Energy is the ability of a physical system to perform work. We use energy in our daily lives from various sources for doing work. We use muscular energy for carrying out physical work, electrical energy for running multiple appliances, chemical energy for cooking food, etc. For this, we need to know the different energy sources to obtain energy in its usable form.

The two major sources of energy is classified as:

1. Conventional Sources
2. Non-Conventional Sources

Conventional Sources of Energy:

Conventional Sources of Energy are also known as non-renewable sources of energy and are available in limited quantity apart from hydro-electric power. Further, it is classified under commercial and non-commercial energy.

Commercial Energy Sources:

Coal, electricity and petroleum are known as commercial energy since the consumer needs to pay its price to buy them.

Coal:

Coal is the most important source of energy. There are more than 148790 coal deposits in India, and between 2005-2006, the annual production went up to 343 million tons. India is the fourth-largest coal-producing country, and the deposits are primarily found in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bengal.

Oil and Natural Gas:

Oil is considered liquid gold and one of the crucial energy sources in India and the world. Oil is primarily used in planes, automobiles, trains and ships. The total oil production in India was 0.3 million tons in 1950-51, which increased up to 32.4 million tons in 2000-01. It is mainly found in Assam, Gujarat and Mumbai.

Electricity:

Electricity is a common form of energy used for domestic and commercial purposes, and it is mainly utilized in electrical appliances like fridges, T.V, washing machines and air conditioning.

The major sources of power generation are:

• Nuclear Power
• Thermal Power
• Hydro-electric power

Thermal Power:

Thermal power is generated at various power stations utilizing oil and coal. It is a vital source of electric current, and its share in the nation’s total capacity in 2004-05 was 70 percent.

Hydroelectric Power:

Hydroelectric power is produced by constructing dams above flowing rivers like Damodar Valley Project and Bhakra Nangal Project. The installed capacity of hydroelectric power was 587.4 mW in 1950-51 and went up to 19600 mW in 2004-05.

Nuclear Power:

The fuel used in nuclear power plants is Uranium, which costs less than coal. Nuclear power plants can be found in Kaiga (Karnataka), Kota (Rajasthan), Naroura (UP) and Kalapakam(Chennai).

Non-commercial Energy Sources:

Generally, the freely available energy sources are considered non-commercial energy sources. Examples of non-commercial energy sources include straw, dried dung, firewood.

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy:

Non-conventional sources are also known as renewable sources of energy. Examples of non-conventional sources of energy include solar energy, bioenergy, tidal energy and wind energy. 

Solar Energy:

Solar Energy is produced by sunlight. The photovoltaic cells are exposed to sunlight based on the form of electricity that needs to be produced. The energy is utilized for cooking and distillation of water.

Wind Energy:

Wind energy is generated by harnessing the power of wind and mostly used in operating water pumps for irrigation purposes. India stands as the second-largest country in the generation of wind power.

Tidal Energy:

Tidal energy is generated by exploiting the tidal waves of the sea. This source is yet to be tapped due to the lack of cost-effective technology.

Difference between Conventional and Non-conventional Sources of Energy

Achievements:

Brayton cycle:

• The Brayton cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that describes the operation of certain heat engines that have air or some other gas as their working fluid.
• The original Brayton engines used a piston compressor and piston expander, but modern gas turbine engines and airbreathing jet engines also follow the Brayton cycle.

Artificial leaf:

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed an artificial leaf that absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to generate fuel and release oxygen in the process, simulating the process of photosynthesis.
• It provides an ideal opportunity to use this artificial leaf as a source of renewable energy, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint from the atmosphere, releasing more oxygen in the process.
• “This is the most energy-efficient method to convert carbon dioxide into fuel and oxygen using only sunlight

ISRO is developing green propellant:

• ISRO is developing green propellants for use in future rocket & satellite propulsion systems.
• Glycidyl Azide Polymer (GAP) as fuel and Ammonium Di-Nitramide (ADN) as oxidizer at the laboratory level green fuel
• ISRO has successfully developed ISROSENE, which is a rocket grade version of kerosene as an alternative to conventional hydrazine rocket fuel
• ISRO has already begun the move towards environment-friendly and green propellants with the acceptance of Liquid Oxygen (LOX)/Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and LOX/Kerosene based propulsion systems for launch vehicles, and use of electric propulsion for spacecraft

