Energy Resources
Energy resources are renewable as well as non renewable resources. Energy is
required for in the development of different sectors. Like industry, mining,
agriculture, lighting, cooling and heating in buildings, household and transportation
all need energy. Our modern life and luxurious way of living required more fossil
fuels like oil, petroleum, coal and natural gas. It provides 95% of the energy.
Renewable and non-renewable energy:
1) Renewable resources:
Resources that can be generated from natural processes are called
renewable resources. Examples are trees in forest, fresh water in lakes,
groundwater, fresh air and fertile soil. Solar energy, tidal energy, hydropower,
biomass, geothermal energy and hydrogen are inexhaustible resources in
nature. They are also called non-conventional energy sources because they
can be used again.
2) Non-renewable resources:
Resources that are available in a fixed quantity in the earth crust are called
non-renewable resources. They are exhaustible in nature and are not
replaced by natural process. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear fuel
uranium is example for non-renewable resources on earth.
Alternate energy resources:
1) Solar energy: sun is renewable and inexhaustible source of energy
Solar cells: solar cells convert solar energy into electrical energy. Solar panels
are made up of silicon & gallium.
Solar heat collectors: solar heat collectors are made up of stones, bricks etc.
These solar heat collectors absorb heat during the day time and release it
slowly at night.
2) Tidal energy: tidal waves are formed at sea by gravitational forces of sun and
moon. Using high and low tides, it is possible to pass seawater through a
narrow turbine, which generates electricity.
3) Wind energy: electricity is produced by windmill. But wind mills are restricted
to certain coastal areas, open grassland or hilly region. Wind mills are also
used to pump water and grinding grains.
4) Hydroelectric energy: kinetic energy of water falling from a certain height
produces hydroelectric energy. Water falling from a height rotates the
turbines at the bottom of the dam to generate electricity. It is a pollution free
energy.
5) Geothermal energy: this energy is generated from the hot springs present at
various weak zones on earth. The steam or hot water is extracted through a
pipe at high pressure which rotates the turbine to generate electricity.
6) Ocean thermal energy (OTE): the water at surface of ocean differs from
bottom of the ocean. The warm surface water boils the liquid ammonia and
propane. Using this method, a high pressure vapor of ammonia or propane
could rotate a turbine and electricity is produced.
Gas hydrates: gas hydrates are found in deep ocean. It is in frozen form with
the composition of CH4. Since methane is explosive and the methods are
under development to explore further.
7) Bio energy: Biomass is the term used for all materials produced from
photosynthesis. Biomass involves fixing carbon dioxide in plants, marine
algae, aquatic plants and forest which conserve soil and water.
Biogas: anaerobic degradation of animal wastes and agricultural wastes in
the presence of water produce methane, CO2, H & H2S. These gases are used
as fuel.
Euphoria plants are rich in hydrocarbon and are used as petroleum
hydrocarbon under high temperature and pressure.
Energy plantation in wasteland fast growing trees, shrubs with high calorific
value are planted and produce energy by burning or turning them in to
charcoal.
8) Energy from urban wastes: wastes of sewage and agricultures are converted
in to gas and electricity.
Bagasse, a waste of sugar mills can be used to generate energy.
Biomass can be fermented to alcohol like ethanol or methanol which can be
used as fuel.
Natural gas, petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels are non renewable energy
resources. The main constituents of natural gas are methane, propane and
ethane.
Through nuclear fusion and nuclear fission nuclear energy is generated. But
uranium is its main fuel and which it is scarce in India.
Think and further reading:
World non-renewable energy, source: http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/EnergyConsumtion.php
Giga = 109
Giga watt (GW) = 109 Watt
Reference www.ren21.net
World energy consumption (1015 British thermal unit) 1015= peta
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Energy-consumption-
World2.png
Source: http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CO2/9-
2WorldEnergyConsumption.jpeg
Energy Conversion: Typical Heat Values of Various Fuels
Firewood 16 MJ/kg
Brown coal 9 MJ/kg
Black coal (low quality) 13-20 MJ/kg
Black coal 24-30 MJ/kg
Natural Gas 39 MJ/m3
Crude Oil 45-46 MJ/kg
Uranium* - in light water reactor 500,000 MJ/kg
(MJ = Megajoules), *natural U
Uranium => Energy = the ability to do work
Living standards
Source: http://www.world-nuclear.org/education/whyu.htm
Geothermal energy
Tidal energy
Source: http://igutek.scripts.mit.edu/terrascope/?page=Alternative
Tidal energy turbine by http://my.fit.edu/~swood/OE_topic.html
Blue energy tidal turbine by
http://pesn.com/Radio/Free_Energy_Now/shows/2006/10/07/9700210_Blue_Energy/
Tidal power by http://www.planete-energies.com/content/renewable-
energies/energy-future/ocean-energy/tidal-power.html
240-MW on the Rance River, St. Malo France (1967) has 750 meter long
dike to impound tides that can be as high as 13 meters. Source
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/2001/ph162/l15.html
Tidal difference
Potential site at Bay of Fundy, United States. Source:
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/2001/ph162/l15.html
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
Source: http://www.nrel.gov/otec/applications.html
open-cycle OTEC plant at Keahole Point, Hawaii. Source: http://www.nrel.gov/otec/achievements.html
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/ocean-thermal-energy-conversion-
Source:
lockheed-martin.php
Source: http://sophismata.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/free-energy-from-the-ocean/
World sea surface temperature
Gas Hydrates picture source; http://dynatog.whoi.edu/research/gas_hydrates/index.html
http://newenergyandfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/world-gas-hydrates-
Source:
locations.gif
Biogas plant
Biomass, picture source from www.usda.gov
Biomass, source http://www.energyplan.gov.bc.ca/bioenergy/
