to protect & preserve wildlife.
Wildlife refers to all animals & plants
It is declining due to human actions for wildlife’s skins, furs, feathers, ivory etc.
Objectives:
To maintain ecological process & life supporting system
To preserve biodiversity
To ensure a continuous use of species.

Important Features:
Provides wildlife related terminologies
Appointment of wildlife advisory board, their powers, duties etc.
List of endangered species & prohibition of hunting them
Covers the right & non-rights of forest dwellers
Provides restricted grazing in sanctuaries & prohibits in national parks
Prohibits the collection of non-timber forest.
Provides legal power to officers & punishment to offenders

Environmental Protection Act 1986:

It is a general legislation law to rectify the gaps & laps in above acts.
This act empowers the Central Govt. to fix the standard of quality of air, water, soil &
noise.
Objectives:
To protect & improvement of the environment
To prevent hazards to all living creatures & property
To maintain peaceful relationship between humans & their environment

Important Features of Environment Act:

Empowers safeguard measures to Prevent accidents which cause pollution.
Gives remedial measures if accident occurs.
The Govt. has authority to close or prohibit or regulate any industry & its operation
One who violates the act will be punishable with fine upto one lakh
If the violation continues, an additional fine of Rs. 5000/- per day is imposed
The act empowers the officers of Central Governtment to inspect the site / plant /
machinery for preventing pollution. Collects samples of air, water, soil or other
material from any factory / its premises for testing.
 UNIT – 3
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Energy Management includes PLANNING & OPERATION of energy production & consumption
units.

OBJECTIVES

Resource conservation
Climate protection
Cost savings
Environmental sustainability

Effective energy management and conservation involve

 The careful monitoring and control of energy consumption,
 Identifying areas of energy waste and inefficiency,
 Implementing strategies and solutions to reduce energy usage.

Some common strategies for energy management and conservation include:

1. Energy audits: This involves a comprehensive evaluation of a building's energy use,

identifying areas of high energy consumption and recommending solutions to reduce
energy waste.
2. Energy-efficient lighting: Replacing traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient LED
lights can significantly reduce energy consumption.
3. Efficient heating and cooling: Proper insulation, weather sealing, and regular
maintenance of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems can
reduce energy consumption and costs.
4. Renewable energy sources: Investing in solar or wind power can provide sustainable
and cost-effective energy sources.
5. Behavioral changes: Encouraging employees or building occupants to adopt energy-
saving habits, such as turning off lights and electronics when not in use, can reduce
energy waste.

Effective energy management and conservation can lead to numerous benefits, including cost
savings, reduced carbon emissions, and improved sustainability.

ENERGY CONSERVATION
Energy conservation means using less energy to lower costs and reduce
environmental impact.

Strategies to conserve energy

1. Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
2. Replace your light bulbs
3. Use smart power strips
4. Install a programmable or smart thermostat
5. Purchase energy efficient appliances
6. Reduce water heating expenses
7. Install energy-efficient windows
 8. Upgrade your HVAC system
9. Weatherize your home
10. Insulate your home
11. Wash your clothes in cold water when possible
12. Replace or clean your air filters
13. Use your toaster oven instead of your oven
14. Use natural light
15. Dress appropriately for the weather
NEW ENERGY SOURCES
Need for new energy sources
 The combustion of fossil fuels for energy results in a significant amount of
greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Most sources
of renewable energy result in little to no emissions.
 To conserve the exhaustible non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels
 To satisfies the energy demand due to human expansions and
industrialization.
TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
There are various types of renewable energy sources that can be used to generate clean,
sustainable energy. Here are some of the most common types:

1. Solar Energy: This is energy derived from the sun and can be harnessed using solar
panels. Solar panels are working on the principle of photovoltaic effect. It can be used
for electricity generation and water heating.
When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV
cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an
internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.

2. Wind Energy: This is energy derived from wind power and can be harnessed using
wind turbines.
Kinetic enrgy Mechanical energy Electrical energy

3. Hydro Energy: This is energy derived from moving water and can be harnessed using
hydroelectric power plants.

4. Geothermal Energy: This is energy derived from the earth's heat and can be harnessed
using geothermal power plants. Geothermal energy can be used for electricity
generation and heating and cooling buildings.

5. Biomass Energy: This is energy derived from organic matter, such as plants and waste
materials. Biomass can be burned to produce heat or converted into biofuels for
electricity generation. e.g. for biomass – wood, crops, garbage, sewage etc.

6. Algae Biofuel: To convert algae to a biofuel, several steps need to be taken.

Growing Algae: Growing the algae using sunlight, carbon dioxide and nutrients
Harvesting algae: Harvesting the algae from the growing cycle
Dewatering Algae: Removing the water from the algae by a process called dewatering
Oil Separation: Extracting the oil from the dried algae cake
Biofuel Production: Converting the oil and algae into biofuels
 7. Tidal Energy: This is energy derived from the rise and fall of ocean tides and can be
harnessed using tidal turbines.

