Energy & Environmental Engineering | Environmental Science | HOTS Questions | Important Questions | RGPV | B-tech | BE
Q. Critically analyze the role and potential of unconventional renewable sources of energy with special reference to Indian scenario. (R.G.P.V., June 2009)
Ans. In India, where 88.53% of total energy production is from fossil fuels, there will be virtually no electricity if these resources get exhausted. As rainfall is not constant all over the places in India, therefore it is not a reliable source. Thus, there is a need to use non-conventional energy sources to meet the increasing demand of country.Sun has the greatest potential of all non-conventional energy sources, if we can use only 5% of total solar radiation, it can fulfill total world's energy requirement for 50 times. In India where sun shines at maximum potential for more than 3/4 part of year, solar energy can be of great importance. As sun is expected to be radiate at this constant rate for a few billion years, it can be considered as inexhaustible source of energy. This solar energy can be used for thermal power generation, for space heating or cooling, for cooking food, solar photovoltaic cells, etc.
Winds which possesses kinetic energy due to virtue of their motion, are the potential source of energy. If we can utilise this energy, it can fulfill our energy requirement several times. In India where winds blow at a rate of 5 km/hr to 20 km/hr makes it costly to use wind mills to generate electricity. However coastal areas of Saurashtra, Western Rajasthan and some parts of central India has high speed of winds and can be used for power generation.
Gravitational force of heavenly bodies like sun and moon causes periodic rise and fall in sea water levels, which is known as tides. These tides can be used for power generation by constructing a dam across the mouth of the bay. The possible sites for tidal power plants in India are suggested at Gulf of Cambay, Gulf of Kutch in Gujrat and Sunderban area in West Bengal. However, no such plants has been constructed so far in our country.
Geothermal energy or heat of the earth is the thermal energy found within the rocks in earth's crust. Sources of this thermal energy are magnetic and radioactive decay processes occur within the interior of the earth. A 1 MW plant using hot steam has been installed by Geological Survey of India at Puga Valley in Ladakh. Geothermal energy taken from hot water, natural steam or dry rocks may be used for electric power generation, space heating, recreational sites, agricultural and industrial drying.
The organic matter produced by plants and their derivatives is called biomass. This biomass can be used for thermal energy generation. In India, where agriculture is still the main occupation of most of the villagers, biothermal energy is a very important source of energy. Further, it is eco-friendly and does not cause any pollution, and gives manure as a byproduct which can be used for agriculture.
Thus, in our country where fossil fuels are in limited supply and likely to be exhausted very soon, use of non-conventional energy sources for power generation and other purposes has a very good potential.
Q. Discuss the role played by the non-conventional energy resources towards the protection of the environment. (R.G.P.V., Dec. 2013)
Ans modern standards of living can be measured in terms of availability of modern infrastructure components including transportation (roads, cars, planes, trains), communication (mobile phones, e-mails, IT and internet browsing), entertainment (cable TV, cinema, satellite TV, etc.), health care (clinics, hospitals, medical transcriptions and robotic surgeries) and education environmental (schools, colleges, universities and web based learning). All these sectors consume energy/power. Every small use of energy has an consequence and every energy source has a double sided price tag; a benefit for the user and an environmental price to be paid for. For sustainable development we need to maximize the former while simultaneously minimize the latter. Our conventional energy sources coal, oil and natural gas affects the environment seriously by releasing various toxic gases.
To reduce the environmental impact, we need to switch from conventional energy sources to non-conventional or renewable energy sources. Non- conventional energy sources such as sun, wind, ocean, tidal, geothermal and biomass are essentially non-polluting and produces no harmful impact on the environment.
Solar energy which can be used for heating and electricity generation is a potential non-conventional source of energy. Total solar radiation reaching on earth is about 1016 watts, if we can utilize only 0.1% of this radiation, it can easily fulfill our energy requirements without causing any pollution as that can be with the use of coal or oil.
Wind energy which can be used either for electricity generation or for
water pumping is also a non-polluting source producing no adverse effect on the environment. Use of wind energy systems avoid fuel provision and transport. Ocean: energy either in the form of OTEC or tidal energy is also a potential non-polluting source of energy. If whole of the energy available in oceans can be converted to electricity with an efficiency of 3%, this can satisfy the total energy requirements of the world for 100 times, without causing any kind of pollution
Biomass energy abundantly available especially in India, can also be a major source of energy. Biomass includes all new plant growth, residue and wastes, agricultural and forest residues biodegradable organic effluents from industries like sugar, meant packing plants, slaughter house, breweries, etc. These biomass, if left alone can foil the environment, by polluting soil or water, and if they are burnt in open will produce CO, CO, CH, and some other gases. On the other hand if they are used in a gasifier or digester will produce net energy and fertilizers as their by-product. Due to their enormous benefits many of the villages are now using a biomass plant or gasifier, as a clean source of energy.
Ans modern standards of living can be measured in terms of availability of modern infrastructure components including transportation (roads, cars, planes, trains), communication (mobile phones, e-mails, IT and internet browsing), entertainment (cable TV, cinema, satellite TV, etc.), health care (clinics, hospitals, medical transcriptions and robotic surgeries) and education environmental (schools, colleges, universities and web based learning). All these sectors consume energy/power. Every small use of energy has an consequence and every energy source has a double sided price tag; a benefit for the user and an environmental price to be paid for. For sustainable development we need to maximize the former while simultaneously minimize the latter. Our conventional energy sources coal, oil and natural gas affects the environment seriously by releasing various toxic gases.
To reduce the environmental impact, we need to switch from conventional energy sources to non-conventional or renewable energy sources. Non- conventional energy sources such as sun, wind, ocean, tidal, geothermal and biomass are essentially non-polluting and produces no harmful impact on the environment.
Solar energy which can be used for heating and electricity generation is a potential non-conventional source of energy. Total solar radiation reaching on earth is about 1016 watts, if we can utilize only 0.1% of this radiation, it can easily fulfill our energy requirements without causing any pollution as that can be with the use of coal or oil.
Wind energy which can be used either for electricity generation or for
water pumping is also a non-polluting source producing no adverse effect on the environment. Use of wind energy systems avoid fuel provision and transport. Ocean: energy either in the form of OTEC or tidal energy is also a potential non-polluting source of energy. If whole of the energy available in oceans can be converted to electricity with an efficiency of 3%, this can satisfy the total energy requirements of the world for 100 times, without causing any kind of pollution
Biomass energy abundantly available especially in India, can also be a major source of energy. Biomass includes all new plant growth, residue and wastes, agricultural and forest residues biodegradable organic effluents from industries like sugar, meant packing plants, slaughter house, breweries, etc. These biomass, if left alone can foil the environment, by polluting soil or water, and if they are burnt in open will produce CO, CO, CH, and some other gases. On the other hand if they are used in a gasifier or digester will produce net energy and fertilizers as their by-product. Due to their enormous benefits many of the villages are now using a biomass plant or gasifier, as a clean source of energy.
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