The Finite Reservoirs Shaping Our Energy Landscape 

Non-renewable resources have a limited stock. Once the Conventional Sources stocks are exhausted it may take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. Minerals and fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are examples of such resources. Mineral fuels are essential for generation of power, required by agriculture, industry, transport and other sectors of the economy. 

Conventional Sources: Exploring Nuclear Energy Resources in India

• Nuclear or Atomic Energy: It is obtained by altering the structure of atoms and when alteration is done energy is released in the form of heat. 
  • This heat is used to generate electric power. 
• Critical Minerals: Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are Uranium and Thorium. 
• Distribution: Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, 
  • Conventional Sources – Uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singhbhum Copper belt, in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, 
  • Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. 
  • Conventional Sources: Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 
  • Rich Monazite Deposits in India: World’s richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Orissa. 
• Conventional Sources The Atomic Energy Commission: It was established in 1948, but progress could be made only after the establishment of the Atomic Energy Institute at Trombay in 1954 which was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1967. 
• Key Nuclear Power Projects in India: The important nuclear power projects are Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata near Kota (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka) and Kakarapara (Gujarat) (Refer Figure 7.24).

India: Distribution of Nuclear and Thermal Power Plants

Understanding the Dynamics of Petroleum in India

• Conventional Sources Petroleum Occurrences in India: Occurrences of the petroleum in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the  sedimentary rock formations of the tertiary age. 
  • In regions of folding, anticlines or domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold. 
  • The oil bearing layer is a porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow. 
  • The oil is prevented from rising or sinking by intervening non-porous layers. 
  • Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks. 
  • Gas, being lighter, usually occurs above the oil. 
• Conventional Sources: Characteristics of Hydrocarbons, It consists of hydrocarbons of liquid and gaseous states varying in chemical composition, color and specific gravity. 
• Conventional Sources Applications: It provides fuel for heat and lighting, lubricants for machinery and raw materials for all internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways and aircraft. 
  • Its numerous by-products are processed in petrochemical industries such as fertilizer, synthetic rubber, synthetic fiber, medicines, vaseline, lubricants, wax, soap and cosmetics. 
• Liquid Gold: Petroleum is referred to as liquid gold because of its scarcity and diversified uses. 
• Oil and Natural Gas Commission: Oil exploration and production was systematically taken up after the Oil and Natural Gas Commission was set up in 1956. 
  • Till then, the Digboi in Assam was the only oil producing region. 
• Conventional Sources Distribution: In recent years, new oil deposits have been found at the extreme western and eastern parts of the country. 
  • In Assam (produces about 16% of India’s petroleum production), Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran are important oil producing areas. 
  • The major oil fields of Gujarat (about 18% of India’s petroleum production) are Ankaleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam, Kosamba and Lunej. 
  • Mumbai High which lies 160 km off Mumbai was discovered in 1973 and production commenced in 1976 produces about 63% of India’s petroleum production. 
  • Oil and natural gas have been found in exploratory wells in Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basin on the east coast. 
• Refining Process: Oil extracted from the wells is crude oil and contains many impurities and cannot be used directly. It needs to be refined. 
• Key Role of Petroleum Refineries: Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertilizer and numerous chemical industries (Refer Figure 7.25). 

India – Oil Refineries

• Types of Refineries in India: There are two types of refineries in India: 
  • Field based, for example, Digboi and 
  • Market based, for example, Barauni.

Conventional Sources Powering Up: Understanding the Generation of Electricity in India 

Conventional Sources of Power: Electricity has such a wide range of applications in today’s world that its per capita consumption is considered as an index of development. 

It is generated mainly in two ways:

• By Running Water: Running water drives hydro turbines to generate hydro electricity;
  • Hydro Electricity: It is generated by fast flowing water, which is a renewable resource. 
    • India has a number of multi-purpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley corporation, the Kopili Hydel Project etc. producing hydroelectric power.
• By Burning Conventional Sources: Such as coal, petroleum and natural gas to drive turbines to produce thermal power.
  • Thermal Electricity: It is generated by using coal, petroleum and natural gas. 
    • The thermal power stations use non-renewable fossil fuels for generating electricity. 
    • There are over 269 thermal power plants in India.

Conventional Sources Reconsidered: Charting a Sustainable Future through Conservation of Energy Resources 

• A Catalyst for Economic Development: Energy is a basic requirement for economic development. 
  • Every sector of the national economy – agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and domestic – needs inputs of energy. 
• Rising Energy Consumption: The economic development plans implemented since independence necessarily required increasing amounts of energy to remain operational. 
  • As a result, consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country. 
  • In this background, there is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development. 
• Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of renewable energy sources are the twin planks of sustainable energy. 
• Energy Efficiency Challenges in India: India is presently one of the least energy efficient countries in the world. 
  • The growing consumption of energy has resulted in the country becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. 
• Challenges in Conventional Sources Energy Security: Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future, which in turn has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy. 
• Prudent Energy Management: We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources. 
  • Example: Promoting and use of public transport systems instead of individual vehicles; switching off electricity when not in use etc. 
  • After all, “energy saved is energy produced”. 
• Moreover, increasing use of conventional sources, namely fossil fuels, also causes serious environmental problems. Hence, there is a pressing need to use renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind, tide, biomass and energy from waste material.
  

Conclusion
In conclusion, the overreliance on Conventional Sources raises environmental and security concerns. Swift adoption of renewable sources is imperative for a sustainable future. Let’s prioritize cleaner alternatives for a resilient and prosperous world.

Also Read: Views on Resource Management: Ownership, Land Use, and Development Status