The term “non-conventional sources of energy” or “renewable resources of energy” refers to natural resources that may constantly provide useable energy over an extended period of time and are still usable even after they have been used up. Solar, wind, hydro, and biomass are some examples of unconventional sources of energy.
STATISTICS
According to the REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report, India ranks fourth globally for installed renewable energy capacity (including large hydro), fourth for wind power capacity, and fourth for solar power capacity.
During the period of January to October 2022, a total of 14.21 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity was installed, as opposed to 11.9 GW added during the period of January to October 2021. 151.94 BU have been produced overall from RE sources between January and September 2022, compared to 128.95 BU from January to September 2021.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is planning to construct 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, in keeping with the Prime Minister’s promise at COP26. As of October 31, 2022, the nation had deployed a total of 172.72 GW of capacity derived from non-fossil fuel sources. Included in this are 119.09 GW of renewable energy, 46.85 GW of large hydro, and 6.78 GW of nuclear power. As of October 31,2022, this accounted for 42.26% of all installed generating capacity in the nation, or 408.71 GW.
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Solar
- Since the dawn of time, solar energy has been the most accessible and cost-free source of energy. According to estimates, the globe receives solar energy every year that is greater than 15,000 times the amount used for commercial purposes worldwide.
- Solar thermal and solar electric (solar photovoltaic) methods are the two ways that sun energy may be used. The solar thermal pathway uses the heat from the sun to cook food, dry goods, create hot water or air, etc. Solar photovoltaic systems utilize the heat from the sun to create energy that may be used to power motors, pumps, electric appliances, and lights for homes and other buildings.
- Solar thermal devices, sometimes referred to as solar collectors and receivers, are used in the solar thermal route to transform solar energy into heat energy.
Hydro
- The beginning of the industrial revolution was fueled by the potential energy of falling water that was caught and transformed by waterwheels into electrical energy.
- Rivers and streams were dammed, and mills were erected, wherever there was enough head or an elevational shift. A turbine is spun by the passage of water that is under pressure. A generator that generates power is attached to the turbine.
Tidal
- The gravitational interactions between the moon and the earth’s water mass as well as the sun and the earth’s water mass result in the form of energy known as tidal energy.
- Predictability is a key benefit of tidal energy. It is quite effective to predict the magnitude and timing of tides.
Biomass
- One of the primary energy sources for global sustainable development is anticipated to be bio-energy, namely biogas, which is produced from biomass.
- The carbonaceous waste left over from a variety of human and natural processes is used to create biomass, a sustainable energy source. Because biomass absorbs as much carbon during growth as it releases when burned as fuel, it does not contribute carbon dioxide to the environment.
- Its benefit is that it can create energy using the same machinery that is now being used to burn fossil fuels. Cooking, mechanical uses, pumping, power production, and other uses all include the usage of bioenergy.
Geothermal
- Geothermal resources are hot water reservoirs that are naturally occurring or artificially created at various temperatures and depths below the surface of the Earth.
- In order to access steam and extremely hot water that may be brought to the surface for use in a number of purposes, including the production of electricity, direct usage, and heating and cooling, wells can be bored into subterranean reservoirs that are anywhere from a few feet to several miles deep.
Wind
- Utilising wind to generate electricity is essentially what is meant by “wind energy.” Electrical energy is created from the kinetic energy of the wind. The earth’s curvature causes various areas of the atmosphere to be heated to varying degrees in response to solar energy entering the atmosphere.
- At the poles, this warmth is least intense and is greatest. Since air tends to move from warmer to cooler climates, winds are created by this movement, which is then used to generate electricity by windmills and turbines. These days, greater technology allows for the larger-scale harnessing of wind power for the production of energy.
| ADVANTAGES | LIMITATIONS |
| Renewable– Alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydropower, are renewable, which means that there will never be a shortage of them. | Weather Dependency– The weather has a significant impact on non-conventional energy sources like solar and wind power, which can make it challenging to provide continuous and dependable electricity |
| Cost-Effective– Non-conventional energy sources like solar and wind power are now more affordable than ever before because of substantial cost reductions in recent years.
| High Initial Expense – Setting up non-conventional energy systems might involve a significant initial expenditure, which may not be practical for certain people or organizations.
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| Non-Polluting– Alternative energy sources are a cleaner and more environmentally friendly method of electricity production since they emit little or no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
| Insufficient Storage – Non-conventional energy sources, like solar and wind power, are frequently produced in high quantities during peak hours, but it’s possible that the storage alternatives for this extra energy are inefficient or expensive.
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| Nuclear power: Nuclear Power is emitted in large amounts when extracting non-conventional energy.
| Limited Capacity – Compared to conventional energy sources like coal and natural gas, non-conventional sources of energy have a smaller capacity, which might reduce their total potential. |
| Widely Available – Alternative energy sources are extensively accessible and can be used practically anywhere, making them suitable for use in many different locations and nations.
| Environmental Impact – Renewable energy sources, such as large-scale hydroelectric dams that can destroy habitat and uproot local populations, can likewise have detrimental effects on the environment. |
| Diversification – Non-conventional sources of energy provide an opportunity for diversification of energy sources, reducing dependence on any one source of energy and increasing overall energy security.
| Green House Effect: Biogas, although useful and renewable, contributes to the greenhouse effect.
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Government Initiatives
The nodal ministry for all issues pertaining to new and renewable energy in the Indian government is the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). To meet the nation’s growing energy needs, the Ministry’s overarching goal is to discover and implement new and renewable energy sources.
- Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) in 1981.
- Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (DNES) in 1982.
- Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) in 1992.
- Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) was renamed as Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2006.
Other Government Initiatives
- National Solar Mission (NSM), the National Solar Mission, was launched on January 11th, 2010. The National Sustainable Mission (NSM) is a significant project of the Indian government, in which the States actively participate, to advance ecological sustainability and handle India’s energy security issues.
- Solar Parks Scheme: A plan for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” is being implemented with a goal capacity of 40 GW by March 2024 in order to support large-scale grid-connected solar power projects. By enabling the essential infrastructure, such as land, power evacuation facilities, road connection, water facilities, etc. along with all regulatory permissions, solar parks provide solar power companies a plug-and-play concept. As of October 31, 2022, 56 Solar Parks with a combined capacity of 39.28 GW have been approved throughout 14 states. In 17 parks, solar energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 10 GW have already been put into operation. The remaining parks are in various phases of implementation. 832 MW worth of solar power installations have been put into operation.
- National Wind Energy Mission: It was established to act as the technical hub for wind power development in India, to encourage and speed up the use of wind energy, and to support the country’s expanding wind power industry.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan Scheme aims to provide farmers in India with energy security while upholding India’s commitment to reach a 40% share of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
- Smart Cities Mission: Through the use of “Smart” solutions, SCM aims to support communities that offer basic infrastructure, a respectable standard of living for its residents, and a clean and sustainable environment.
- National Biogas and Manure Management Program ( NBMMP): The National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) seeks to establish family-style biogas plants to supply biogas as a source of lighting and clean cooking fuel. Slurry, a byproduct of biogas plants, is an organic bio-manure for boosting crop output and preserving the health of the soil. The spread of biogas technology aids in slowing down environmental deterioration and stops the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane.
