Energy Resources

Module 1- Resources

Chapter 7- Energy Resources

Explain about the various alternate energy resources

24.  Solar Energy

Sun is considered as the ultimate source of energy. The light and heat from the sun can be utilized to produce energy to meet various energy requirements in the following ways:

i)    Solar heat is used to produce electricity by using solar reflectors and steam turbines.

ii)   Solar light is converted into electricity by using solar cells

iii)  Various daily use products using solar energy are: solar cookers, water heaters, dryers, furnaces etc.

Advantages:-

i)    Renewable

ii)   Eco-friendly and no fear of pollution

iii)  Operative maintenance is low

Disadvantages:-

i)    Low efficient

ii)   High initial cost

iii)  Solar power plants required more space

iv)  Unreliable , as it is intermittent in day nights and depending upon climate

25. Biomass Energy

Remains of the bodies of plants and animals are called biomass.It is probably the first source of energy used by the human being. It is abundant in nature and thus is renewable. Biomass is derived from numerous sources including the by-products from the timber industries, kitchen and municipal wastes, agricultural and forest residues etc. etc. Burning of half a kg of biomass can produce as much as heat available from 1 kg of coal. Biogas produced from biomass is a sustainable source of energy.

Advantages are:

i)High energy fuel obtained

ii)Low cost

iii)Ecologically and inoffensive

26. Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power is obtained through nuclear fission or fusion of radioactive materials. Nuclear reactions produce a huge amount of energy, which is in the form of heat. This heat is utilized to boil water and this water is converted into steam which is used to rotate the turbine to produce the electricity. The availability of radioactive materials like uranium, plutonium etc. is limited. Some of the disadvantages are:

1. The cost of building, operation and maintenance is higher
2. Technical issues
3. Qestionable safety 
4. Deadly radioactive waste
5. Nuclear weapons testing create contaminated sites

27. Alternate Energy

As 90 percentage of the energy used by today’s world is in the form of fossil fuels. The forms of energy other than fossil fuels are termed as alternative energy resources. Examples are: Biomass energy, nuclear energy, solar energy, geo thermal energy, wind energy and hydel energy.