U19EE918

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

 UNIT 1

INTRODUCTION
Introduction
 World Energy Futures

 Energy sources and their availability

 Energy cycle – of the earth

 Energy Utilization – environmental aspects

 Energy Plantation

 Renewable energy resources

– importance and aspects
 World Energy Needs Futures
 The world will need significantly increased energy supply in the
future, especially cleanly-generated electricity.
 Electricity demand is increasing about twice as fast as overall
energy use and is likely to rise by more than half to 2040.
 Nuclear power provides about 10% of the world's electricity, and
18% of electricity in OECD countries.
 Almost all reports on future energy supply from major
organisations suggest an increasing role for nuclear power as an
environmentally benign way of producing reliable electricity on a
large scale.
.
 World Energy Needs Futures
• Growth in the world's population and economy, coupled with rapid
urbanisation, will result in a substantial increase in energy demand over
the coming years.

• The United Nations (UN) estimates that the world's population will
grow from 7.6 billion in 2017 to 9.7 billion by 2050.
• The process of urbanisation – which currently adds a city the size of
Shanghai to the world's urban population every four months or so – will
result in approximately two-thirds of the world's people living in
urban areas by 2050 (up from 55% in 2018).
• The challenge of meeting rapidly growing energy demand, whilst
reducing harmful emissions of greenhouse gases, is considerable. In
2019 global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rose to 33.3
Gt, the highest on record, and about 45% above the total in 2000 (23.2
Gt).
 World Energy Needs Futures
• In 2020, due to the response to the coronavirus pandemic,
primary energy demand dropped by nearly 4%, and
CO2 emissions fell by 5.8%.
• Increased electrification of end-uses – such as transport, space
cooling, large appliances, ICT, and others – are key contributors
to rising electricity demand.
• The number of people without access to electricity has fallen
substantially, and is now below one billion.
• However, despite significant progress, over 11% of the world's
population still lacks access, mostly in rural areas.
 Important Terms
• Energy
– The ability to do work or produce change
• It must be transferred to an object to do work.

– Units: Joules or Kilowatt hours (kWh).

– Law of Conservation of Energy:

• It can neither be created nor destroyed but can only be
changed from one form to another.

– Two basic types of energy

• Potential: Energy associated with the nature, position or state .
• Kinetic: Energy associated with motion .
 Important Terms
• Different forms of energy:
– (1) Chemical energy - due to chemical reaction
– (2) Electrical energy - due to flow of electron

– (3) Heat energy - due to thermal vibration

– (4) Light energy - due to radiation of light

– (5) Mechanical energy - due to moving parts

– (6) Nuclear energy - due to nuclear reaction

– etc.
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources
– Sources from which energy can be extracted & utilized.

– Classification of energy resources

• Primary and Secondary
• Conventional and Non-conventional
• Renewable and Non-renewable
• Commercial and Non-commercial
• Classification based on origin
– Thermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Fossil fuel, Solar, Biomass, Wind, Tidal,
Geothermal, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
 Important Terms
Primary Energy Sources
• The energy sources which provide a net supply of
energy are defined as Primary Sources.
• Examples are Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear.
• The energy required to produce energy from these
sources is very less as compared to the energy
produced by them.
• Energy Yield Ratio of these sources is very high.
– Energy Yield Ratio is defined as the ratio of energy fed back by
the material to the energy taken from the environment.
 Important Terms
Secondary Energy Sources
• These sources produce no net energy.

• Examples include Solar, Wind, Water (Hydro, Tidal, Wave

etc.)

• These sources produce no harm to the environment and

earth, and so they must be more preferable source of energy
for us.

• But due to low Energy Yield Ratio (as compared to the

Primary Sources) they are not that efficient.
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources

Primary Resources Secondary Resources

• Available in nature in raw • Obtained from primary
form. resources.