8. Wave Energy: This is energy derived from ocean waves and can be harnessed using
wave energy converters.

9. Dance floor power: This energy harnessed from the floors of night clubs where people
used to dance. The piezoelectric crystal used in the floor produces small amount of
electricity which is used to power the lightings in the club.
HYDROGEN ENRGY
Hydrogen energy refers to the use of hydrogen as a fuel to generate power or produce heat.
Hydrogen is a clean, versatile, and abundant energy carrier that can be produced from a variety
of renewable and non-renewable sources.

There are two main ways to use hydrogen as an energy source:

1. Combustion: Hydrogen can be burned in a combustion engine or gas turbine to

produce heat and mechanical energy, which can then be used to generate electricity.
2. Fuel Cells: Hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells to generate electricity through a
chemical reaction with oxygen. In a fuel cell, hydrogen is fed into the anode side of the
cell and oxygen is fed into the cathode side. The two gases then react in the presence
of a catalyst, producing electricity, water, and heat.

Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources, including natural gas, coal, biomass, and
water. When hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, such as natural gas or coal, it is known as
"grey" hydrogen. When hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind,
solar, or hydropower, it is known as "green" hydrogen.

Advantages

Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a clean and sustainable
energy future, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
Disadvantages: 1. high cost of producing and storing hydrogen
2. It is explosive
3. lack of infrastructure for distributing and using hydrogen as a fuel.

APPLICATIONS OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

Hydrogen energy has a wide range of applications in various sectors, including transportation,
industry, and power generation.

1. Transportation: Hydrogen fuel cells can power electric vehicles, providing a clean
and efficient alternative to traditional internal combustion engines. Fuel cell vehicles
have a longer range and faster refueling time than battery electric vehicles, making them
suitable for long-distance travel.
2. Industry: Hydrogen is used as a feedstock in a variety of industrial processes, including
petroleum refining, ammonia production, and methanol production. It can also be used
as a fuel for industrial processes, such as heating and power generation.
3. Power Generation: Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in gas turbines and internal
combustion engines to generate electricity. It can also be used in fuel cells to generate
electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen, producing only water and heat as
byproducts.
 4. Energy Storage: Hydrogen can be used as an energy storage medium, enabling the
integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the electricity grid. Excess
electricity generated by wind and solar power can be used to produce hydrogen through
water electrolysis, which can then be stored and used to generate electricity when
needed.
5. Heating and Cooking: Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for heating and cooking in
homes and buildings, providing a clean alternative to natural gas.

Hydrogen energy has the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a clean and
sustainable energy future, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate
change.

OTEC
OTEC stands for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, which is a renewable energy
technology that harnesses the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and
cold deep seawater to produce electricity.

OTEC uses the ocean’s warm surface water with a temperature of around 25°C (61°F) to
vaporize a working fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands
and spins a turbine coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The vapor is then cooled by
seawater that has been pumped from the deeper ocean layer, where the temperature is about
5°C (41°F). That condenses the working fluid back into a liquid, so it can be reused.
This is a continuous electricity generating cycle.
The efficiency of the cycle is strongly determined by the temperature differential. The bigger
the temperature difference, the higher the efficiency. The technology is therefore viable
primarily in equatorial areas where the year-round temperature differential is at least 20 degrees
Celsius or 36 degrees Fahrenheit.

APPLICATIONS OF OTEC
1. Power Generation: OTEC can be used to generate electricity by converting the
temperature difference between warm surface waters and cold deep waters into usable
 power. OTEC power plants can be installed in tropical or subtropical coastal areas with
access to deep ocean water, and can produce large amounts of clean, renewable energy.
2. Water Desalination: OTEC can be used to produce fresh water by condensing water
vapor from warm surface waters. This process can be used to provide a reliable source
of fresh water in coastal areas where fresh water is scarce or contaminated.
3. Cooling/Heating Systems: OTEC can be used to provide cooling and heating for
buildings and other structures. Cold deep water can be used as a source of cooling,
while warm surface water can be used as a source of heating. This process can be used
to reduce the energy consumption of traditional air conditioning and heating systems.
4. Aquaculture: OTEC can be used to support the growth of fish and other marine
organisms in aquaculture facilities. The cold deep water produced by OTEC can be
used to maintain optimal water temperatures for aquaculture, improving the health and
growth of fish and other aquatic species.

