Renewable and Non Renewable Energy

SOURCES OF ENERGY

• Definition of Resource: A supply of something that a country, organization, or a person has and can use, especially to increase their wealth.

• Renewable Energy Resources:

  • Energy resources that can be regenerated after use in a relatively short span of time.

  • Examples include:

    • Solar energy

    • Wind energy

    • Geothermal energy (energy from the heat of the earth)

    • Tidal energy

• Non-renewable Energy Resources:

  • Energy resources that take millions of years to regenerate and do not reappear within the human lifespan.

  • Examples include:

    • Coal

    • Petroleum

    • Natural gas

  • Important Note: Non-renewable energy resources are limited and must be used carefully and judiciously.

Renewable Energy Resources

• Renewable energy resources are also known as inexhaustible resources and include:

  • Wind Power

  • Solar Power

  • Tidal Power

  • Hydroelectricity

  • Geothermal Energy

• They do not deplete quickly and can last indefinitely.

• Environmental Impact: Development of renewable energy is crucial as these do not cause pollution.

Solar Energy

• Definition: The energy received from the sun, available in unlimited quantities.

• Applications:

  • Used to generate electricity through solar energy panels (solar cells or photovoltaic panels).

  • Solar cells are made from thin semi-conducting materials that create electric current when exposed to sunlight.

• Use Cases:

  • Street lamps

  • Electronic calculators

  • Watches

  • Smartphones

  • Cameras

  • Traffic signals

  • Water pumps

  • Home lighting

  • Heating of ovens, cooking food, and heating water.

Hydroelectric Power

• Definition: Energy obtained using water (
  "hydro" means water).

• Mechanism:

  • Produced when water falls from a height due to the force of gravity, turning large turbines that generate electricity.

• Advantages:

  • Potential for reliable energy source due to the depletion of coal and petroleum reserves.

  • Non-polluting.

• Context: India has significant hydroelectric potential due to its numerous rivers.

• Global Context: Approximately one-fourth of the total global electricity demand is met by hydroelectric power.

Tidal Energy

• Definition: Inexhaustible energy generated from ocean tides.

• Mechanism: High tides in coastal areas harnessed to generate power.

• Context: India's geographical advantages allow for significant tidal energy generation.

Geothermal Energy

• Definition: Energy harnessed from the heat inside the earth.

• Mechanism:

  • The earth has hot materials below the crust that heat groundwater, producing hot water and steam.

  • Hot springs and geysers used to run turbines that generate electricity.

• Context: Used in the Himalayan region and specific areas like Son-Narmada-Tapi rift zone and Barren Islands of the Andamans.

  • Efficiently tapped in countries like Iceland.

Wind Energy

• Definition: Energy derived from wind, which is free and plentiful.

• Mechanism:

  • Wind turns the blades of a windmill attached to a turbine, which converts wind energy into electrical energy.

• Historical Use: Windmills have operated for centuries in Europe for various tasks, such as crushing grains and lifting water.

• Current Landscape: Major wind power producers include China, USA, Germany, and Spain.

  • India: Has several wind farms, particularly in southern regions.

Biogas

• Definition: Produced from the conversion of animal waste and organic matter from households.

• Application: Serves as an excellent source of cheap power for small-scale usage.

Non-renewable Energy Resources

• Definition: Also known as exhaustible resources, their supplies are limited, and they cannot be renewed or replenished.

• Examples Include:

  • Fossil Fuels:

  • Coal

  • Petroleum

  • Natural Gas

  • Nuclear Energy:

  • Obtained from finite uranium deposits.

Coal

• Definition: A hard black mineral that is found below the earth's surface and is burned to produce heat.

• Formation: Derived from buried plant matter over 650 million years ago under layers of sediments.

• Major Producers: China, USA, India, Australia, and Russia.

• Indian Context: Main reserves in the Damodar Valley or the Chota Nagpur Plateau of Jharkhand.

  • Major mines include Jharia, Raniganj, Giridih, and Bokaro.

  • Neyveli in Tamil Nadu is rich in lignite.

Petroleum

• Definition: The most important fuel globally, known as crude oil.

• Formation: Result of compaction of remains of dead plants and animals over millions of years.

• Refinement: Processed to produce diesel, petrol, and kerosene.

• Main Oil-Producing Areas: Include Gulf countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran), USA, Venezuela, Algeria, and Russia.

  • Indian Efforts: Reserves exploited in Assam and Gujarat.

Natural Gas

• Definition: Fuels derived from deep-sea wells.

• Transportation: Moved over distances through pipelines, with byproducts utilized in agriculture and industry.

• Major Reserves: Found primarily in the North Sea, as well as states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.

Nuclear Power

• Definition: Energy produced from uranium or thorium.

• Mechanisms:

  • Fission: Splitting of atoms to release energy.

  • Fusion: Combining atoms to release energy.

• Production Regions: USA and Europe are leading producers.

• Indian Context: India has eight atomic plants located at various sites, utilizing uranium and thorium.

HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS IN INDIA

• Significant in generating electricity, with extensive development post-independence.

• India ranks fourth in the number of completed dams (over 4,800).

• Key Dams Include:

  1. Bhakra-Nangal Dam: Largest dam in India on the Satluj River.

  2. Damodar Valley Project: Supports irrigation in West Bengal.

  3. Farakka Barrage: Provides water to West Bengal and Bangladesh.

  4. Sardar Sarovar Dam: Supplies water to drought-prone Gujarat and Rajasthan.

  5. Hirakud Dam: Longest dam in India on the Mahanadi River.

  6. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Located on the Krishna River, straddling Andhra Pradesh.

  7. Idukki Dam: Built on the Periyar River in Kerala.

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND POWER RESOURCES

• Importance: Conservation of energy helps prevent exhaustion of conventional energy resources.

• Context: Overuse leads to depletion amidst growing demands.

• Strategies:

  • 3 Rs: Reuse, Recycle, Reduce.

  • Practical measures include carpooling, turning off unused lights and fans, cycling, and using public transport.

  • Emphasis on using alternative sources of energy extensively.

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 7 focuses on affordable and clean energy as a pathway to poverty alleviation and combating climate change.

Points to Remember

• Renewable Energy Resources: Regenerate after use in a short term and include solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal energy.

• Non-renewable Energy Resources: Include limited fossil fuels and nuclear power, causing pollution.

• Significant Dams in India: Bhakra-Nangal, Damodar Valley Project, Farakka Barrage, Sardar Sarovar, Hirakud, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Idukki.

• Conservation: Essential to manage these resources responsibly for future generations.

Important Terms

• Solar Energy: Energy obtained from the sun.

• Hydroelectricity: Electricity produced by the force of falling water.

• Geothermal Energy: Heat energy from within the earth.

• Conventional Energy Resources: Traditional resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

• Non-conventional Energy Resources: Newer energy forms such as solar, wind, and nuclear.

Biography

• Edmond Becquerel: French physicist who discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839, which is the operational principle of solar cells.

• Historical Context: Use of solar power technology dates back to the Industrial Revolution for creating steam to power machinery.

Values and Life Skills

• Importance of Electricity: Essential for modern life across homes, industries, and agriculture.

• Energy Saving Measures: List of suggestions such as switching off electrical devices when not in use