NON- CONVENTIONAL ENERGY

RESOURCES AND UTILIZATION

Chapter 2

Energy Resources: (Non Conventional )

Introduction:
The major source of energy besides animal and human power are
petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, nuclear
wind and solar. These resources can be substituted for one another in order
to . However in practice substitution would be subject to technical and
economic limitation that circumscribe the use of such energy resources for
specific purposes at given location and periods of time.
Few energy resources are used and consumed at the same location and
most of them require generally elaborate transportation and conversion
facilities to make them useful to performing the intended tasks
Analysis of energy resources therefore should cover availability and also
the production, processing and distribution facilities
Energy Science:
Science is systemized body of knowledge about any department of
nature internal or external to man.
The energy science deals with scientific principles, characteristics,
laws , rules, unit/dimensions, measurement process about various forms of
energy and energy transformation. Science involves experimentations,
measurements, mathematical calculations, laws and observations etc.

 Energy Science has interface with every

other science
It is the mother science of
physics,thermodynamics, electromagnetic,
nuclear science , mechanical science,
chemical science and bioscience.
Each science deals with some activity. Energy
is the essence of activities.
Energy science focuses attention on the
energy and energy transformations
involved in the various other branches of
science, to National Economy and Civilization

Various energy sciences:

Physics, Thermodynamics, Biological sciences, Biomass,
Chemistry, Electromagnetic
(world.
Fig. 2.1 illustrates the various branches of science and
technology concerning energy.
ENERGY SCIENCE:
It is the mother science dealing with motion of particles
or objects (microscopic or macroscopic), associated energy
transformations and effects, concerning various physical,
biological and environmental sciences. The energy science
correlates various branches of science from energy point of
view.
Geography, Geology, Oceonology, Energy, Science,
Thermodynamics, Chemistry, Biology, Electromagnetics,
Physics, Economic, Political, Sociology Science
Environment
Fig. 2.1. ASSIGNMENT

It is the mother science dealing with motion of particles or

objects (microscopic or macroscopic), associated energy

transformations and effects, concerning various physical,
biological and environmental sciences. The energy science
correlates various branches of science from energy point of
view.
TECHNOLOGY (GREEK TECHNOLOGIA): It is a systematic
treatment of practical or industrial arts, applied sciences
resulting in technical progress by the use of plants and
machinery and automation in industry, agriculture,
transportation, human and social activities etc.
Technology is an applied science dealing with specific
technical problems; Technology is concerned with satisfying
short term, mid term and long term needs of society and its
members.
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
The applied part of energy sciences for work and processes,
useful to human society, nations and

 ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SCIENCES

Energy Science and Technology deal with several useful natural and artificial

(man-made) energy systems. The basic objectives are to extract, convert,

transform, transport, distribute and reconvert different types of energy with least
pollution and with highest economy.
Energy technology is a systematized knowledge of various branches of energy
flow and their relationship with human society as viewed from scientific,
economic, social, technological, industrial aspects for benefit of man and
environment.
The science of energy is concerned with the natural rules and characteristics of
energy, energy resources, energy conversion processes and various phenomena
related directly or indirectly to the extraction conversion and use of energy
resources essential to the economy and prosperity.
The science of energy deals with the phenomena related with energy conversion
plants and processes for generating secondary energy (electricity, heat steam,
fuel, gas, etc.) by converting various kinds of primary energy sources. The
energy science deals with aspects of useful energy, (energy, work, power,
efficiency and worthless energy) losses etc.
Energy technology correlates various sciences and technologies. Energy
technology is theoretically related with a series of physical, engineering and
social sciences, which are normally, regarded as independent departments of
study. Each branch of engineering and social science has specific coverage and
objectives, which are rather independent of other branches. For example
electrical power engineering deals with energy in terms of kW, MW, voltage,
current etc. and does not deal in detail with various energy resources, energy
cycle and ecological aspects. Thermodynamics deals with heat and work but
does not cover control of electrical energy system obtained from thermal power

 National planning and economic strategies are influenced by energy

technology. Industrial project

planning and a plant process economy are influenced by energy technology.
The problems of energy technology were totally ignored during the earlier
course of history, as
the natural resources were available in plenty. Each branch of science and
technology was developed
rather independently and with disregard to energy resources and energy
management. Such approach
was partly due to availability of abundant and cheap fossil fuels, fire wood,
etc. and very modest demand
for useful energy.
During the twentieth century, the energy consumption increased Steeply.
After the oil price rise in 1973, and with global pollution due to energy
conversion processes,
following important aspects have emerged:
1. Increasing cost of energy sources is affecting individual, social and
national life and economy.
2. Depleting energy reserves of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum products, oil,
gas) has produced energy crisis.
3. Increasing energy consumption rate and depleting supplies all over the
world is resulting in
continuing inflation and energy shortage. This is called energy crisis.

4. Large fossil power plants without emission control devices are emitting flay ash
SOx , NOx , CO etc. in atmosphere resulting in pollution, ecological disasters, global
warming, acid rains etc. Energy, Environment and power plants are closely interlinked.

