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Renewable energy sources also called non-conventional energy, are sources that are continuously replenished by natural processes. For example, solar energy, wind energy, bio-energy - bio-fuels grown sustain ably), hydropower etc., are some of the examples of renewable energy sources.
A renewable energy system converts the energy found in sunlight, wind, falling-water, sea-waves, geothermal heat, or biomass into a form, we can use such as heat or electricity. Most of the renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from sun and wind and can never be exhausted, and therefore they are called renewable.
However, most of the world\'s energy sources are derived from conventional sources-fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gases. These fuels are often termed non-renewable energy sources. Although, the available quantity of these fuels are extremely large, they are nevertheless finite and so will in principle ‘run out’ at some time in the future.
Renewable energy sources are essentially flows of energy, whereas the fossil and nuclear fuels are, in essence, stocks of energy.
Various forms of renewable energy
This chapter focuses on application potential of commercially viable renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, bio and hydro energy in India.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is the most readily available and free source of energy since prehistoric times. It is estimated that solar energy equivalent to over 15,000 times the world\'s annual commercial energy consumption reaches the earth every year.
India receives solar energy in the region of 5 to 7 kWh/m for 300 to 330 days in a year. This energy is sufficient to set up 20 MW solar power plant per square kilometre land area. Solar energy can be utilised through two different routes, as solar thermal route and solar electric (solar photovoltaic) routes. Solar thermal route uses the sun\'s heat to produce hot water or air, cook food, drying materials etc. Solar photovoltaic uses sun’s heat to produce electricity for lighting home and building, running motors, pumps, electric appliances, and lighting.
Wind Energy
Wind energy is basically harnessing of wind power to produce electricity. The kinetic energy of the wind is converted to electrical energy. When solar radiation enters the earth’s atmosphere, different regions of the atmosphere are heated to different degrees because of earth curvature. This heating is higher at the equator and lowest at the poles. Since air tends to flow from warmer to cooler regions, this causes what we call winds, and it is these airflows that are harnessed in windmills and wind turbines to produce power. Wind power is not a new development as this power, in the form of traditional windmills -for grinding corn, pumping water, sailing ships – have been used for centuries. Now wind power is harnessed to generate electricity in a larger scale with better technology.
Bio Energy
Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous waste of various human and natural activities. It is derived from numerous sources, including the by-products from the wood industry, agricultural crops, raw material from the forest, household wastes etc.