• Fossil fuels (coal ,oil and • Processing helps in

gas),uranium and Hydro transforming primary
power. resources in to secondary
resources.
• Have to be located,
extracted, processed and • Electricity, steam, hot water,
converted into suitable form petrol, diesel, LNG and
before use. CNG.
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources

Conventional Non-conventional
• Energy resources which • Alternate energy resources
have been traditionally to conventional which are
used from many years and being considered to be
likely to be depleted (50-60 used on large scale.
years).
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources

Non-renewable
Renewable Resources
(Exhaustible) Resources
• Ability to renew or replenish within • Consumed faster than can be
reasonable time replenished
• Affected by human activities (to be • Cannot be renewed within
conserved) reasonable time
• Ex: Soil, Fresh water, Forest • Ex: Coal, Petroleum
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources
Commercial Non-commercial
• Secondary usable energy • Energy which can be
resources such as derived directly from
electricity , CNG, LPG, nature so as to be used
petrol and diesel are without passing through
essential for commercial any commercial outlet
activities
• Eg: Wood, crop residues
• Processing capability etc.
affects the economy of the
nation
 Important Terms
• Energy Resources

Origin based
• Thermal
• Hydro
• Nuclear
• Fossil fuel
• Solar
• Biomass
• Wind
• Tidal
• Geothermal
• Ocean energy
Renewable Energy Sources
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Biogeochemical Cycles
– Definition
• Circulating pathway (cycle)
by which an element or molecule (chemical)
moves through both biotic (bio) and
abiotic (geo) components of ecosystem

– Examples
• Carbon cycle
• Nitrogen cycle
• Water cycle
• Oxygen cycle
• Sulphur cycle
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Water Cycle – Introduction
– Water – prerequisite for existence of life
• Survival of plants, animals and human beings
– Agricultural
– Household
– industrial
– recreational &
– environmental activities

• Water is essential for

– Economic growth
– Environmental stability
– Biodiversity conservation
– Food security
– Health care
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Water Cycle – Introduction
– Sources of Water on Earth
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Water Cycle
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Carbon Cycle
– Definition
• Complex series of processes through which all Carbon atoms rotate

– Carbon in non-living (abiotic) environment

• Carbon-dioxide : in atmosphere
• Carbonate : rocks (ex: limestone CaCO3)
• Fossil fuel : coal, petroleum and natural gas
• Dead organic matter : ex: humus

– Carbon enter biotic world

• Photoautotrophs : in atmosphere
• Chemoautotrophs : small extent

– Carbon returns to the atmosphere

• Respiration : as CO2
• Burning or combustion of fossil fuels : as CO2
• Decay : as CO2 – presence of O2 & CH4 – absence of O2
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Carbon Cycle
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Nitrogen Cycle
i. Fixation of Nitrogen
• Micro-organisms
• Thunder & lightning
• Compost or fertilizer

ii. Nitrogen enters biotic world

• Plants : absorb nitrates from soil
• Animals : proteins from plants

iii. Nitrogen returns to soil

• Nitrification : as nitrates (decomposition)
• Ammonification : form of urea or other wastes

iv. Nitrogen back to atmosphere

• Free nitrogen : by bacteria in the soil
 Energy Cycles of the Earth
• Nitrogen Cycle
 Energy sources and their
availability

Energy Source Availability Status Examples

Fossil Fuels Limited (Depleting) Coal, Oil, Gas

Nuclear Energy Limited (Non-renewable fuel) Uranium

Solar, Wind, Biomass,

Renewable Energy Practically Inexhaustible
Hydro, Geothermal
Energy Sources and their Availability
• Conventional
– FOSSIL FUEL
• Coal (60,600 MT* – 6.8%) *Metric Ton
– 5th largest coal reserve (after USA, Russia, China, Australia)
– Insufficiency – 23% dependence on import
– Indian coal: high ash content, low heat value, low sulphur

• Crude Oil (762 MT – 0.34%)

