Geography Class 8: Powers Resources

Power or energy plays a vital role in our lives; for example, we need power for industry, agriculture, transport, communication, and defence etc. Power assets might be extensively classified as regular and non-customary assets. There are two main kinds of power resources. These are conventional and non-conventional sources, and differ in their environmental impact, their ability to be extinct or exhausted, and the duration for which they have been popular. Conventional sources are traditional and have been in use for many years, while non-conventional sources are fairly new and take into account the environment. 

Conventional Sources: 

Customary wellsprings of energy are those which have been for all intents and purposes for quite a while. Kindling and petroleum derivatives are the two primary traditional energy sources. 

• Kindling: It is generally used for cooking and warming. In India, more than fifty per cent of the energy used by villagers comes from firewood.
• Petroleum products: Remains of plants and animals buried under the Earth for decades get converted into fossil fuels due to extreme heat and pressure. For example, coal, petroleum and natural gas. The stores of these minerals are restricted.
• Coal: This is the most abundant fossil fuel. It is utilised as a homegrown fuel, and used in industries like iron and steel, steam motors and to generate (thermal power).

• The coal was shaped a large number of years prior when greenery and marshes were covered under the layer of earth. Coal is thus alluded to as Buried Sunshine.

• Leading producers of coal in the world: China, USA, Germany, Russia, South Africa, and France. 
• Coal producing areas in India: Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad, and Bokaro in Jharkhand.

• Oil: It is found between the layers of rocks and is penetrated from oil fields situated in seaward and seaside regions. Treatment facilities process the raw petroleum and produce an assortment of items like diesel, petroleum, lamp oil, wax, plastics, and ointments. Petrol and its subordinates are called Black Gold as they are truly important.

• Oil-producing countries in the world: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The other significant producers are the USA, Russia, Venezuela, and Algeria.
• Driving oil producing states in India: Digboi in Assam, Bombay High in Mumbai, and the deltas of Krishna and Godavari streams.

• Flammable gas: It is the kind of gas which burns in the presence of an oxidant.

• Significant natural gas producing nations:Russia, Norway, UK, and the Netherlands are the huge producers of natural gas.
• Natural Gas producing regions in India: Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura and a few regions seaward in Mumbai. 
• Hydel power: It is the form of energy that is generated through water that is in motion.
• Rainwater or stream water set aside in dams is made to fall from a height. The moving forefronts then, at that point, by then, at that point, turn the generator to convey power; this is called hydro-power. The water delivered after the time of force is used for the water framework.

• Leading countries in hydel power production: Paraguay, Norway, Brazil, and China.
• Hydel power producing areas in India: Some significant hydel power stations in India are Bhakra Nangal, Gandhi Sagar, Nagarjunasagar, and Damodar valley projects.

Non-Conventional Sources:

• These refer to those energy sources that are fairly recent.
• These sources are pollution-free and cannot be exhausted. 
• There are many non-conventional sources of energy, such as solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, etc.
• Solar energy is one of the most easily and abundantly available forms of energy.
• Solar energy uses the heat of the sun to create energy or power. 
• This can be used to produce electricity, water heating, cooking, and in architecture.
• Solar energy has the advantage of being a clean energy source since it doesn’t cause pollution. 
• Once installed, there is zero cost for the usage of this form of energy.
• Solar energy does face the problem of being costly in terms of initial installation costs.
• In India, this source of energy is most utilised in Karnataka. 
• Wind Energy is another form of non-conventional source. 
• Electricity is generated when the kinetic energy from wind is used to turn a turbine such as a windmill. 
• Wind energy is mainly used in electricity.
• The advantages of wind energy include being a pollution-free source of energy as well as being cost-effective.
• There are also drawbacks of wind energy including an expensive initial cost and can be dangerous to wildlife.
• Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are two of the places in India that actively utilise wind energy.
• Non-conventional sources of energy are environment-friendly and have recently gained popularity. 

Conclusion

Power resources are those sources that provide energy or electricity. These are classified into conventional and non-conventional sources. Conventional sources are used traditionally and may not be environmentally friendly. These include coal, oil, and natural gas. These sources of energy are low cost but are harmful to the environment. Non-conventional sources are clean sources of energy that are comparatively recent. Solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and hydropower are few examples of non-conventional sources. These have a high initial cost but are clean and cost-effective.