Unit-1

Various Sources of Renewable Energy:

A. Solar Energy:
1. Solar energy is a clean, cheap and abundantly available renewable energy and it is also
the most important of the non conventional sources of energy because it is non-polluting
and, therefore helps in decreasing the green house effect.

2. Solar energy can be used as:

i. By direct conversion to a fuel by photosynthesis.

ii. By direct conversion to electricity by photovoltaic.

iii. By conversion to electricity via thermo-electric power system.

3. The sun releases the enormous amount of energy due to continuous fusion reaction
taking place inside the sun.

4. The sun sends out the energy in the form of radiations at the rate of 3.7 x 100 MW.

5. However, the energy intercepted by the earth is about 1.85 x 10 11 MW.

6. This energy available is several times more than all the energy produced and consumed in
the world.

a. Merits of Solar Energy:

1. Noiseless operation.

ii. Occupies less space on floor as there is no need of storage vessels.

iii. Cheaper initial cost and no need of containers to store the fuel.

b. Demerits:

i. Solar equipments fail to work in nights, cloudy days or rainy season.

ii. Large space is required for the collection of solar energy at a useful rate.

B. Biomass:

1. Green plants trap solar energy through the process of photosynthesis and convert it into
organic matter. This organic matter is known as biomass.

2. Wood, charcoal, agricultural waste produces the bio-energy after burning, and cow dung,
garbage are anaerobically decomposed to obtain the energy.

4 Dried animal dung or cattle dung cakes are used directly as fuels in rural area but it
produces smoke and has low efficiency of burning

a. Merits:

i. Cost of obtaining bio-energy through plantations is lesser than cost of obtaining energy
from fossil fuels.

ii. Plants ensure a continuous supply of energy due to their continuous growth.

iii. Growth of biomass consumes more CO, than is released during combustion of biomass
besides producing the atmosphere-purifying oxygen as a by-product of the photosynthesis
process.

b. Demerits:

i. Accumulation of water in the pipe line and need to remove it at periodic intervals.

ii. Inefficient designing of gas appliances.

iii. Seasonal variation in gas production due to lack of temperature control and poor
insulation of the plant.

C. Hydro Energy:

1. It is a renewable energy source, which is used to generate electricity.

2. Hydropower is obtained from water flow or falling water from a height.
3. Water stored behind dam and at a height has a lot of potential energy which is converted
into mechanical and electrical energy.
4. The water is released gradually and is allowed to fall under the gravitational force and
drive which rotate hydraulic turbines.
5. The generators attached with turbine produce the electricity

Advantage:

i Hydropower does not pollute the water or the air during operation and no waste products
are formed

b. Limitation:

i The generation of electricity by hydroelectric power plants results in pollution and

ecological disturbance like flooding situation and adverse effects on flera and fauna.

D. Wind Energy:

1. Wind energy is a renewable source of non polluting energy and it has tremendous
potential which if harnessed, can easily satisfy the energy demands of a country

2. Estimates reveal that 2% of the total solar energy falling on earth is converted to kinetic
energy in the atmosphere.

3. 30% of this kinetic energy occurs in the lowest 1000 m of elevation wind in the lowest
kilometer has maximum kinetic energy which can be converted into mechanical energy
which in turn can be utilized to generate electricity or to perform some other useful work.

4. Since, the energy possessed by wind is by virtue of its motion, so the device used to
extract its energy should be capable of slowing down the wind

a. Merits:

i Abundance availability for no price.

ii. Useful at remote places also for electricity generation.
iii. Non polluting and eco-friendly.

b. Demerits:

i Less favourable in city locations as the wind is available at higher locations.

ii It is unreliable and intermittent. It is not available regularly.
iii. Present day wind energy systems are a source of immense noise pollution.

E. Tidal Energy:

1. Gravitational pull by sun and moon result in the tides.

2. This type of energy can be harnessed by constructing the tidal barrage.
3. Energy can be harnessed from high as well as from low tides.
4. During high tides, the sea water flows into the reservoir of the barrage and operates the
turbine which in turn produces electricity, by rotating generators.
5. During low tides, the water stored in the reservoir flows into the sea and again operates
the turbine. 6. In this way the energy can be harnessed from high and low tides.

a. Merits:

i. Very less area is required because they are on bays.

ii. It is free from pollution as it does not use any fuel.
iii. It does not produce any unhealthy waste like gases, ash, refuse, etc.

b. Demerits:

i. Tidal power plants can be developed only if natural sites are available.
ii. The capital cost of the plant is high
iii. Utilization of tidal energy on small scale has not yet proved economical

F. Ocean Thermal Energy:

1 OTEC i.e., ocean thermal energy conversion plants convert the heat of the ocean into
electrical energy, with the help of temperature difference.

