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Energy is a vital aspect of life. Energy is being depleted as time passes. Nonconventional energy, often known as renewable energy sources, refers to the energies that are constantly being generated in nature. Depending on their origins, they can be of numerous forms. Conventional energy, on the other hand, is dependent on fossils, which may go extinct very soon. Because energy sources will become extinct very soon, it is critical to figure out how to conserve these resources.
Understanding the Conventional Energy Sources
Conventional sources of energy, also known as non-renewable sources of energy, are present in limited quantities and have been utilised by humans for many years. These non-renewable energy sources are decomposing materials that take hundreds of years to create, such as coal, petroleum, and others. As a result, once they are depleted, they can never be created at a rate or pace that can continue their rate of consumption. Conventional energy sources are further divided into two types: commercial energy sources and non-commercial energy sources.
What is the definition of Commercial Energy Sources?
Commercial energy sources are those for which the customer is required to pay a fee for consumption. Coal, petrol, natural gas, and electricity are a few examples.
Coal: Without a doubt, coal is the most important source of energy. Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into peat (an accumulation of partially rotted organic matter or vegetation) over millions of years, which is then transformed into coal by pressure and heat. Coal is largely made up of carbon. It also contains varying quantities of other elements such as hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen.
Natural Gas and Oil: Natural gas is among the world’s most important energy sources, whilst oil is regarded as liquid gold. Oil is generated by a great number of microscopic creatures and plants that, when they die, become buried at the bottom of the sea under numerous layers of sand and mud and are subjected to heat and pressure. It’s often seen in trains, ships, vehicles, and planes. Natural gas is created when multiple layers of decaying animal and plant materials are exposed to tremendous pressure and heat under the Earth’s surface over millions of years. It is used for a variety of functions, including cooking, heating, and generating power.
Woods for fuel: People in rural areas cook using fuelwood sourced from natural forests and plantations on a daily basis. Fuelwood is becoming increasingly scarce as a result of growing deforestation. We may avoid this issue by planting more trees on degraded forest areas, cultivated wasteland, barren land, and grazing land.
Thermal Power Station: Power plants use a variety of fossil fuels to heat water and generate steam, which then drives a turbine to generate electricity. Electricity transmission is more efficient than hauling coal or petroleum over the same distance. The thermal plant gets its name from the fact that fuel is burned to generate heat energy, which is then turned into electrical energy.
Nuclear power: A tiny bit of radioactive material may generate a large amount of energy via nuclear substances all over the planet. Nuclear reactions are required to obtain nuclear energy, and there are around 300 nuclear reactions. Nuclear energy is one of the most ecologically friendly conventional energy sources since it emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions during electricity generation than sources such as coal power plants. However, in the event of an accident, this same nuclear energy is released in large quantities into the environment. Furthermore, the remaining nuclear waste is radioactive and dangerous.
Why do we require non-traditional energy resources?
As energy consumption rises, the population’s reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas grows by the day. Because the costs of gas and oil continue to rise by the day, it is necessary to ensure the energy supply for the future. As a result, we must employ more and more renewable energy sources. The government of India has established a distinct department titled “Department of non-conventional sources of energy” for the effective utilisation of non-conventional sources.
Conclusion
When we can’t reuse an energy source after we’ve used it once, we refer to it as “conventional energy” or “non-renewable energy resources.” They are the most major conventional energy sources. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and nuclear energy are examples of these. Oil is the most extensively utilised energy source. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas make for over 90% of global commercial energy output, with hydroelectric and nuclear power accounting for the remaining 10%. Our country’s petroleum supplies are rapidly depleting, and if this trend continues, all conventional energy sources will soon be depleted.