– Imports 75 % of oil

• Natural Gas (1427 bcm* – 0.68%) *Billion Cubic Meters

– 25% is imported
– Largest consumers: fertilizer and power industry
Energy Sources and their Availability
• Conventional
– HYDRO FUEL
• 7th in the world (Potential: 100,000 MW)
– Installed capacity: 41,997 MW
– Difficulties in development:
» Huge installation cost
» Environmental and social problems
Energy Sources and their Availability
• Conventional
– NUCLEAR FUEL
• Modest amount of Uranium (1 – 2 % of the world reserves)
– Has 25 nuclear reactors in 8 plants
– Installed capacity: 8,880 MW
– Difficulties in development:
» Waste disposal safety
» Radiation impact
Energy Sources and their Availability
• Non-Conventional
– WIND ENERGY
• Currently 4th in the world (after China, USA, Germany)
– Installed capacity: Located in: 695 GW at 120m & 1,160 GW at
150m
– Tamil Nadu; Gujarat; Maharashtra; Rajasthan. Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana. (8 windy
state
– Odisha, Kerala, and Other states (Minimal Capacity)
Energy Sources and their Availability
• Non-Conventional
– SOLAR ENERGY
• Resource availability:
– More than 5000 trillion kWh per year
– Daily average global radiation: 5kWh/m2/day
– Availability of sunshine: 2300 – 3200 hrs/yr
– Used as PV to directly generate electricity; Used also for
heating purposes

• Difficulties in large scale development:

– Low energy density in solar radiation
– Availability is not continuous
– Yet, due to extensive R&D, it is fast-growing
 Energy Sources and their Availability
• Non-Conventional
– BIOMASS ENERGY
• Resource availability:
– In the form of dry waste
» agro residues, fuel wood, twigs etc.
– In the form of wet waste
» Cattle dung, organic effluents,
» Sugarcane bagasse, banana stem etc.

• Potential for generation:

– Power/cogeneration form agro residue and bagasse: 25 GW
– From urban waste: 1,700 MW
– Wide scope for bio diesel
 Energy Sources and their Availability
Peak Electricity Demand
• Current peak demand (as of April 2025): around 19,864 MW, slightly
lower than April 2024’s 20,326 MW, and May 2025’s 19,156 MW—
typically averaging around 19–20 GW each month The state's all-time
high peak was 20,830 MW on May 2, 2024 The.
• Peak demand for 2024–25 is expected to reach 22,150 MW—a ~6 %
increase from the previous year

Daily Energy Consumption

• On April 30, 2024, Tamil Nadu consumed 454.32 million units (MU)
in a single day
 Energy Sources and their Availability

Year/Period Peak Demand (MW) Remarks

Slightly below April
Apr 2025 ~19,864 MW
2024's peak
May 2, 2024 20,830 MW Highest-ever recorded
2024–25 (peak ≈6 % growth year-over-
22,150 MW
projection) year
2026–27 (forecast) 23,013 MW Continued rise expected
2034–35 (long-term Large growth over the
35,507 MW
projection) next decade
 Energy Sources and their Availability
Installed Power Capacity (July–Sept 2024):
Based on CEA & Renewable Watch data:
• Total installed capacity: ~41,126 MW
• Thermal: 15,970 MW (~39%)
• Nuclear: 1,448 MW (~3%)
• Renewables (incl. large hydro): 23,659 MW (~58%)

Energy Source Installed Capacity (%) Generation Share (%)

Renewables ~58% ~27%
— Wind ~27% (of capacity) ~13.7%
— Solar ~23% ~9.4%
— Large Hydro ~5–6% included in renewables
Nuclear ~3.5% small share
Thermal (coal/gas) ~39% ~73%
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Ecology * derived from Greek

– ‘Oikos’ – home or surroundings

– ‘Logos’ – study
– ‘Oikologie’ – study of nature

– Study of interactions b/w

• Living Organisms &
• Physical environment

• Self-cleansing & Recycling

– Naturally done in the environment thru’ biogeochemical cycles

– This natural balance is hampered by human activities

Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Greenhouse Effect
– Greenhouse gases: absorb and emit radiation within thermal IR range
• Nitrous oxide
• Carbon-dioxide
• Methane
• Ozone
• Chlorofluorocarbons
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Greenhouse Effect
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Global Warming
– It is the continuing rise in average temperature of the earths
atmosphere and ocean surface
– Caused due to greenhouse effect
– Effects:
 Snow and ice melting
 Loss of bio diversity
 Increasing ocean temperature and rising sea levels
 Extreme weather events
 Altered rain fall pattern
 More severe heat waves
 Food shortages
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Acid Rain
– pH < 5 is acid rain
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Ozone Layer Depletion
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Classification of UV Radiation