TIDAL ENERGY

The energy obtained from the rise and fall of tides is called tidal energy.
Tidal barrages or dams are constructed across a narrow opening to the sea. Water rushes into
the dam when the sea level rises. This moves the blades of the turbines which are attached at
the opening of the dam. This results in the generation of electricity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tidal Energy

Some advantages of tidal energy are:
 Environment-friendly
 A highly predictable energy source
 Do not require large areas of valuable land
  Operational and maintenance costs are low
 An inexhaustible source of energy
Some of the disadvantages of tidal energy are:
 High tidal power plant construction costs
 Negative influence on marine life forms
 Location limits
 The variable intensity of sea waves

APPLICATIONS OF TIDAL ENERGY

1. Power Generation: Tidal energy can be used to generate electricity by using the power
of the tides to turn turbines, which then generate electricity. Tidal power plants can be
installed in areas with strong tidal currents, such as bays, estuaries, and narrow
channels, and can produce large amounts of clean, renewable energy.
2. Water Pumping: Tidal energy can be used to pump water in areas where there is a
significant difference in water levels between high and low tides. Tidal pumps can be
used to move water from low-lying areas to higher ground, or to pump seawater into
inland areas for irrigation or industrial use.
3. Water Desalination: Tidal energy can be used to power desalination plants that
produce fresh water from seawater. Tidal-powered desalination plants can provide a
reliable source of fresh water in coastal areas where fresh water is scarce or
contaminated.
4. Environmental Management: Tidal energy can be used to manage environmental
issues, such as coastal erosion and flooding. Tidal barriers can be installed in areas
prone to flooding to reduce the impact of tidal surges, while tidal reefs can be installed
to protect shorelines from erosion.
5. Aquaculture: Tidal energy can be used to support the growth of fish and other marine
organisms in aquaculture facilities. The movement of tidal currents can create an ideal
environment for the growth of fish, and tidal energy can be used to power pumps and
other equipment needed for aquaculture.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy is the thermal energy in the Earth's crust which originates from the
formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of materials.

STEPS INVOLVED IN HARNESSING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

1. Exploration: The first step in harnessing geothermal energy is to identify and evaluate
geothermal resources. Geologists and geophysicists use techniques such as surface
mapping, drilling, and seismic surveys to locate potential geothermal reservoirs. They
analyze the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of geothermal fluids to determine their
potential for energy extraction.
2. Drilling: Once a geothermal reservoir is identified, production wells are drilled to
extract the hot water or steam from the reservoir. The wells are typically several
thousand feet deep and lined with casing to prevent contamination.
3. Power Plant Construction: The extracted hot water or steam is used to power turbines
and generate electricity. The design of the power plant depends on the type of
geothermal resource and the temperature and pressure of the fluid. .
4. Operation: Once the power plant is constructed, it is connected to the electrical grid
and operated to generate electricity. Regular maintenance is required to ensure optimal
performance and longevity.
TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
There are three basic types of geothermal power plants:
 Dry steam plants use steam directly from a geothermal reservoir to turn generator
turbines. The first geothermal power plant was built in 1904 in Tuscany, Italy, where
natural steam erupted from the earth.
 Flash steam plants take high-pressure hot water from deep inside the earth and
convert it to steam that drives generator turbines. When the steam cools, it
condenses to water and is injected back into the ground to be used again. Most
geothermal power plants are flash steam plants.
 Binary-cycle power plants transfer the heat from geothermal hot water to another
liquid. The heat causes the second liquid to turn to steam, and the steam drives a
generator turbine.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SITES IN INDIA
In India, geothermal energy -potential capacity is more than 10,000 MW.
Following are the six most promising geothermal energy sites in India
o Tattapani in Chhattisgarh
o Puga in Jammu & Kashmir
o Cambay Graben in Gujarat
o Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh
o Surajkund in Jharkhand
o Chhumathang in Jammu & Kashmir

APPLICATIONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy has various applications, including:

1. Electricity generation: Geothermal power plants use the earth's heat to generate
electricity. This process involves drilling wells to access hot water and steam, which is
then used to power turbines and produce electricity.
2. Heating and cooling buildings: Geothermal heating and cooling systems use the
earth's heat to provide heating and cooling for buildings. This process involves
installing heat pumps that transfer heat between the building and the ground.
3. Industrial processes: Geothermal energy can be used to power industrial processes,
such as food processing and paper manufacturing, by providing heat for steam
generation.
4. Agriculture: Geothermal energy can be used to provide heat for greenhouses and crop
drying, helping to extend growing seasons and improve crop yields.
5. Aquaculture: Geothermal energy can be used to heat water in fish farms, improving
the growth and health of fish and reducing energy costs.
6. Spa and wellness: Geothermal hot springs and spas are popular tourist attractions and
provide health benefits such as relaxation, pain relief, and skin care.

Advantages Disadvantages
Renewable Emission of greenhouse gases
Environment friendly Earth quakes
Sustainable High cost
Highly potential Restricted location
No fuel is needed