Though the, nature supplies abundant non-conventional, the technologies for

conversion are in early stage of development and not yet commercially successful as
against conventional. However, nonconventional are on the path of slow rise all over
the world.

Independent study of individual branch of science and technology does not give
solution to energy problems facing a man, society, nation and the world.

These limitations of isolated studies have focussed the attention of planners,

economists, sociologists, engineers, technologists, environmentalists etc. on the
Integrated Energy Technology.

Energy technology integrates the energy aspects of various branches of science, with
broad overview of various energy problems. Energy technology suggests alternative
solutions within the framework of available science and technological base and energy
resources.

Each branch of engineering science has certain theories, laws, equations, units and
dimensions.

Energy science co-relates the equations and analysis between various different
branches of Engineering Sciences.

Energy technology takes an overview of entire energy conversion process from raw
energy input to final delivery of secondary energy. This involves chemical, thermal,
mechanical, electrical, bio, nuclear and other engineering sciences.


Facts and figures about energy
These are the figures about energy of World Energy Production;
27% Coal
21% Natural Gas
39% Crude Oil
6% Nuclear
6% Hydro-electric Power
Fossil Fuels are 87% of the worlds energy production. Wind and Solar

energy are less than 1%

of the worlds production. Distribution of World Oil Reserves
66.3% Middle East
6% Africa
8.4% North America
5.0% Far East/Oceania
5.9% East Europe
1.5% West Europe
6.9% Central South America
*This was the reason for the gulf war.


Energy Exploited

Energy is derived from conventional and non-conventional resources and the former

are in the

process of depletion. These are fossil fuels-oil, coal and natural gas. It took million of
years to build up these resources. Non-conventional resources are solar energy, wind
energy, water energy and biomass.

Approximately 80% of the worlds energy is produced by fossil fuels. However, in

France, the French Atomic Energy Commission established nuclear reactors, which
produce enough energy to meet 70% of countrys requirement.

World demand for oil (according to UN reports) rose from 436 million tonnes in 1960 to
2189 million tonnes in 1970 and to 3200 million tonnes in 1999. The corresponding
figures for coal are 1043, 1635 and 2146 and for natural gas the figures are 187, 1022
and 2301. The demand will continue to grow.
Of the developing countries, China has the highest per capita consumption of energy.
For India, per capita consumption is lower than that of China. It may be mentioned that
consumption figures represent commercial energy and do not take into account the
non-commercial energy used by developing countries where poor people use wood that
is acquired by gathering without any payment. Among non-conventional resources,
hydropower is the largest.
Hydropower projects are in operation both in developed and developing countries notable among the latter are China, India and Brazil. Hydropower potential is huge and
at present only 15 percent of the potential in the developing world is being utilized.
Wind power has also a great potential. Windmills and sails have been in use since
ancient times. It is a fast growing resource.
In 1980s, wind energy generation of the world was 10 megawatts. In the year 2000 it
was 14000 megawatts. Green Piece International estimates that if the present trend
continues wind power could supply 10% of worlds electricity by 2020.

 The use of solar energy is through photovoltaic cells. The

photovoltaic news reported that world's photovoltaic production

climbed from 0.1 megawatt to 200 megawatts in 1999. The
biomass resources are various types of cultivated or uncultivated
vegetation. Wood forms the chief resource and is the primary fuel
for the people in Africa and Asia. Excessive use of wood has led to
depletion of forests.
Coal, oil, gas and water constitute the main sources of energy in
our country. The share of various energy sources in the commercial
consumption of energy is mostly from coal (56%) and petroleum
(32%), the other sources being nuclear, natural gas and water.
Apart from commercial energy, a large amount of traditional
energy sources in the form of fuel wood, agriculture waste and
animal residue are used.
Commercial energy consumption has grown from 130.7 MTOE
(million tonnes of oil equivalent) in 1991-92 to 176.08 MTOE in
1997-98. The main drivers of this increase are the accompanying
structural change of economic growth and a rise in population
together with rapid urbanization.
Industrial sector is the largest consumer of energy consuming
about 50% of the total commercial energy produced in the country
followed by the transport sector. Among the most energy intensive
industries which together account for nearly 80% of the total

Transport sector is the largest consumer of petroleum products

mainly in the form of high speed diesel and gasoline and

accounts for nearly 50% of the total consumption.
With increase mechanization and modernization of its activities,
the agricultural sectors consumption of commercial energy has
grown considerably. The share of the farm sector in electrical
energy consumption has increased from a mere 3.9% in 1950-51
to about 32.5% in 1996-97.
In the domestic sector, the consumption of natural fuel (mostly
wood) energy is very high.
Around 78% of rural and 30% of urban households depend on
firewood. However, the mix of traditional fuels in the national
energy mix is decreasing as more efficient commercial fuels are
increasingly substituting these. In particular between 1970-71
and 1994-95, the annual consumption of electricity per
household went up from 7 kWh to 53 kWh; of kerosene from 6.6
kg to 9.9 kg and of cooking gas from 0.33 kg to 3.8 kg. There is,
however, a marked disparity in the level of energy and type of
fuel consumed in rural and urban areas.