RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

INTRODUCTION
Renewable energy resources are natural resources that replenish themselves within time limits that permit sustained use, in contrast to nonrenewable resources. They can be used over and over again. Non-renewable energy sources are fast depleting and polluting and hence we need to go for renewable sources of energy like Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biomass etc.

TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Various renewable energy resources are: Wind Power Hydropower (Mega, Small, Micro, Pico) Solar Energy (Thermal, PV) Geothermal Energy Biomass Fuel and Wood Fuel Cell

WIND ENERGY
Wind is the worlds fastest growing energy source today Wind energy is ample, free, widely available, clean, renewable, produces no waste or greenhouse gases, needs no fuel, good method of supplying energy to remote areas. Conversion of Wind Power to Electricity through Rotors and Wind Turbine.

Limitations: Fluctuating Power output and depends on wind speed

REAL WORLD WIND FARM

HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER

Classification: Large (> 100 MW), Medium (15 100 MW),
Small (1 15 MW), Mini (1MW 100KW), Micro(5 100KW) and Pico (upto 5 Kw) Potential and Kinetic Energy of Flowing Water is converted into electricity using propeller blades, water wheels or modern turbines. Generation of Power depends on the head and flow available. LIMITATIONS The main disadvantage is the large area requirement for constructing dams and deposition of salts and minerals on one side of the dam which causes corrosion of the walls.

BASIC HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Geothermal Energy
Electricity is generated by the harnessing of heat from the interior of the earth when it comes to (or close to) the earths surface. The regions with highest underground temperatures are in areas with active or geologically young volcanoes.Chief energy resources are hot dry rock, magma (molten rock), hydrothermal (water/steam from geysers and fissures) and geo-pressure (methane-saturated water under tremendous pressure at great depths). LIMITATIONS : Difficult to drill two or three kilometers down into the earth.

Biomass Fuel and Wood

Biomass Fuel is any organic material produced by living organisms (plants, animals, or microorganisms) that can be burned directly as a heat source or converted into a liquid or gas. Some examples of biomass fuels are wood, crop residues, manure, leaves, animal materials and other plant material.

Solar Energy
In 1905 Albert Einstein explained how atoms take in electromagnetic radiation (such as light) and then give off electrons. This process is called the photoelectric effect. The solar cells are made of a type of material known as a semiconductor. A typical simple cell has two layers of silicon. One is known as n-type. The other is p-type. The layers are different from each other. The lights energy knocks some electrons out of the atoms. The electrons flow between the two layers. The flow makes an electric current. The current can leave the cell through the metal contacts and be used.

How a Photo Voltaic Cell Works

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS IN SOLAR ENERGY

RESEARCH IS ON TO UP THE PV DEVICE EFFICIENCY ABOVE 50%.

Notable developments are multiple junction solar cells (tandems), solar cells using optical frequency shifting (such as up/down conversion or thermophotonics), multiple exciton generation (MEG) from a single photon, multiple energy level solar cells (such as intermediate band solar cells), and hot carrier solar cells.
EFFORTS TO REDUCE COST ARE ALSO PROCEEDING.

A Promising development is polycrystalline thin films grown on inexpensive substrates.

THE GRAND CHALLENGE OF PHOTOVOLTAICS

This is our first small baby step into this exiting field of Renewable Energy. We realise the great potential it holds for all of us. .There are miles to go for us. ..But we are determined.