Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

We all know that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but can only be converted from one form to another useful form. In reality, energy provides the means of economic growth and social development. For generation of electrical energy, some other forms of energy are needed. Actually energy is related with power where power is the rate of flow of energy and it is normally used in terms of generation and consumption of electricity. Overall it has been proved as an important factor in the progress of mankind.

Rural electrification is a programme for socio-economic development of rural areas. The main objectives are to trigger economic developments and generate employment by providing electricity for productive uses in agricultural and rural industries and improve the quality of life of rural people by supplying electricity for lighting of homes, shops and public places in villages.

The shortage of power in India is really a big issue. Most of the states in our country are suffering from power crisis. In recent times Maharashtra has been experiencing a severe power crisis. Most of the parts of Maharashtra are facing power cut situation for nearly six hours a day (average), because there is no addition of any power plant for so many years. After a long time 1700 MW Enron–Dhabol project was in the hands of Maharashtra government after nearly a decade. Even the Dhabol plant returns to its operation but the distress in this state will not completely disappear. Actually changes in the power sector industry took place in 1990s and it was suggested by the central government to have future growth of power generation with private sector funding. After that most of the projects took place in generation, transmission and distribution through centrally owned companies such as Power Grid Corporation, National Thermal Power Corporation, National Hydro Power Corporation etc. and state electricity boards. In 1990s, there was a boom of symposia and seminars by the Independent Power Producers Association (IPPA) to educate government about how the structure must be changed to make it IPP-friendly. We all know that the growth in power sector generation over the past decade is very less and the starting of the private sector Enron project, has been proved as a real disaster for the country. Most of the power professionals warned the country about the glaring infirmities in the project, but politicians sold the project to country.

Solar energy is the energy obtained from sun. We use sun for drying our clothes as well as for cooking but recently we are able to produce electricity. If sun’s power is harnessed properly, then it will be enough to meet all our power needs. Solar energy is available in abundance and at no cost.

Wind results from air in motion. Solar radiation heats the air in the atmosphere and this heated air, having low density is buoyed up. It is displaced by cooler (more dense) higher pressure air, flowing from the poles, at the surface. In the upper atmosphere, near the equator, air moves to flow back towards the poles and away from the equator. The result is that there exists a circulation of air from North direction to South direction (in the northern hemisphere). One important fact is that wind is actually caused by solar energy irradiating the earth, that’s why wind utilization is called as a part of solar technology.

Biomass is basically solar energy stored in organic matter. With the growth of trees and plants, process called as “photosynthesis” uses energy from the sun to convert CO2 into carbohydrates such as sugars, starch and cellulose.

A fuel cell is a device in which the chemical energy is converted directly into electrical energy. One of the important aspects of the fuel is that the fuel and its oxidants are mixed in the form of ions rather than neutral molecules. First practical fuel cell was designed and developed by scientists, namely Francis T. Bacin and J.C. Frost of Cambridge University. These fuel cells are being proved as an important source of power generation in various countries including U.S.A. These cells will be beneficial for supply of electrical energy in rural villages and remote areas. The important benefit from this cell is the saving of money, because this source will not require transmission lines.

Geothermal energy is one of the renewable energy sources, which is based on the natural energy flows of the earth. The word geothermal is the combination of Greek word geo (earth) and therme (heat), hence the energy is called geothermal energy i.e. heat from within the earth. This source is called as a renewable energy source, because the water is replenished by rainfall and heat is continuously produced inside the earth’s surface or in other words, we can say that this energy will continue in the process of cooling for the indefinite future, as it is a renewable energy source.

Energy Conservation and Cleaner Energy Perspective