UNIT 1: Introduction to Energy Resources and Renewable Energy

Rajasthan Polytechnic (BTER) March 07, 2025

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UNIT 1: Introduction to Energy Resources and Renewable Energy

This unit explores the fundamental aspects of energy use, energy resources, environmental impact, and renewable energy systems, focusing on global and Indian contexts. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current energy scenario, its implications, and the potential of renewable energy systems. Let’s break this down into simple and easy-to-understand points with examples and diagrams.

1.1 World Energy Use

Energy use refers to the consumption of energy resources like fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources. Energy is fundamental for economic development, industrial activities, transportation, and domestic needs.

Global Energy Consumption Breakdown:

  • Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas): The largest share of energy consumption globally. These are non-renewable resources and contribute to environmental pollution.
  • Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydropower, Biomass): Still a small but growing part of the global energy mix, contributing to sustainability.
  • Nuclear Energy: Provides a significant share of global electricity but comes with concerns regarding safety and radioactive waste.

Trends in World Energy Use:

  • Developed countries have higher per capita energy consumption due to industrialization and high standards of living.
  • Developing countries are increasing energy consumption as they industrialize and urbanize.

Example:

  • China and India are the largest growing energy consumers due to rapid industrialization and population growth. However, these countries also face energy challenges related to sustainability and environmental concerns.

1.2 Reserves of Energy Resources

Energy resources are classified into two categories: renewable and non-renewable.

Non-Renewable Energy Resources:

  • Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas): These resources are finite and cannot be replenished on a human timescale. The reserves of fossil fuels are decreasing, leading to concerns about future energy security.

  • Global Oil Reserves: Major oil reserves are found in countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States.

  • Coal Reserves: Countries like China, India, and the U.S. have large coal reserves.

Renewable Energy Resources:

  • Solar Energy: The sun provides virtually unlimited energy. The potential for solar energy is enormous, especially in regions with high sunlight.
  • Wind Energy: Wind turbines capture energy from wind. The best areas for wind energy production are coastal and hilly areas.
  • Hydropower: Uses flowing water to generate electricity. The Three Gorges Dam in China is an example of large-scale hydropower.

Diagram:

  • Global Energy Reserves: Pie chart showing the proportion of energy reserves in the world by type (oil, coal, gas, renewables).

1.3 Environmental Aspects of Energy Utilization

Energy utilization has significant environmental impacts, especially when derived from non-renewable resources. These impacts include:

Impact of Fossil Fuels:

  • Air Pollution: Burning of coal, oil, and gas releases harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), contributing to global warming and acid rain.
  • Climate Change: Fossil fuel combustion releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change. CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas.

Impact of Nuclear Energy:

  • Radioactive Waste: Nuclear energy creates hazardous waste that remains radioactive for thousands of years, posing long-term disposal problems.
  • Nuclear Accidents: Accidents like Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) have demonstrated the environmental risks of nuclear energy.

Impact of Renewable Energy:

  • Solar and Wind Energy: These are much cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy. However, they can have local environmental impacts, such as land use for solar farms or wind turbine impacts on wildlife (e.g., birds).
  • Hydropower: Large dams can disrupt ecosystems and displace local communities, although smaller-scale projects have less environmental impact.

Example:

  • The Paris Agreement (2015) set targets for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging the shift to renewable energy sources.

1.4 Renewable Energy Scenario in India and Around the World

Global Renewable Energy Scenario:

  • Many countries are increasingly adopting renewable energy sources due to concerns over fossil fuel depletion and climate change.

Top Countries for Renewable Energy:

  • Germany: Leading in solar and wind energy.
  • China: World's largest producer and consumer of solar panels and wind turbines.
  • USA: Significant in wind and solar energy production.

Renewable Energy in India:

India is also rapidly adopting renewable energy as part of its strategy for energy security and reducing carbon emissions.

  • Wind Energy: India is the 4th largest producer of wind energy globally.
  • Solar Energy: India has set ambitious targets for solar energy production, aiming to reach 100 GW of solar power by 2022.

Challenges:

  • High initial investment costs for renewable energy projects.
  • Grid infrastructure needs to be upgraded to handle decentralized renewable sources.

Diagram:

  • Global Solar Energy Production: Bar chart comparing solar energy production by leading countries.

1.5 Potentials; Achievements/Applications of Renewable Energy

Potential of Renewable Energy:

  • Solar Energy: India, the Middle East, and Africa have vast potential due to high solar irradiance.
  • Wind Energy: Coastal areas, mountain ranges, and open plains are ideal for wind power.
  • Biomass: Agricultural waste and forest residues can be used for bioenergy production.

Achievements:

  • India: In 2020, India became the world’s 4th largest producer of wind energy.
  • Germany: Germany generated 46% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2020.
  • China: Leads the world in the total installed capacity of solar power.

Applications:

  • Solar-powered homes and solar parks.
  • Wind farms generating electricity in coastal and hilly areas.
  • Biogas plants in rural areas to convert organic waste into useful energy.

Example: The Gujarat Solar Park is one of the largest solar parks in India with a capacity of 5 GW.

1.6 Economics of Renewable Energy Systems

Cost of Renewable Energy:

  • Initial Capital Costs: Renewable energy technologies (solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) generally have high upfront costs.
  • Operational Costs: Once installed, the operational costs are relatively low compared to fossil fuel power plants.

Economic Benefits:

  1. Job Creation: The renewable energy sector has been a significant job creator, especially in installation, maintenance, and manufacturing.
  2. Energy Independence: Reduces dependence on foreign oil and gas, making countries more energy-secure.
  3. Lower Operating Costs: Renewable energy systems, once set up, have little to no fuel cost, making them economically efficient in the long term.

Government Support:

  • Many countries provide subsidies, tax incentives, and policy support to encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies.

Example:

  • Subsidies for Solar Panels: Many countries, including India, offer subsidies for installing rooftop solar panels to reduce the cost burden for consumers.

Conclusion

Renewable energy is the future of sustainable development, offering an environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative to fossil fuels. The world is transitioning toward cleaner energy sources, and India is actively pursuing these goals with ambitious targets. While there are challenges related to initial costs, technology, and infrastructure, the long-term benefits of renewable energy — including environmental protection, energy security, and job creation — make it a critical part of the global energy solution.

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Rajasthan Polytechnic (BTER)

Posted by Rajasthan Polytechnic (BTER)

Hi! I’m Garima Kanwar, founder of Rajasthan Polytechnic (BTER). This platform provides notes, PDFs, and video lectures for all Polytechnic branches (ME, CS, EE) and semesters to make learning easy .I ensure exam-focused, updated, and simple-to-understand content, along with academic updates and career guidance.

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