INTRODUCTION

Energy is defined by physicists as the capacity to do work. Energy is found on our planet in a variety of
forms, some of which are immediately useful to do work, while others require a process of
transformation. The sun is the primary energy source in our lives. Besides, water, fossil fuels such as
coal, petroleum products, water, nuclear power plants are sources of energy. Energy is one of the most
important building blocks for human life on earth and economic development of the country. The
demand for energy resources are increasing day by day with the development of industries,
transportation and agricultural activities.
TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES
On the basis of sources energy are classified into two categories, renewable energy resources and non
renewable energy resources:
i) Renewable energy resources:
These energy resources are also known as non conventional energy resource, which can be regenerated
continuously. It can be used again and again in an endless manner because these resources are available
in large amount. For example: solar energy, wind energy, bio-fuels, hydro energy, geothermal energy,
wave & tidal energy etc.
ii) Non renewable resources:
These energy resources are also known as conventional (traditional) energy resources. It cannot be
replenished when these sources are exhausted because these resources are present in limited amount
and take a long period of time to resynthesize. For example, nuclear energy, coal, petroleum, natural
gas etc.
Growing Energy Needs:
Energy consumption of a nation is usually considered as an index of its development, because almost
all the development activities are directly or indirectly dependent upon energy. Power generation and
energy consumption are crucial to economic development as economy of any nation depends upon
availability of energy resources. There are wide disparities in per capita energy use of developed and
the developing nations. With increased speed of development in the developing nations energy needs
are also increasing.
The very original form of energy technology probably was the fire, which produced heat and the early
man used it for cooking and heating purposes.Wind and hydropower has also been used. Invention of
steam engineers replaced the burning of wood by coal and coal was further replaced by oil.
The oil producing has started twisting arms of the developed as well as developing countries by dictating
the prices of oil and other petroleum products.In India, energy is consumed in a variety of forms such
as fuel wood; animal waste and agricultural residues are the traditional sources of energy. These non-
commercial fuels are gradually getting replaced by commercial fuels i.e. coal, petroleum products,
natural gas and electricity.
Out of total energy, commercial fuels account for 60% where as the balance 40% is coming from non-
commercial fuels. Of the total commercial energy produced in the form of power or electricity,
69% is from coal (thermal power),
25% is from hydel power,
4% is from diesel and gas,
2% is from nuclear power, and Less than 1% from non- conventional sources like solar, wind, ocean,
biomass, etc.
1. HYDROELECTRICITY OR HYDRO ENERGY
It is a form of renewable energy resources. Electricity produced from water is usually referred as hydro
electricity. In this process dams are constructed for storage of water and then water led down through
tunnel to lower level which rotates the turbine to produce mechanical energy. The produced mechanical
energy can be converted into electrical energy with the help of generator and again transformed in
alternating current through transformer. Once the electricity is produced it can be delivered to homes,
industries etc. The output of energy produce by dams is totally depends on the volume of water released
or discharge speed and vertical distance from where water fall or vertical distance of water head.
Advantage of hydroelectricity
i) It is renewable source of energy.
ii) Once the dams are constructed, electricity can be produced to many years or decades.
iii) Hydroelectricity is non polluting sources of energy.
iv) Dams used in production of hydroelectricity, is also used in irrigation purposes.
Disadvantage of hydroelectricity
i) Loss of biodiversity.
ii) Construction of dams is expensive.

iii) During drought condition electricity cannot be produce by hydroelectricity plant.

2. SOLAR ENERGY
It is also a renewable energy resource. In this case we get electricity directly from the sun light, contains
radiation like ultraviolet, visible and infrared etc. The earth surface gets maximum energy when
radiations strike at 90 o (vertical). India received 4–8 kWh of solar radiation per square meter per day
which is equal to 5000 trillion kWh per year. In order to give a boost to the solar energy sector, India
saw the advent of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (launched in 11 January, 2010). The mission
was specifically aimed at developing comprehensive policies and strategies of technology India as a
global leader in the area of solar energy. This ambitious solar mission aims to install 100 GW grid-
connected solar power plants by the year 2022.

Method of harvesting solar energy

1. Photovoltaic (PV) cell: Photovoltaic cell is a device which directly converts sun light into electricity.
The term photovoltaic is composed by two words, photo means light and voltaic means electric.
Photovoltaic cell formed by the semiconductor material like silicon. Silicon is an element that naturally
releases electrons when exposed to sun light and increase the conductivity.

