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Sources of Power

Type
Non- renewable sources Renewable sources

Non-renewable Energy Sources

Introduction
Non-renewable sources of energy, are being used since a long time. These sources of energy are being used extensively in such a way that their known reserves have been depleted to a great extent. It is becoming increasingly difficult to discover and exploit their new deposits. Known deposits of petroleum in our country will get exhausted by the few decades and coal reserves are expected to last for another hundred years. The fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) are conventional sources of energy.

Fossil Fuels
Coal it constitutes about 70% of total commercial energy consumed in the country. Petroleum - petroleum is also derived from plants and dead animals that lived in remote past. Natural Gas - Natural gas has also been produced in the Earth's curst by the similar process as petroleum and this is also a combustible fuel.

Advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuel

Advantages
Capacity to generate huge amounts of thermal energy. Pollution. Very cost effective. Cause of global warming and widespread environmental damage. They are running out very fast and soon there will not be any left.

Disadvantage

Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be very simple

Renewable Energy Sources

Introduction
Renewable energy comes from resources which are continually replenished. Solar power, wind, tides, waves and geothermal heat are a few notable sources of clean energy. Renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. Climate change concerns, coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation. Renewable energy resources and significant opportunities for energy efficiency exist over wide geographical areas.

1. Solar power and solar cell

Solar cells (or photocells) turn light energy from the Sun directly into direct current (DC). Manufacturing solar cells is very expensive But produces no pollution and requires little maintenance. ideal for use in remote locations where maintenance is difficult and other sources of would be expensive. widely used on satellites and space missions. Can also be efficiently implemented for household applications as well.
NASA/NREL

Working Principle
Solar cells are made of silicon based semiconductors. The upper layer is of n type semiconductor and bottom substrate is of p type. When photons from sunray fall on the surface, flow of electrons commence.

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The flow of electron can be harnessed as a flow of direct current.

Efficiency of a solar cell

Solar cells suffer from a low efficiency. This is because only light with enough energy causes an electron to be released which is only about 25% of all sunlight. The amount of electricity a solar panel can produce depends on two factors: its surface area and the light intensity. enough electricity to power a town would require a very large area of solar panels Covering the roof of a house can meet the annual electricity needs.

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Effective use of solar cells

Solar cells are very useful for remote locations where supplying mains electricity would be expensive. Use solar-powered street light is in a remote countryside with no mains electricity supply close by is a good implementation. Energy generated at daytime can be stored in battery for use at night.

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2. Solar Thermal Energy

Energy from the sun to heat water to make steam, which is then used to drive a turbine. Series of mirrors called heliostats used to reflect light onto a boiler.

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Effective use of solar thermal energy

Solar power stations are most effectively located in areas with high light intensity. Implemented where the sunlight is intense and the air temperature is high. The mirrors must track the Sun as it moves across the sky to be efficient as possible

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3. Wind power
Wind turbines (or aero-generators) use large blades to capture the kinetic energy of the wind. This kinetic energy is used to directly turn a turbine and produce electricity. Wind turbines do not produce any polluting waste,

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Effective use of wind power

Individually they do not generate a lot of electricity. They are usually needed in large numbers to have an impact on electricity production. A group of wind turbines is called a wind farm.

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4. Water power - Hydroelectricity

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Effective use of Hydroelectricity

Initial cost is very high. Preferably in high altitude mountain rivers. Long lasting solution for energy. Provides a cheap and reliable source of electricity. And also eco-friendly

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5. Biofuel and biomass

Biomass is material from living sources. The simplest biomass energy sources are plants and biological wastes which can be burnt to produce steam to turn a turbine. Other materials such as the waste from chicken farms can also be burnt. Biofuels are renewable as more plants can be grown, producing yet more biomass. Biomass fuels do not contribute to global warming as the carbon dioxide released when they are burnt is absorbed by the plants grown to replace them.

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Effective use of bio fuels

Some plants can be fermented to give ethanol, a biofuel. Bio ethanol mixed with fossil fuel (Bio gasoline) can be used instead of petrol or even aviation fuel. Methane is biogas which can be used a replacement for natural gas. It is produced in anaerobic digesters by bio degradable waste.

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6. Geo Thermal Energy

Volcanic rocks under the ground, radioactive decay of elements, and natural geysers release heat energy The steam and hot water which rises naturally to the surface can be harnessed to generate electricity. The largest geothermal power plant is in California and has an output of 750 megawatts.

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Advantages of renewable energy sources

They are inexhaustible they will always be available they are renewable. They are clean and will not damage the environment. There are several types of such sources so one or more of them is present in each country or geographical location. Most natural sources can be used on a small scale and serve local needs therefore cutting costs of transmitting the energy.

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