2 The large temperature difference between warm surface sea water (28-30 0C) and cold
deep sea water (5 -12 °C) is used to generate electricity, with the help of ocean thermal
energy conversion

a. Merits:

i. The OTEC process exploits the temperature difference between the warm surface and cold
bottom water to produce electricity. ln India, the conditions for operation of OTEC plant are
Favourable because of this temperature different that remains constant throughout the
year.
ii. Inexpensive transmission of electricity is possible provided the OTEC plant is less than 30
km from the sea shore.

b. Demerits:

i. At greater distance (from plant to sea shore) the transmission cost of electricity is
increased.
ii. OTEC technology is in infant stage.
iii. OTEC technology is costly and difficult.

G. Wave Energy:

1. The motion of the sea surface in the form of wind waves forms a source of energy.
2. Floating propellers are placed in shallow waters, near the shores and due to motion of the
waves, the propellers also get the motion and this kinetic energy can be used to drive
turbines.
3. This is cheap, clean and inexhaustible source of energy.

a. Merits:

i Ocean wave energy source is renewable and free of cost; hence its importance will
increase with time.
ii. Waves are continuous. They come and go between 6 second.
iii. Collector size of wave machines is comparatively smaller than solar devices.

b. Demerits:

i Corrosion of materials used in plant.

ii. Marine growth of algae in the plant.
iii. Obstruction to ships.

H. Geothermal Energy:

1. The energy harnessed from the hot rocks present inside the earth is called as geothermal
energy

2. There is an increase in the temperature of the earth with increasing depth below the
surface.

3. The fission of radioactive material naturally occurring in the rocks increases the
temperature of the earth as we move down from the earth's surface

4. Hot molten rocks called magma are present in the core of the earth. This causes
sometimes volcanic action

5. This hot steam is used to operate turbines to generate electricity

6. Artificially it can also be harnessed with the help of pipes by drilling the hot rocks, which
make the hot water to gush out through pipes which turns the turbine of the generator to
produce electricity

a. Merits:

i. It is cheap and clean source of energy.

ii. Geothermal plants require little land area.

b. Limitations:
i. Air pollution results in case of release of gases like H,S, NH, present in the steam waste.

ii. Noise pollution results from the drilling operations.

K. Hydrogen Energy:

1. Hydrogen is considered as an alternative future source of energy.

2. It is a non conventional energy resource.

3. Hydrogen energy has a tremendous potential because it can be produced from water
which is available in abundance in nature.

4. In sun's core, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atom which is known as fusion
reaction.

5. It gives the radiant energy which sustains the life on the earth.

6. Hydrogen can be separated from water by means of electrical energy

7. It can also be obtained from fossil fuels.

Advantages:

i. Hydrogen energy has very high energy content.

ii. Its burning is non-polluting

b. Disadvantages:

i. Highly flammable

ii. It is more expensive.

(Non Renewable) Energy Sources

A. Conventional (Non Renewable) Energy Sources: These are the sources of energy which
are exhaustible i.e.. cannot be replaced if once they are used.

Example: Coal, Petroleum products, Natural gas etc.

B. Non Conventional (Renewable) Energy Sources: These are the sources of energy which
are inexhaustible i.e, can be used to produce energy again and again.

Example: Sun, Water, Animal dung. Agro-waste etc.

C. Fossil Fuel as a Conventional Energy Source: Some of the fossil fuels are discussed below:
a Coal Energy:

1. Coal is a conventional energy source

2. It is formed due to degradation of trees and plants buried under layers of silt

3. It is composed of mainly carbon and hydrocarbons.

4 Coal is found in Jharkhand, U.P. M.P., Bihar etc. in India.

5. Uses of coal:

i. Coal is used to generate electricity Power plants use coal for heating the water to generate
steam, which runs the turbines to generate electricity.

ii. Various industries use heat obtained from coal in making plastics. tar, synthetic fiber etc.

iii. Coal is heated in furnace to make coke, which is used to melt iron for making steel.

6 Environmental problems:
i. Due to combustion of coal, carbon dioxide is produced which is responsible for causing
global warming.
ii. Coal also produces sulphur dioxide which is a cause for acid rain.

b. Natural Gas:

1. Natural gas formed by decomposition of dead animals and plants buried under the earth.

2. It is mainly composed of methane (CH₁) with small amount of propane and ethane.

3. Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel.

4. Uses of natural gas:

i. It is used as a domestic and industrial fuel

ii. It is also used in thermal power plants for generating electricity.

5. Advantages:

i. Natural gas has a high calorific value and it burns without any smoke.

ii. It can be easily transported through pipelines.

