Introduction to Non-conventional Energy Sources

Non-conventional sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy. These energy sources are more equitably distributed and eco-friendly cheaper energy. 

Let’s explore each of these non-conventional sources of energy more extensively

Utilizing Solar Power in India

• Harnessing Non-conventional Solar Power in India: India is a tropical country and has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy. 
  • Sun rays tapped in photovoltaic cells can be converted into energy, known as solar energy. 
  • The two effective processes considered to be very effective to tap solar energy are photovoltaics and solar thermal technology. 
• Benefits of Solar Energy: It is cost competitive, environment friendly and easy to construct, generally used more in appliances like heaters, crop dryers, cookers, etc. 
• The Growing Popularity of Non-conventional Solar Energy: Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas as it is 7% more effective than coal or oil based plants and 10% more effective than nuclear plants. 
• Solar Power Potential: The western part of India has greater potential for the development of solar energy in Gujarat and Rajasthan. 

Non-conventional Triumph: Potential and Growth of Wind Energy in India and Globally

• Harnessing Clean and Endless Power: Wind energy is an absolutely pollution free, inexhaustible source of energy. 
  • The mechanism of converting kinetic energy of wind, through turbines, into electrical energy is simple. 
• Diverse Non-conventional Wind Resources: The permanent wind systems such as the trade winds, westerlies and seasonal wind like monsoon have been used as a source of energy. 
  • Besides these, local winds, land and sea breezes can also be used to produce electricity. 
• Mapping Non-conventional India’s Wind Power Potential: The Government, through National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), has installed over 900 wind-monitoring stations all over the country.
  •  It has issued wind potential maps at 50 m, 80 m and 100 m and presently, in the process of assessing wind potential at 120 m above ground level. 
  • The latest assessment indicates gross wind power potential of 302 GW in the country at 100 meters above ground level.
  • The country’s potential of wind power generation exceeds 200 gigawatts. India now ranks as a “wind super power” in the world. 
• Strategic Initiative: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is developing wind energy in India to lessen the burden of oil import bills. 
• Pioneering Wind Energy Projects in India
  • Wind power plant at Lamba in Gujarat in Kachchh is the largest in Asia. 
  • The largest wind farm cluster is located in TamilNadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai. 
  • Apart from these, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. 
  • Nagarcoil and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of wind energy in the country.
• Non-conventional Global Wind Energy Leaders: Wind farms are found in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, USA and Spain are noted for their wind energy production.

Tidal and Wave Energy for a Sustainable Future in India 

• Tapping Non-conventional Infinite Energy:: Ocean currents are the store-house of infinite energy. 
  • Since the beginning of the 17th & 18th century, persistent efforts have been made to create a more efficient energy system from the ceaseless tidal waves and ocean currents. 
  • Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity. 
• Unlocking Tidal Power: India has great potential for the development of tidal energy along the west coast of India. 
  • In India, the Gulf of Kachchh, provides ideal conditions for utilizing tidal energy. 
  • A 900 MW tidal energy power plant is set up here by the National Hydropower Corporation.

Geothermal Energy : Harnessing Earth’s Heat through Geothermal Energy for Sustainable Power Solutions 

• Definition: Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the Earth. 
• Harnessing Non-conventional Earth’s Heat: When the magma from the interior of earth, comes out on the surface, tremendous heat is released. This heat energy can successfully be tapped and converted to electrical energy. 
  • Geothermal energy exists because the Earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth. 
  • Where the geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths. 
  • Groundwater in such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot. 
  • The hot water that gushes out through the geyser wells is used to drive turbines and generate electricity. 
• Geothermal Ventures in India: There are several hundred hot springs in India also, a geothermal energy plant has been commissioned at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and in the Puga Valley, Ladakh. 
  • The hot springs and geysers have been used since the medieval period. 
  • The first successful (1890) attempt to tap the underground heat was made in the city of Boise, Idaho (U.S.A.), where a hot water pipe network was built to give heat to the surrounding buildings. This plant is still working. 

Harnessing Bio-energy for Sustainable Solutions and Environmental Benefits 

• Definition: Bio-energy refers to energy derived from biological products which includes agricultural residues, municipal, industrial and other wastes. 
• Diverse Applications of Biomass: It can be converted into electrical energy, heat energy or gas for cooking. 
• Higher Thermal Efficiency: Decomposition of organic matter yields gas, which has higher thermal efficiency in comparison to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal. 
• Biogas Revolution in India: Biogas plants are set up at municipal, cooperative and individual levels. 
  • The plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar gas plants’ in rural India provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure. 
• Non-conventional Efficiency and Environmental Benefits: Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung. 
  • It improves the quality of manure and also prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and cow dung cakes. 
  • It also improves the economic life of rural areas in developing countries, reduces environmental pollution, enhances self-reliance and reduces pressure on fuel wood. 
  • One such project converting municipal waste into energy is Okhla in Delhi.
    

Conclusion

In conclusion, non-conventional sources of energy like geothermal, tidal, wind, solar, and bio-energy play a pivotal role in fostering sustainability. These alternatives offer diverse applications, higher thermal efficiency, and significant environmental benefits. Embracing non-conventional energy sources is not just a choice for the present but a commitment to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

Also Read: Conventional Source of Energy: Power of Coal & Natural Gas in India