Non

Conventional
Energy
Sources

Basics of
Renewable
Energy
Supply

Basics of Renewable Energy

Supply
Energy balance of the earth

The energy flows of the earth are fed from

various sources described below

Solar energy has a share of more than 99.9 %

of all the energy converted on earth.

The solar radiation incident on the earth is

weakened within the atmosphere and partially
converted into other energy forms (e.g. wind,
hydro power).

Basics of Renewable
Energy Supply
Energy balance of the earth

Renewable energy sources-Solar energy

The sun is the central body of our planetary system; it is

the star closest to the earth

The nucleus has temperatures of approximately 15 Mio.

K.

Energy is released by nuclear fusion where hydrogen is

melted to helium.

The resulting mass loss is converted into energy E.

According to Einstein

Approximately 650 Mio.t/s of hydrogen are converted

into approximately 646 Mio.t/s of helium.

The difference of approximately 4Mio.t/s is converted

into energy.

Schematic structure and main parameters of the sun

Elliptical orbit of the

earth around the sun

Background
Energy

Consumption &
Standard of Living

Domestic Sector ( Houses, Offices including

commercial Buildings)

Transportation Sector

Agriculture Sector

Industrial Sector

Energy consumption
Standard of living
USA, UK, China (Developed Countries)

Energy Consumption
Standard of living
E.g.
INDIA, SA, (Developing or Third world Countries)

E.g.

Oil Crisis 1973

The year 1973 brought an end of era of secure &

cheap
oil.
In
October
of
that
year
OPEC(Organization of Petrol Exporting Countries
founded in 1960) put the control on oil production &
started the oil pricing control strategy.

All countries found energy crises so that

government of all countries took this matter very
seriously & for the first time a need for developing
alternative sources of energy was felt.

Classification of Energy
Resources
1) Based on Usability of Energy
Primary

Resources:-

These are resources embodied in nature prior to undergoing any

human made conversions or transformations.

E.g. Coal, Crude Oil, Sunlight, Wind, Revers, Vegetation, Urenium

Etc.

Intermediate

Resources:-

These are obtained from primary energy by one or more steps of

transformation & are used.

E.g. Petrol, Diesel, Neptha, Biogas, LPG,CNG, PNG

Secondary

Resources:-

The form of Energy which is finally supplied & used by consumer

is known as secondary energy sources

E.g. Electrical, Thermal & Chemical Energy

Classification of Energy
Resources

2)

Based on Traditional Use

Conventional:

These energy resources which are being traditionally

used for many decades & were in common use around
the oil crisis of 1973 are called conventional energy
resources.

E.g. Fossil fuels, nuclear & Hydro resources

Non

Conventional:-

The energy resources which are considered for large

scale use after the oil crisis of 1973 are called nonconventional energy sources

E.g. Solar, Wind, Biomass Etc.

Classification of Energy
Resources
3) Based on Long Term
Availability
Non-Renewable:

These resources are finite & do not

get replenished after their
consumption
E.g. Fossil Fuels, Uranium Etc.

Renewable:

These are renewed by nature again &

again & their supply is not affected
by the rate of their consumption.
E.g. Solar, Biomass, Geothermal,

Classification of Energy
Resources
4)
Based on Commercial Application
Commercial

Energy:-

The secondary usable energy forms such as electricity

petrol, diesel, gas etc. are essential, for commercial
activities & are categorized as commercial energy resources.

Non

Commercial:-

The energy derived from nature & used directly without

passing through a commercial outlet is called non-commercial
resource

E.g. Wood, Animal Dung Cake, Corp Residue Etc.

5) Based on Origin

Fossil Fuels Energy, Nuclear , Hydro, Solar, Wind, Biomass,

Geothermal, Ocean

Common forms of energy

Mechanical energy

Electrical energy

Thermal energy

I.

High grade (500 -- 1000C and higher)

II.

Medium grade (150 -- 500C)

III.

Low grade (80 -- 150C)

Chemical energy

Energy Chain

Coal,
Prim
ary Hydro,
EnerThermal
gy Crude
ResoOil,
Biomass
urces

Elect
ric &Power
Non-Plants
Elect
Transfo
ric rmatio
Routn
e

Final
Electrical
Ener
Energy
gy
LPG,
ConsCNG,
umptPNG
ion

Options of using renewable energies for the provision

of useful energy

Consumption Trend of
Primary Energy Resources

Advantages & Disadvantages of Conventional Energy

Resources
Advantages
Initial Cost is less
Storage & security is
easy and convenient
Ideal for present
technology

Disadvantages
Generates Pollutants
Coal is valuable for chemical,
pharmaceutical and paint
industries. (conserve coal for future
needs)
Safety of nuclear plants (safe
disposal of waste material, limited
resources, leakage, sophisticated
technology)
Hydroelectric plants: large area
submerge into water, deforestation,
effect wild life, rehabilitation of
population

Salient Features of Non-Conventional

Energy Resources

Merits
Available in Nature
Free of Cost
They produce no or
very little
pollution. So they
are environment
friendly
They are
inexhaustible
(unlimited)
They have low
gestation period

Demerits
Energy available in
dilute form from
these sources
Initial Cost is High
Depending on
Natural Phenomenon
beyond human
control
Difficulty of
transporting this kind
of energy without
conversion

Environmental Aspects of
Energy

Global Warming

Ecology

Pollution

Green House Effect

Environmental aspects of energy

Trade-off between energy and environment

Major activities are energy generation and utilization.

During the energy conversion some energy is expelled

into surrounding in the form of heat.

Pollutants

While supplying the increased energy demand effort

should be made to adopt measures to minimize the
degradation of environment.

World environment day 5th June for awareness

Ecology

Relationship
environment.

between

living

organisms

and

the

Nature has self cleaning capability and recycles its

resources through various processes, thus maintaining the
state of equilibrium.

Greenhouse effects

The carbon dioxide 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 the earth, which leads to global warming. This
phenomenon is known as greenhouse effect

Global warming

Caused mainly due to the emission of excessive

carbon dioxide due to burning of fossil fuels in
industry, burning of wood and also agriculture
practices.

Which accounts melting of polar snowcaps more

than 90 percent of worlds ice. Which increase
the level of oceans.

During the last 100 years the earths

temperature has increased about half a degree
Celsius and sea levels have risen 6 to 8 inches.

Availability of resources & future

trends
1. Conventional Energy

Fossil Fuel

Fossil Fuel Consumption By Globe

Applications of Conventional Energy

Energy Scenario in INDIA

Nuclear Power Plants in INDIA

Hydro Power Plants in INDIA