C. Importance of Non-conventional Energy Sources in the Context of Global Warming:

1. Global warming is the phenomenon of rise in temperature of environment due to the rise
in concentration of the various gases like CH, CO₂, aerosols, NO,, etc which is caused by the
burning of conventional fossil fuels in industries.

2. Non-conventional energy resources like solar energy, wind energy, ocean thermal energy,
etc are eco-friendly resources and do not produce any kind of pollutants or harmful gases
like CO, CH, SO, NO,, etc.

3. Thus, we can say that non-conventional energy resources are playing an important role in
context of global warming by not producing harmful gases which increases the temperature
of environment.

Solar Cells Array:

1 Solar cells are strung in series and thus form a solar module or array.

2. They may be tracking arrays or fixed arrays.

3 A tracking array is defined as one which is always kept mechanically perpendicular to the
sun-array line so that all times it intercepts the maximum isolation.

4. Such arrays must be physically movable by a suitable prime-mover and

are considerably more complex than fixed arrays.

5. A fixed array is usually oriented east-west and tilted up at an angle approximately equal
to the latitude of the site.

6. Fixed arrays are mechanically simpler than tracking arrays. Thus the array designs fall into
two broad classes:

a. Flat-Plate Arrays :

1. Wherein solar cells are attached with a suitable adhesive to some kind of substrate
structure usually semi-rigid to prevent cells being cracked.

2. This technology springs from the space-related photovoltaic technology, and many such
arrays have been built in various power sizes.

b. Concentrating Arrays :

Wherein suitable optics, e.g., Fresnel lenses, parabolic mirrors, compound parabolic
concentrators (CPC), and others, are combined with photovoltaic cells in array fashion.

This technology is relatively new to photovoltaic in terms of hardware development, and

comparatively fewer such arrays have actually been built.
Mechanism of photoconduction in a PV cell
1. In p-n junction after the photons are absorbed, the free electrons of the n-side will tend
to flow to the p-side, and the holes of the p-side will tend to flow to the n-side to
compensate for their respective deficiencies.

2. This diffusion will create an electric field E, from the n-region to the p-region.

3. This field will increase until it reaches equilibrium of V, the sum of the diffusion potentials
for holes and electrons.

4. If electrical contacts are made with the two semiconductor materials and the contacts are
connected through an external electrical conductor, the free electrons will flow from the n-
type material through the conductor to the p-type material.

5. The flow of electrons through the external conductor constitutes an electric current
which will continue as long as more free electrons and holes are being formed by the solar
radiation.

6. This is the basis of photovoltaic conversion, that is, the conversion of solar energy into
electrical energy.

7. The combination of n-type and p-type semiconductors thus constitutes a photovoltaic

(PV) cell or solar cell.
8. All such cells generate direct current which can be converted into alternating current if
desired.
Solar Cells:
1. Photovoltaic energy is the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy through a
photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell.

2. Solar cells are the solid state electronic device used to convert the electromagnetic
energy of solar radiation directly into direct current electricity. This conversion takes place
inside the cell.

3. When sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose. They move towards the
treated front surface. An electron unbalance is created between the front and back. When
the two surfaces are joined by a connector, like a wire, an electric current flows between
the negative and positive sides,

4. These individual solar cells are arranged together in an array.

B. Solar Cell Materials:

1. The solar cell is made of different material and silicon and silicon is one used for nearly
90% applications.

2. The choice of material depends on the band energy gap, efficiency and cost.

3. The maximum efficiency of solar cell is achieved with the band gap energy of 1.12 eV-2.3
eV.
4. The various materials like aluminum silicon, Si (1.12eV), Aluminium antimonide. AlSb
(1.27 eV), Cadmium telluride, CdTe (1.5 eV), Zink telluride, ZnTe (2.1 eV), Cadmium sulphide,
CdS (2.42 eV) etc. are the materials suitable for solar cell.

5. The smaller the energy gap, the large number of photon of solar spectrum will be useful
to produce the required energy for electrons to jump the forbidden band gap.

Application:

A. Solar Street Light :

1. It comprises of a compact fluorescent lamp, two 35 watt solar arrays and an 80 ampere-
hour tubular cell battery as shown in Fig.
B. Home Lighting System :

1. These are the most popular solar PV units, typically designed to work
with two light points and one TV point.

2. When necessary, a small DC fan can also be run from this system.

C. Water PumpingSystem:

1. It is another important application of photovoltaic

systems.
2. These systems are mainly, employed in rural areas for agricultural applications, where
power is not available easily and economically.

3. Farmers use an 1800 watt PV array to operate a 2 hp DC motor pump set.

4. It can give water discharge of 140,000 litres per day from a depth up to 7 meters which is
sufficient to irrigate 5-8 acres of land holding several crops.

