Lecture 1

Introduction to
Renewable Energy
Sources
Energy and Environment
Energy and Environment
The usage of energy resources in industry leads to:
• Environmental damages by polluting the atmosphere.
• Few of examples of air pollution are sulphur dioxide (SO2) nitrous
oxide (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from boilers and
furnaces for energy purposes.
• Chlorofluro carbons (CFC) emissions from refrigerants use, etc.
• In chemical and fertilizers industries, toxic gases are released. Cement
plants and power plants spew out particulate matter. Typical inputs,
outputs, and emissions for a typical
What is Emissions?
Emissions refer to the release of pollutants or substances into the
atmosphere, water bodies, or soil as a result of human activities or
natural processes. These pollutants can include gases, particles,
chemicals, and other harmful substances. Emissions can come from
various sources, including industrial processes, transportation, energy
production, agriculture, waste management, and natural phenomena.
Sources of Emissions
 • Power Plants: Power plants, both stationary
Pollutants from sources (such as coal-fired, natural gas, and
Energy sector
oil-fired power plants) and mobile sources
(such as diesel generators), emit various
pollutants during electricity generation. These
pollutants include carbon dioxide (CO2),
sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx),
particulate matter (PM), volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), and mercury (Hg).
Industrial Chemical Industry:
Processes • The chemical industry encompasses a wide range of
processes involved in the production of various
chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and other
industrial products. Emissions from this sector
include volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), carbon dioxide
(CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx),
and particulate matter (PM). These emissions occur
primarily from chemical reactions, combustion
processes, and fugitive releases during
manufacturing operations.
 Industrial Sector

• Emissions: Cement production is a significant source of carbon dioxide

(CO2) emissions due to the calcination of limestone (calcium carbonate)
and the combustion of fossil fuels in cement kilns. During calcination,
limestone is heated to high temperatures to produce lime (calcium oxide)
and CO2 as a byproduct. Additionally, fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum
coke, and natural gas are burned in cement kilns to provide the high
temperatures required for the cement-making process, leading to CO2
emissions.
Transportation Sector
• Road Vehicles: Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles,
and other vehicles powered by internal
combustion engines.
• Air Transportation: Emissions from airplanes
and airports.
• Marine Transportation: Ships and boats
powered by diesel engines.
• Rail Transportation: Trains powered by diesel
or electricity.
Pollutants from
Transportation Sector

• Road Vehicles: CO2, NOx, PM, VOCs,

carbon monoxide (CO).
• Air Transportation: CO2, NOx, sulfur
oxides (SOx), PM, VOCs.
• Marine Transportation: CO2, NOx, SOx,
PM, VOCs.
• Rail Transportation: CO2, NOx, PM,
VOCs.
Flaring and Venting
Flaring and venting occur during oil and gas extraction processes, where
methane (CH4) is released into the atmosphere. Flaring involves
burning off excess gas from oil wells or refineries, while venting
involves releasing gas directly into the atmosphere without combustion.
Agriculture Sector
• Livestock: Methane emissions from enteric fermentation in ruminant
animals (cattle, sheep, goats).
• Manure Management: Methane emissions from the decomposition of
manure in storage facilities.
• Rice Cultivation: Methane emissions from flooded rice paddies.
• Fertilizer Use: Nitrous oxide emissions from the application of
synthetic fertilizers.
Waste Management
 Landfills are sites where solid waste is disposed of and
Landfills:buried. When organic waste such as food scraps, yard
waste, and paper decomposes anaerobically (without
oxygen) in landfills, methane (CH4) is produced as a
byproduct. This methane is released into the atmosphere,
contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is
generated during the decomposition of organic matter by
methanogenic bacteria in the absence of oxygen.
Wastewater Treatment:
Wastewater treatment plants treat sewage and wastewater from
residential, commercial, and industrial sources to remove pollutants and
contaminants before discharge into the environment. During the
treatment process, sewage sludge (also known as biosolids) is produced
as a byproduct. In many wastewater treatment plants, sewage sludge
undergoes anaerobic digestion, a biological process in which
microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, to
produce biogas. Biogas is primarily composed of methane (CH4) and
carbon dioxide (CO2), with smaller amounts of other gases such as
hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
Impacts of GHG
Emissions
Climate Change:
• GHGs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(N2O), and fluorinated gases, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere
through the greenhouse effect.
• The accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere leads to global
warming, resulting in changes to temperature patterns, altered weather
patterns, and shifts in precipitation.
• Climate change exacerbates extreme weather events such as
heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, and heavy rainfall, impacting
ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and human communities.
Melting Polar Ice Caps and Glaciers:
• Increased temperatures caused by GHG emissions contribute to the
melting of polar ice caps and glaciers.
• Melting ice caps and glaciers contribute to rising sea levels,
threatening coastal communities, habitats, and infrastructure with
flooding and erosion.
• Ocean Acidification: CO2 emissions not only affect the atmosphere
but also dissolve into the oceans, leading to ocean acidification.
• Increased CO2 levels in seawater lower the pH of the ocean, which
can harm marine organisms such as corals, shellfish, and plankton,
disrupting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
Loss of Biodiversity:
• Climate change and associated environmental disruptions, such as
habitat loss, altered temperature and precipitation patterns, and
extreme weather events, threaten biodiversity.
• Many species face challenges in adapting to rapidly changing
environmental conditions, leading to population declines, habitat
fragmentation, and potential extinction risks.
Changes in Ecosystems:
• Climate change alters ecosystems by affecting temperature regimes,
precipitation patterns, and the distribution of species.
• Some ecosystems, such as polar regions, alpine regions, and coral
reefs, are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, leading to
shifts in species distributions, loss of habitat, and changes in
ecosystem services.
Air Pollution
• GHG emissions often accompany other air pollutants emitted from
human activities, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx),
particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• These pollutants contribute to air pollution, smog formation,
respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular problems, impacting human
health and ecosystems.
 Understanding Air
Pollution
• Air pollution, defined as the presence of
harmful substances in the air, transcends
geographical boundaries and affects
ecosystems, climate, and human health. It
encompasses various pollutants, including
particulate matter, nitrogen oxides,
sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and
volatile organic compounds, each with its
own set of sources and impacts
Water Resources
• Changes in precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, and altered runoff
due to climate change affect water availability, quality, and
distribution.
• Shifts in water resources can lead to water scarcity, droughts, changes
in river flow, and impacts on agriculture, industry, and freshwater
ecosystems.
Food Security
• Climate change affects agricultural productivity by altering growing
conditions, water availability, pest and disease patterns, and crop
yields.
• Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can lead to crop
failures, food shortages, and disruptions in food supply chains,
threatening food security and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable
regions.