Type Wavelength Range Energy Effect on Earth

Mostly reaches Earth’s surface,
UV-A 320–400 nm Lowest energy
causes skin tanning.
Partially blocked by ozone;
UV-B 280–320 nm Medium energy
causes sunburn, skin damage.
Completely blocked by ozone
UV-C 100–280 nm Highest energy and oxygen; very harmful but
doesn’t reach Earth.
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
Ozone Layer Formation:
• Natural Ozone Formation (in the Atmosphere) happens mainly in the
stratosphere through a process called the Oxygen-Ozone Cycle (also
called the Chapman Cycle).

1. UV Radiation Splits Oxygen Molecules

• High-energy ultraviolet (UV-C) rays from the Sun strike O₂ (oxygen
molecules).
• This energy breaks the O₂ into two individual oxygen atoms:

UV-C + O2​ → O + O
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
Ozone Layer Formation (Cont..):
2. Formation of Ozone (O₃)
• The free oxygen atom (O) is highly reactive.
• It quickly combines with another O₂ molecule to form ozone (O₃):

O + O 2 ​ → O3

3. Ozone Absorbs UV-B Radiation

• Ozone molecules absorb UV-B radiation from sunlight.
• This breaks O₃ back into O₂ and O:

O3​ + UV-B → O2​ + O

Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
Ozone Layer Formation (Cont..):
4. Continuous Cycle (Ozone-Oxygen Cycle)
• The freed oxygen atom recombines again with O₂ to form more O₃.
• This cycle continues naturally and forms the ozone layer in the
stratosphere (10–50 km altitude).
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
Ozone Layer Formation (Cont..):
Importance of Ozone Layer:
• This natural formation of ozone creates the ozone layer, which
blocks harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation from reaching Earth's
surface.
• Without it, life on Earth would be exposed to dangerous ultraviolet
rays.
UV-C: Very harmful but blocked completely by the ozone layer.
UV-B: Partially blocked; causes sunburn.
UV-A: Reaches Earth mostly; least harmful.
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
Ozone Layer Depletion
• Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in
the upper atmosphere.
• This happens when the chlorine and bromine atoms in the
atmosphere come in contact with ozone and destroy the ozone
molecules.
• One chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone. It is
destroyed more quickly than it is created.
• Some compounds release chlorine and bromine on exposure to high
ultraviolet light, which then contributes to the ozone layer depletion.
Such compounds are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• The ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine include
chlorofluorocarbon, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and
methyl chloroform. Whereas, the ozone-depleting substances that contain
bromine are halons, methyl bromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons.

• Chlorofluorocarbons are the most abundant ozone-depleting substance. It is

only when the chlorine atom reacts with some other molecule, it does not
react with ozone.

• Montreal Protocol was proposed in 1987 to stop the use, production and
import of ozone-depleting substances and minimise their concentration in
the atmosphere to protect the ozone layer of the earth.
Energy Utilization: Environmental Aspects
• Ozone Layer Depletion
 Energy Resources
• Energy: Ability to do work

• First Law of Thermodynamics

– Energy is neither created nor destroyed
– but it can be converted from one type into another
Energy Res: Growing Energy Needs
• Population growth
• Industrialisation & Urbanisation
• Energy dependent sectors
– Agriculture
– Industry
– Mining
– Transportation
– Lighting
– Cooling
– Heating
• Non-uniform distribution of energy sources
• Over-exploitation of energy resources
• Affluence & Sophistication
Energy Res: Classification
Energy Res: Classification
 Renewable Energy Sources: Use
• Environment friendly
• Provide sustainable fuel system
• Freely available in nature
 Renewable Energy Resources
• Importance
– Conventional sources are non-renewable and finite assets
– Present rate of consumption is declining the availability of
conventional sources.

– Demand of energy is increasing rapidly.

