Non Conventional Sources of Energy In India [Latest 2020]

With the increasing population and technological advancement, our energy needs are also growing proportionately. All our traditional sources of energy are limited or at the verge of extinction. Many of them are non-renewable. These resources can not fulfil our growing needs for energy.Therefore, the search for the non conventional sources of energy is very important. 

Non Conventional Sources of energy

In the following section, we would study some of the latest sources of energies and devices used to capture them. These is most importance of non conventional sources of energy. and also many uses of non conventional sources of energy like solar energy, Geothermal Energy, Nuclear Energy, Energy From the Sea.

1. Solar Energy

Solar energy is the most important energy resource. It can be used directly or indirectly for human welfare. Solar energy is the readily available source of energy. It is also the most important of the non conventional sources of energy because it is non-polluting and, therefore, helps in reducing the green house effect.

Solar Energy in India

India receives a good level of solar radiation, about 5000 trillion kWh (with daily average about 4 -7 kWh/m2). 

MNES (Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources) is running "Solar Energy Programme'. The programme, which is regarded as one of the largest in the world, aims to utilise India's estimated solar power potential. The country has also developed a substantial manufacturing capability, becoming a lead producer in the developing world. 

Solar energy also can be used to meet our electricity requirements. Through Solar Photo voltaic (SPV) cells, radiation gets converted into DC electricity directly. This electricity can either be used as it is or can be stored in the battery. This stored electrical power then can be used at night time. SPV can be used for a number of applications such as:

· (a)Domestic lighting

· (b)Street lighting

· (c)Village electrification

· (d)Water pumping

· (e)Artificial satellites and space probes  use solar 

· (f)Powering of remote telecommunication repeater stations and

· (g)Railway signals.

Solar Cookers and Water Heater

These are the devices used to cook food or to heat up the water, using solar energy. They have black surfaces (since black colour absorbs more heat as compared to white or reflecting surfaces). Cookers are covered with a glass plate (To achieve an effect, similar to green-house effect).

Solar Cells

These are the devices used convert solar energy into electric energy. A typical solar cell develops a voltage of 0.5-1 V and produces about 0.7 W of electricity when exposed to the Sun. A large number of solar cells are, combined together on a solar cell panel can give sufficient electricity for practical use. 

Advantages of Solar Cells

· The main advantage of solar cells is that they have no moving parts. So they are almost maintenance free. They can work even without any use of focussing devices.

· The solar panels can be set up in remote and inaccessible areas where setting up of power transmission line may be expensive or not possible.

· Silicon, which is used for making solar cells, is easily available. Limitations of Solar Cells.

· Silicon is easily available but availability of the special grade silicon for making solar cells is limited.

· The process of producing of solar cells is very expensive. It uses silver for interconnection of the cells, which further adds to the cost.

2. Energy From the Sea

(a) Tidal Energy

The difference in the level of water between high tide and low tide can be used to generate electricity, The main potential sites for tidal power generation, in India are the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambat (Cambay), both in the western state of Gujarat, and the Gangetic delta in the Sunderbans area of West Bengal, in eastern India. 

The tidal ranges of the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambat are 5 m and 7 m respectively, the theoretical capacities are 900 MW and 7,000 MW respectively. Tidal electricity production requires the construction of a dam across a narrow opening of the sea. But construction of dam at sea coast is difficult and such locations where dams can be built are limited.

(b) Wave Energy

The kinetic energy of huge sea waves near the scashore can also be used to generate electricity. The Waves are generated by strong winds blowing across the ocean. Wave energy can be suitably exploited only where waves are very strong. Today, we have many kinds of devices to trap wave energy for rotation of turbine and production of electricity.

(c) Ocean Thermal Energy

The water at the surface of the sea becomes hot due to continuous exposure deeper sections remains cold. This difference in temperature can be exploited to obtain energy in ocean thermal energy conversion plants.

These plants can operate if the temperature difference between the water at the surface and water at depths up to 2 km is 293 K (20°C) or more.

Functioning

· The hot sea water (at surface) is used to boil a volatile liquid like ammonia.

· The vapours of the liquid are then used to run the turbine of generator.

· The cold water from the depth of the ocean is used to condense the vapours again to liquid.

3. Geothermal Energy

The deeper regions of earth's crust are very hot and the matter in this region is in a molten state. Due to geological changes, the molten matter is pushed upward and trapped in certain regions called 'hot spots'.

 When underground water comes in contact with such hot spot, steam is generated. This steam can be forced to run a.turbine to produce electricity. Such electricity is called geothermal electricity. Sometimes hot water from these regions finds outlets at the surface and comes out in the form of hot springs. In New Zealand and USA, there are many plants based on geothermal energy.

4. What is the Nuclear Energy?

The energy generated during a nuclear fission is called nuclear energy. When the nucleus of a heavy atom (such as uranium, plutonium or thorium), when bombarded with low-energy neutrons, it splits into lighter nuclei with the release of a large amount of energy. 

The fission of an atom of uranium, for example, produces 10 million times the energy produced by the combustion of an atom of carbon from coal. 

Nuclear renctions are usually chain reactions. So, nuclear power reactors are designed in such a way that these reactions can be controlled effectively and the energy so released can be used to generate electricity.

In India, many nuclear power reactors are working for electricity production. Their total output is about only 3 % of the total electricity generation capacity of the country.

Problems Associated with Nuclear Power Reactors

Nuclear power reactors have a big problem of storage of nuclear material and disposal of nuclear waste. Improper nuclear waste storage and disposal can result in severe nuclear contamination. Moreover, a risk of accidental leakage of nuclear radiation 18 also associated with nuclear power generation.

Nuclear Bomb

A nuclear bomb can be based on either fission or fusion reaction or a combination of both. In a typical nuclear bomb, a fission based bomb (using uranium or plutonium) is placed at the core of the fusion based hydrogen bomb. This entire bomb is embedded in a substance which contains deuterium and lithium. When the inner nuclear bomb (based on fission) explodes, the temperature of the substance is raised to 10 K in a few microseconds. The high temperature generates sufficient energy for the light nuclei (hydrogen nuclei) to fuse. This generates a devastating amount of energy.

Limitations of Nuclear Energy

· High risk of environmental contamination.

· Limited availability of uranium / thorium.