2. Solar water heater: Solar water heater consist collectors (flat-plate), insulated storage tank,
interconnecting pipelines. The flat-plate collectors (absorb solar radiation) are place over the roof of
building or home to capture the sun light. Small tube runs along the collector and carries water. When
sun light incident on the collector, then water absorbs heat from the collector. Warm water stored into
the insulated storage tank.

Advantages of solar energy:

i)It is renewable source of energy.
ii)Low cost of maintenance.
iii) Solar energy is non polluting sources of energy.
Disadvantage of solar energy
i) Installation cost is high.
ii) Lots of space is needed to install the solar panels.
Iii) During cloudy days and winter season energy production is lower down.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
The term geothermal comes from Greek word Geo means Earth and Thermos means Heat. Energy
which obtained from the earth’s core is known as geothermal energy. In earth’s core geothermal energy
continuously produce due to collision of tectonic plates and due to decay of radioactive materials. In
this process two tunnels are drilled inside the earth. One tunnel used to inject water into the earth.
When water injected into the earth, where water come in contact with hot rocks and produced steam.
The generated steam comes out from the second tunnel where it rotates turbine to produce mechanical
energy. The produced mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy with the help of
generator.

Advantage of geothermal energy

i) It is also a renewable source of energy.
ii)Unlike solar cell, it works all day and night.
iii) Low cost of maintenance.
Disadvantage of geothermal energy
i) Underground hot water is necessary for geothermal energy.
ii) Installation cost is high.
Iii) Production efficiency is lower.
BIOMASS
Biomass is a renewable energy resource, also known as ‘carbon neutral’ (because biomass formed by
sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, so biomass does not increase carbon dioxide on the earth). It is formed
by the excreta or waste materials of living organism (like sewage, cow dung etc.) and dead plants & tress
(firewood, fruit stone etc.). In biomass, the energy from the sunlight is stored in the form of cellulose,
sugar, starch, lignin etc. The chemical energy released from these molecule when they undergoes
digestion or combustion because chemical bonds between carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are broken.
Advantage of biomass energy
i) It is also a renewable source of energy.
ii) Burning of alcohol or producer gas (A combustible mixture of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and
hydrogen, generated by passing air with steam over burning coke or coal in a furnace and used as fuel)
produce less amount of pollutant gases.
iii) Help to reduce waste.
Disadvantage of biomass energy
i) Direct combustion of biomass generates pollutant gases like fossil fuel.
ii) Cause deforestation.
Iii) Not efficient like fossil fuel.
Coal
Coal is a renewable resource formed when plant or animal remains are subjected to high pressure
conditions inside the earth. When coal burned, large amount of heat released which is used up by water
to generate high temperature and high pressure steam. Steam is used to rotate turbine which produce
mechanical energy. The produced mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy with the
help of generator.
Types of coal:
1. Anthracite 90% carbon
2. Bituminous 80% carbon
3. lignite 70% carbon
4. Peat 60% carbon
Advantages of coal
1. It can be used to meet growing energy demand.
2. It can be easily transported.
3. It has a high calorific value.
4. Present abundantly.
5. Cheap source of energy.
Disadvantages
1. Non renewable
2. May get exhausted in future.
3. Burning of coal contributes to global warming and climate change.
4. Coal mines are created after deforestation of area.
5. Workers in coal mines are affected with health issues.
2. Natural gas: Natural gas is a cleanest fossil fuel amongst all fossil fuel, mainly contains methane (70-
90%) and some amount of ethane, propane, butane. Natural gas is used to produce electricity, in
transportation, and also used as a domestic fuel.
Advantages of natural gas
1.It can be used to meet the growing energy demands.
2. It can be easily transported.
3. High calorific value.
Disadvantages
1. Non-renewable
2. May get exhausted in future.
3. Contribute to global warming and climate change.
4. It is highly combustible and therefore can lead to explosions or accidents. 5.Costly resource.

3. Petroleum: The term petroleum is derives from two Latin words petra means rock and oleum means
oil.Petroleum product (gasoline, diesel, kerosene) have high calorific value, is also used as lubricating
oil.
Advantages of petroleum
1. It can be used to meet growing energy demands.
2.It can be easily transported.
3. High calorific value.
Disadvantages
1. Non-renewable
2. May get exhausted in future.
3. Petroleum is extracted by the process of oil drill.Oil drill can result in oil spill which creates adverse
impact on the Marine ecosystem.
4.Petroleum is a fossil fuel. Burning of petroleum result in release of greenhouse gases like carbon
dioxide therefore burning of petroleum contribute to global warming and climate change.