Non-Conventional Energy Sources

Energy is a critical component of economic infrastructure. Agriculture, industry, residential, and economic sectors have substantial energy demands in a developing economy. Energy resources are critical to humanity’s survival. There are mainly two types of energy sources.

Conventional sources of energy, also known as non-renewable sources of energy, are present in limited quantities and have been used by humans for many years like coal, natural gas, natural oil, woods for fuel, etc.

Non-conventional energy sources, often known as renewable energy sources, are inexhaustible and continuously created in nature like wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, etc.

Define Non- Conventional Sources of Energy

Wind, tides, solar, biomass and other natural resources provide energy, referred to as “non-conventional resources.” Nonconventional energy (or) renewable energy sources are energy sources that are continuously produced in nature and are limitless. Because they are pollution-free, we may use them to generate clean energy with no waste.

Wind energy, tidal energy, solar energy, and geothermal energy are some sources.

Wind Energy

Two things cause winds. 1. Solar energy absorption on the earth’s surface and atmosphere. 2. The earth’s rotation around its axis and its orbit around the sun. A windmill turns the kinetic energy of moving air into mechanical energy, which can be utilised to power the machine directly or power the generator to generate electricity.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy that comes from the sun. The sun’s energy comes from deep within the sun’s core, where nuclear fusion reactions take place. Hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium nuclei. The sun’s energy is sent into space as a result of these processes.

Tidal Energy

The gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Moon is the primary source of tidal forces. In the mid-ocean, they appear twice a day. There is only a metre of tidal range. In a tidal power station, water is held in an artificial basin during high tide and then released at low tide. Water turbines, which drive electrical generators, are powered by the exiting water.

Geothermal Energy

The heat energy we acquire from hot rocks in the earth’s crust is known as geothermal energy. As a result, geothermal wells release greenhouse gases that have been trapped within the ground, but these emissions are significantly lower per unit of energy than fossil fuels. Because it saves 80 per cent on fossil fuels, this energy has cheap operating expenses. As a result, the utilisation of geothermal energy is on the rise. It contributes to reducing global warming and does not pollute the environment.

Biomass Energy

The organic matter that comes from plants, animals, wood, and sewage is referred to as biomass. These materials burn to generate heat energy, which is then converted into electricity. The chemical composition of biomass varies depending on the species, but on average, biomass contains 25% lignin and 75% carbs or sugar. Biomass energy can also be used for cooking, lighting, and electricity generation. After the biogas has been removed, the waste is a good supply of manure. Biomass is a significant energy source, accounting for more than 14% of world energy consumption.

Conventional sources of energy

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 consumption rate. 

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 primarily 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 used 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 various 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 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.

Conclusion

Any country’s long-term economic success and progress are inextricably linked to the development and security of its energy sectors. In light of conventional energy sources’ finite and limited reserves and their environmental impact, greater focus should be placed on the development of non-conventional energy sectors and their proper utilisation for the benefit and welfare of society. Such initiatives would also aid in creating a large number of jobs at all levels, particularly in rural areas. As a result, mainstreaming non-conventional and renewable energy technology for emerging countries is becoming increasingly important. The non-conventional and renewable energy sectors in India have a lot of room for growth.