– Conventional sources cause pollution leading to
degradation of environment.

– Large hydro resources affects wild life and deforestation.

 Renewable Energy Resources: Prospects
• Govt of India established a commission for additional sources
of energy (CASE) in the department of science and
technology in March 1981.
• In 1982 CASE was incorporated in the department of non-
conventional energy sources(DNES) under the ministry of energy.
• A non-banking financial institution Indian renewable energy
• development agency Ltd(IREDA) was established in 1987 to
promote renewable energy projects.
• Solar energy corporation of India(SECI)-exclusively for solar energy
• In 1992 DNESis converted to MNES(Ministry of non-conventional energy
sources.
• In 2006 MNESwas renamed as MNRE(Ministry of new renewable energy)
www.mnre.gov.in
Conservation of Energy
 Energy Plantation
• Introduction
– Practice of planting trees, purely for their use as fuels

– BIOMASS
• Waste material from plants or animals
– that is not used for food or feed
– It is used as fuel, for power generation, chemical manufacture
• Traditionally used to
– Generate fire for cooking and other purposes

• Recently emphasis is laid on

– Plantation of energy plants to meet energy demand
 Energy Plantation
• Energy plantation in India
– Social forestry
• Long strips along railway lines, road sides, canals, waste lands

• To meet demand of fuel and fodder in rural areas

• Decreases the increasing pressure on forests

– Silviculture (aka short-rotation forestry)

• Similar to agriculture than forestry

• Biomass produced in shortest time (5-10yrs) at minimal cost

• Decentralized way of satisfying local energy need

• Relieves pressure on consumption of fossil fuels

 Energy Plantation
• Energy plantation in India
– Agro-horticulture practices
• Plants (other than crops) that yield fruits, flowers, nuts etc

• Plants that need pruning produce biomass – for fuel

– Afforestation in waste lands

– HDEP: High Density Energy Plantations

• Planting trees at close spacing

• Leads to rapid growth of trees due to struggle for survival

 Energy Plantation
• Desirable characteristics
– fast growth
– stress resistance
– less palatable to cattle and other animals
– early propagable
– high caloric value
– absence of deleterious volatiles when smokes come out
– high yield of biomass
– disease/pest resistant
 World Energy Futures
• Essential Considerations
– Energy Security and Equity
• Ensuring availability and accessibility of energy for all

– Energy sustainability
• Ensuring energy availability for current and future generations

– Environment sustainability
• Ensuring clean & safe environment for current & future generations

• This involves

Reduction of pollution
Avoiding over-utilisation of resources
Energy Trilemma
 World Energy Futures
• Current Scenario
– Major source : Fossil Fuel
• Coal for thermal power plant, Petroleum for transportation etc.

• Burden on the non-renewable energy sources

• Pollute the environment

– Moving trend: Renewable Energy Sources

• Renewable: freely and abundantly available in nature

• Aimed at reducing

Carbon imprint
Burden on the fossil fuels
 World Energy Futures
• Current Scenario - Shortcomings
– Intermittency of renewable energy
• Changes in availability are highly unpredictable

• Availability changes from max to zero in an instant

• High dependence on energy storage (not cost-effective)

– Switch to Renewable is not sufficient

• Carbon concentration doesn’t reduce with opting renewable

• Carbon absorption and utilisation should be ensured

Plant cover etc.
 World Energy Futures
• Secure Energy Future
– Consumers don’t impact in a great way
• Small scale renewable generation

• Planting tree covers

• Yet, majority use the energy that is provided by the major players

– Create an impact on Major players

• Policymakers and stakeholders & Senior energy leaders

• WEC provides scenarios for the major players to analyse

instead of setting up rules
 World Energy Futures
• World energy scenario by 2050
– Energy complexity will increase
– Energy efficiency is crucial (when demand exceeds supply)
– Energy mix will mainly be fossil based
– There is no unique solution: rather based on regional
priorities

– For a low carbon future:

• Not only renewables, but consumer behaviour & carbon capture

– Carbon capture utilisation and storage, solar energy and

energy storage systems are the key uncertainties