D. Solar Vehicles:

1. Solar photovoltaic systems are also used in solar vehicles like solar cars, tractors etc. But
solar vehicles are not used on commercial level until now.

2. Research and development is continuously trying to increase the efficiency of solar

vehicles and to make it commercially workable.

MNRE:

1. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry of the
government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy.
2. The broad aim of the ministry is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy for
supplementing the energy requirements of the country.

3. Creation CASE and ministry:

a. Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) in 1981.

b. Department of Non Conventional Energy sources (DNES) in 1982.
c. Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) in 1992.
d. Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) renamed as ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2006.

4. The role of new and renewable energy has been assuming increasing significance in
recent times with the growing concern for the country's energy security.

5. Energy self-sufficiency was identified as the major driver for new and renewable energy in
the country in the wake of the two oil shocks of the 1970s.

6. The sudden increase in the price of oil, uncertainties associated with its supply and the
adverse impact on the balance of payments position led to the establishment of the
commission for additional sources of energy in the department of science and technology in
March 1981.

7. The commission was charged with the responsibility of formulating policies and their
implementation, programmes for development of new and renewable energy apart from
coordinating and intensifying R & D in the sector.

B. MISSION:

1. The Jawaharlal Nehru national solar mission was launched on the 11th January, 2010 by
the Prime Minister.

2. The mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar
power by 2022 is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country
through

i Long term policy,

ii. Large scale deployment goals,
iii. Aggressive R & D. and
iv. Domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products, as a result to
achieve grid tariff parity by 2022.

3. Mission will create an enabling policy framework to achieve this objective and make India
a global leader in solar energy.

Solar Photovoltaic System Neat Sketch:

1. It refers to a wide variety of solar electricity systems.
2. This system use solar array made of silicon to convert sunlight into electricity.
3. Components other than PV array are collectively known as balance of system (BOS) which
includes storage batteries, an electronic charge controller and an inverter.
4. Storage batteries with charge regulators are provided for back-up power supply during
periods of cloudy day and during nights.
5. Batteries are charged during the day and supply power to loads as shown in Fig. 1.13.1.

6. The capacity of a battery is expressed in ampere-hours and each cell of the lead-acid
battery is of 2 volts.
7. Batteries are installed with a microprocessor based charge regulator to monitor the
voltage and temperature.
8. It also regulates the input and the output current to eliminate overcharging and excessive
discharge respectively.
9. An inverter is provided for converting DC power from battery or PV array to AC power.
10. It needs to have an automatic switch-off in case the output voltage from the array is too
low or too high
11. The inverter is also protected against over loading and short circuit.

Autonomous Solar Power Plant:

1. This plant also known as grid independent or stand alone PV system for supplying the
current having no connection with grid.

2. It is located at the load centre and dedicated to meet all the electrical loads of a village or
community or a specific set of loads

3. Energy storage is generally essential.

4. It is most relevant and successful in remote and rural areas having no access to grid
supply.

5. Indicative capacity of such a system is 10 W-100 kW.

6. The main components of a general stand-alone solar PV system are shown in Fig. 1.15.1.
7. The MPPT senses the voltage and current outputs of the array and adjusts the operating
point to extract maximum power under the given climatic conditions.

8. The output of the array after converting to AC is fed to loads.

9. The array output in excess of load requirement is used to charge the battery.

10. If excess power is still available after fully charging the battery, it may be shunted to
dump heaters.

11. When the sun is not available, the battery supplies the load through an inverter.

12. The battery discharge diode De prevents the battery from being overcharged after the
charger is opened

13. The array diode D, is to isolate the array from the battery to prevent battery discharge
through array during nights

14. A mode controller is a central controller for the entire system.

15. It collects the system signals and keeps track of charge or discharge state of the battery,
matches the generated power and lead and commands the charger and dump heater on-off
operation.

Combined Solar Power Plant or Hybrid PV System:

1. A hybrid PV system is essentially a system that employs at least one more source, other
than the PV, to meet the electrical power demand of the loads.
2. The other sources that are generally used in conjunction with the PV source are diesel
generators, wind generators, micro-turbines, fuel cells, etc.
3. The hybrid PV system can be classified depending on the type of source it uses, eg., PV-
wind hybrid system, PV-diesel hybrid system and PV- fuel cell hybrid system.

a. PV-Wind Hybrid System:

i. In the case of the PV-wind hybrid system, the variation in the wind velocity results into
large changes in the frequency and output power of the generator.

ii. As a result, it is advisable to convert the AC output to the DC and then convert it back to
AC through the inverter.

iii. The PV and the rectified output of the wind generator are connected in parallel forming a
DC link.

iv. However, the drawback of this system is that PV and wind both are the unreliable,
sources and hence, in absence of the sun and wind, a large battery bank is required to meet
the load demand.