Electrical Energy, Its Sources and Pros-Cons

Electrical Energy:

In General, Energy is the capacity and the ability to work vigorously. As per the Universal Rule of Energy, “Energy is neither be created nor be destroyed, it converts from one form of Energy into another form of Energy”.

Electrical energy is the energy generated by the movement of electrons (charged particles of atoms) from one point to another.

Energy plays a vital role in our routine life and hence it is required in every sector or industry that might range including household, communication, transportation, defense, Agriculture, and others.

The energy sources are subdivided into,

• Conventional Energy Sources
• Non- conventional Energy Sources.

Conventional Sources of Energy:

Conventional energy sources are naturally available in form of Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Liquified Natural Gas, and partly Nuclear & Hydro Power due to their construction process. Nuclear energy is Non-Renewable, but it's Green Energy. Big Hydro Powers also fall under NonRenewable due to their construction process. Conventional energy sources are naturally occurring and take a considerable time to be available for usable resources, and they cannot be renewed manually or by applying scientific methods. So, it is essential for judicious use of non-renewable or conventional energy sources.

Advantages of Conventional Energy Sources:

• Conventional Energy Sources are abundant in nature and are easily available.
• Conventional Energy Sources are affordable, efficient and have good electricity conversion.
• Conventional Energy Sources have low exploration costs.
• Conventional Energy Sources, like oil and diesel, are still good choices for powering vehicles as economy optimization.

Dis-Advantages of Conventional Energy Sources:

• Conventional Energy Sources are time-consuming collection processes.
• Conventional Energy Sources cause high pollution.
• Conventional Energy Sources are the reason for Global warming.
• Conventional Energy Sources destroy natural eco-system
• Conventional Energy Sources displace local communities.
• Once Conventional Energy Sources have been used, they can not be replaced or revitalized.

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy:

Non- Conventional energy sources are the best alternatives to conventional energy sources, while also non-polluting, by reducing Carbon Footprint through reducing Green House Gases to combat Global warming. Non-conventional energy sources could be obtained from Sun, Wind, Biomass, Geo-Thermal, Tidal and others that support Heat and Power generation. They are nonpolluting and present in abundance within the earth’s atmosphere and also renewable in nature.

Non-Conventional Energy Sources are Sun, Wind, Bio-Gas, Geo-Thermal, Nuclear (Tidal and Small Hydro Power, etc energies, also known as Renewable Energy Sources.

Advantages of Non-Conventional Energy Sources:

• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are abundant in nature and freely available.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are Non-Polluting.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are environment friendly.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are clean, renewable and sustainable.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources have low harnessing costs.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are standstill and Silent, so require less O&M.
• Bio-Energy reduces waste and it is reliable.
• Wind-Energy is Space efficient among Non-Conventional Energy Sources.
• Geo-Thermal energy and Tidal Energy are reliable and predictable sources of energy and more sustainable energy.
• Tidal energy plant has a long life span as well effective at low tidal speed.

Dis-Advantages of Non-Conventional Energy Sources:

• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are available and abundant in nature, but require mechanical devices for procuring.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are less efficient, So, commercially less viable as high up-front deployment costs.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources are generating power in intermittent or unpredictable nature, not as consistent to rely on it.
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources require higher space to generate power as the equivalent to Conventional Energy Sources.?
• Manufacturing of Solar PV Panels, Wind Turbines, Tidal energizers, etc is having an impact on the environment and emits greenhouse gases.
• Wind Turbines are noisy and have visual pollution.
• Wind Turbines are causing the death of Birds and Bats, causing Bio-Logical impact.
• Bio-Energy may impact the environment through air pollution and high space requirements.
• Geo-Thermal Energy is location specific and an expensive resource.
• Geo-Thermal reservoirs are to be properly managed for their sustainability.
• Tidal Energy plants may impact the natural movement or migration of fish.

Conventional Energy Sources and Non-Conventional energy sources are vital resources for Domestic, Commercial, Industrial, and Agriculture consumption. Although, the high growth of the Population and Wastage of resources have depleted conventional sources. For this reason, nonconventional sources of energy are being developed and researched.

The commitment of India to the Energy Sector:

India is also committed to the World and taking leadership to combat Global Warming by reducing Carbon emissions or say reducing Green House Gas effect by transiting from Conventional/Traditional Energy sources to Non-Conventional / Renewable Energy sources as Conventional Energy sources contribute very high Carbon Gas Emission of total Carbon Emission in the World. Thermal / Fossil fuel power plants are more contributing carbon emissions, so a transition requires from Fossil fuel power plants to Renewable power plants. And so, India is promoting Renewable Power Plants like Solar Power Plants, Wind Energy Power Plants, Small Hydro Power Plants, Bio-Gasified / Bio-Mass Plants, Hydrogen Fuel Plants/Servers and last but not least Nuclear Power Plants (it’s not renewable, but Green Energy plants) through SMRs (Small Module Reactors Technology) technology. India is not just taking initiative for renewable energy generation to reduce its Carbon Footprint but also working toward Energy Conservation plans, Energy Conservation means the decision and practice of using less energy by smart and energy-efficient devices.

At present Indian Power Plants' installed capacity is 404 GW and 58% as fossil power plants by 2030, the requirements of total power would be expected as 817 GW, almost double. And India has committed to 50% Green Energy production to the world to combat Global Warming / Climate Change and reduce its Carbon footprint by 2030 and also committed to “Carbon Neutral” or “Net Zero” emissions by 2070. In the same direction, India will deploy power plants of 450 GW through Renewable or Green Energy solutions.

Out of 450 GW of renewable energy, 280 GW is to be deployed as Solar Power Plants by 2030, and up to now only 58 GW has been deployed, So mammoth tasks are ahead. All major Indian Industrials / Businessmen investing in Solar and Hydrogen Fuel. Energy Consumption will be increased per Capita due to the lifestyle of Indians, Crypto Currency Mining Servers, Cloud Servers, Electric Vehicles, Smart Home Appliances, Make in India / Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Projects, Start-Up projects etc.

Indian Energy Transition Challenges from Conventional Energy Sources to NonConventional Energy Sources:

As India is committed to the World and in line with the requirements of Green Energy to combat Global Warming, India is facing and will face challenges to implement Renewable Energy sources, as Renewable energy sources are Intermittent, Less Reliable, Not Enough Space efficient and Costlier. Also, Traditional grid networks may face grid quality parameters issues and handling issues with the injection of Renewable energy in existing Grid Networks.

Also, Transport Business Sector is transiting towards Green Vehicle products by using Li-Ion, LiFePo4 & other Batteries, Super Capacitors Battery Bank, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles, which require more and more Electrical Energy to charge Battery Vehicles and require infrastructure for same. EV Vehicles and Green Hydrogen Policy will make India combat against all odds to move towards Nation “Net Zero” Emission commitment and further emerge as a “Carbon Negative” country.

The growth in the Power Sector through Renewable Energy Sources and the Improvement of Grid networks need Skill Man Power. So, opportunities for new jobs and business in India in Renewable Energy Sector or Power sector open doors by spreading both hands.

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Disclaimer: This article is informational in nature and based on information from various sources. Hence, please re-check the data and resources, for any ambiguity arises or further clarifications require, with the implementing agency or refer to official and authorized original documents released by the concerned and competitive authority.

Blog by:?Hemant Gandhi

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