Government Contribution:

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy:

In 1982, a new department, i.e., Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES), that incorporated CASE, was created in the then Ministry of Energy. In 1992, DNES became the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources. In October 2006, the Ministry was re-christened as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Duties of Ministry:

• To develop and deploy new and renewable energy to supplement the energy requirements of the country.
• Increase in the share of clean power: Renewables like wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, bio & tidal power to supplement fossil fuel based electricity generation.
• Energy Equity: Per-capita energy consumption at par with the global average level by 2050, through a sustainable and diverse fuel- mix Vision

International Solar Alliance:

• A treaty-based international intergovernmental organization, International Solar Alliance (ISA), aims at mobilizing more than USD 1000 billion of investment needed by 2030 for the massive deployment of solar energy.
• Established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of France Francois Hollande on November 30, 2015,
• ISA’s objective is to scale up solar energy, reduce the cost of solar power generation through aggregation of demand for solar finance, technologies, innovation, research and development, and capacity building.

Government Scheme:

Suryamitra scheme:

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy implements Suryamitra Skill Development Programme to boost Green Jobs in the country.

Trains youth above 18 years of age as Solar PV technicians to install, operate and maintain solar power projects.

More than 90% of trainees report improvement in technical knowledge, improved performance in the field and 88% of trainees report increased job opportunities.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana:

Objectives of DDUGJY:

• Indian government scheme intending to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the rural parts of India.
• As part of this scheme, the GOI plans an investment of Rs.756 billion for the electrification of rural regions.
• To provide electricity to all villages.
• Feeder separation to ensure sufficient power to farmers and regular supply to other consumers.
• Improvement of sub-transmission and distribution networks to improve the quality and reliability of the supply.
• Metering to reduce the losses.

UDAY scheme:

• This scheme was established with a vision to provide affordable and accessible 24×7 Power to all.
• Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) .
• A total of 32 States and Union Territories are under this scheme.
• Reduction of the power cost, interest burden and loss of power in the Distribution sector along with improvement of the operational efficiency of DISCOMs for the supply of adequate power at affordable rates.
• Power purchase through transparent competitive bidding.
• Improvement of operational efficiency through compulsory smart metering, up-gradation of transformers, meters, etc. Also, the adoption of energy efficiency measures like the promotion of efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans & air-conditioners would be initiated.

Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy – 2019:

•  The policy intends to include solar energy in demand side management, energy conservation, energy efficiency, smart grids etc. the policy also talks about encouraging public-private partnerships, joint ventures etc. to accelerate solar energy projects, manufacturing facilities, and R&D.
• Tamil Nadu intends to have an installed capacity of 9,000 MW by 2023, of which 40% is intended to come from rooftop solar plants.

Need of Becoming Self-Reliant in the Energy Sector:

• India is not energy independent. It spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on importing energy. The government is planning to get energy independence before 100 years of independence is completed i.e., by 2047.
• India 85% dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs and 50 % for gas requirements the key is alternate energy sources – from renewable power to hydrogen and switching to electric vehicles from current petrol and diesel-run automobiles.
• India is the world’s fifth largest producer of ethanol after the US, Brazil, EU and China.

Government’s Achievements in the Energy Sector:

• The target of supplying petrol mixed with 10% ethanol (10% ethanol, 90% petrol) was achieved in June 2022, ahead of the original schedule of November 2022.
• Encouraged by the success, the government advanced the target of making petrol with 20% ethanol by five years to 2025.
• As of March 2021, 2.82 crore households have been electrified under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, “Saubhagya”.
• By June, 2022, over 36.86 crore LED bulbs, 72.18 lakh LED tube lights and 23.59 lakh energy-efficient fans have been distributed across the country, saving around 48,411 million kWh per year and Rs. 19,332 crores in cost savings.
• As of June 2022, over 44 lakh smart meters have been deployed under the National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM), with a further 67 lakhs to be deployed.
• Solar tariffs in India have reduced from Rs. 7.36/kWh (US 10 cents/kWh) in FY15 to Rs. 2.45/kWh (US 3.2 cents/kWh) in July 2021.
• India’s rank jumped to 22 in 2019 from 137 in 2014 on World Bank’s Ease of doing business – “Getting Electricity” ranking.