Conventional and Non-conventional Energy

Conventional sources of energy

Natural energy supplies that are restricted in quantity and have been used for a long time are known as conventional sources of energy. They’re considered non-renewable sources because once they’re depleted, they can’t be produced at a rate that can keep up with the rate of use. They are made up of decomposing materials that have accumulated over hundreds of millions of years.

Due to their continued use, these resources have been exhausted to a large amount. Petroleum reserves in the United States are likely to run out in a few decades, whereas coal stockpiles are expected to last another hundred years. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and electricity are all examples of traditional energy sources.

• Coal: Coal is a flammable sedimentary rock created by the decomposition of dead plants. Coal is mostly made up of carbon, with traces of hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen thrown in for good measure. With the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 18th century, coal became widely used.
• Petroleum: Petroleum, often known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring fuel that is refined into a variety of petroleum-based fuels after it is extracted. To separate the distinct components of petroleum, fractional distillation is performed. Petroleum is a fossil fuel that is formed when high pressure and high heat are applied to the dead and decaying materials of animals such as zooplankton and algae and retrieved from beneath layers of sedimentary rock. Petroleum is used to make gasoline, propane, kerosene, tar, and other products.
• Natural gas: Natural gas is a hydrocarbon gas made up primarily of methane with minor amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, and helium. Natural gas is a greenhouse gas that has a significant impact on the environment once released. The end products of natural gas combustion, such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, are significantly more harmful.

Non-conventional sources of energy

Non-conventional energy sources are those that are replenished on a regular basis by natural processes. Solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, biomass energy, and geothermal energy are examples of renewable energy sources that cannot be readily depleted and can be used repeatedly. Energy derived from non-traditional sources is referred to as non-conventional energy. These sources do not pollute the environment and do not necessitate a significant investment. Renewable resources are those that can be replaced at a rate equal to or greater than the rate at which they are depleted through natural processes.

• Hydropower: Even a small amount of water flowing naturally or artificially can be used to generate power. Although there are many types of hydropower, hydroelectric dams and reservoirs are the most common and established. Hydroelectric dams are constructed on rivers with a steady flow of water. The river’s natural flow is then used to power turbines that are linked to generators. The generator produces energy while the turbines revolve, which is stored and subsequently transported for consumption.
• Wind power: Windmills, also known as wind turbines, are installed in areas with a high and consistent wind flow. Wind farms are areas with a large number of wind turbines for the generation of electricity. Large blades are coupled to a generator in wind turbines. These blades revolve when there is a strong wind, which is subsequently turned to energy. The amount of electricity a wind turbine can generate is proportional to the cube of the wind speed.
• Solar power: Solar energy is one of the purest forms of energy, and it has the greatest potential of all the renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic cells, which are solar panels composed of semiconductive materials, are capable of converting light to electricity. A number of panels are positioned in the best possible position so that they receive steady sunshine throughout the day. Solar panels are already being used as a primary source of electricity in some homes and commercially in solar farms with hundreds of thousands of panels.

Difference between Conventional and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

Conclusion

The ability of a physical system to perform labour is referred to as energy. In our daily lives, we need energy from a variety of sources to do tasks. Muscle energy is used for physical work, electrical energy is used to run many appliances, chemical energy is used to cook meals, and so on. To do so, we must first understand the many energy sources available in order to extract energy in a useful form.

Conventional and non-conventional energy sources are the two types of energy.