Environment Enthusiasts

Energy Resources

Energy Resources

Energy may be defined as the capacity to do work. In today’s world development is impossible without energy. Life is unthinkable without energy. Both energy production and energy utilization are the indicators of a country’s progress as it is a primary input for industrial operation.

Various Forms of Energy

• Potential energy• Kinetic energy• Thermal energy• Chemical energy• Mechanical energy• Nuclear energy• Solar energy• Electrical energy

Potential Energy

• Energy that is stored is known as potential energy. Potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy and vice versa. Potential energy

can exist in many forms. Chemical potential energy Elastic potential energy Gravitational potential energy

Kinetic energy

• The most obvious form of energy is in movement - moving objects have kinetic energy. Thus wind has kinetic energy. So do the waves of the sea, a spinning Frisbee and a flying soccer ball.

• Kinetic energy can be used to do work. For example wind and waves can be used to turn turbines that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy

• Energy Relating to or associated with heat

Mechanical energy

• The kinetic and potential energy considered together

Thermal energy

Chemical energy• That part of the energy in a

substance that can be released by a chemical reaction

Electrical energy

• Energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor

Nuclear energy

• Energy produced by fusion or fission of the nuclei of an atom or simply the energy released by a nuclear reaction

Solar energy• Energy radiated by the sun.

Types of energy consumed

Thermal power68%

Hydral power25%

Nuclear power2%

Diesel and Gas4%

Other1%

Growing energy needs

• Energy is an important input for development. It aims at human welfare covering household ,agricultural transport and industrial complexes.

• Due to the population explosion the demand for various forms of energy has got increased many folds.

Growing energy needs

Energy demand

• As far as availability of fuels is concerned the Indian population is still heavily depend on traditional fuel such as firewood, animal waste and agricultural residue.

• But the share of commercial energy on the total energy demand has been increasing vastly.

Shares of Sectoral Energy consumption (In India, 1990-1991)

Sector Percentage Coal Oil/Natural Electricity

Industry 51.00 69.96 13.10 17.30

Transport 23.30 9.60 88.90 1.50

Household 13.80 3.90 77.10 19.00

Agriculture 9.60 - 57.10 42.90

Others 2.30 - 29.20 70.80

Primary Energy Resources

• Renewable/Inexhaustible/Non-Conventional sources of energy.

• Example : Wood, Solar energy etc

Secondary Energy Resources• Does occur in nature but are derived from primary

energy sources• Example: Petrol, Hydrogen obtained through

electrolysis of water etc.

Renewable Energy

• A renewable resource is a natural resource with the ability to reproduce through biological or natural processes and replenished with the passage of time. Renewable resources are part of our natural environment and form our eco-system.

Non-Renewable Energy

• A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be reproduced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate, once depleted there is no more available for future needs. Also considered non-renewable are resources that are consumed much faster than nature can create them. Fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas), nuclear power (uranium) and certain aquifers are examples.

Alternative Energy Resources

• Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels

Hydroelectric Alternative Energy-Today And In The Future

• Water is a resource that is used over and over, it leaves and comes

back. Although power stations are very costly, if they are used to relieve flooding the cost is less visible. Many areas have undergone flood control, in other areas water is withheld this creates changes in the environment; good for some not so good for others.

• Energy cost is a concern for many families. People and government agencies are saving energy at every turn. Countries are concerned with the depletion of fossil fuels and are searching desperately for other forms of cost effective energy. With the development of more plants using water to generate electricity the cost of home heating, cooling and general power use will become more affordable. Energy companies are becoming more diversified with more agents qualified to distribute electricity.

Hydroelectric Alternative Energy Is A Continuous Flow Of Energy

• With “hydroelectric alternative energy”, water creates a continuous flow of energy for homes and businesses making it an extremely reliable source of energy. A good amount of energy can be stored with this kind of power. Once the facilities are established they operate productively for years supplying thousands of homes with electrical power.

• In mountainous countries the force of the water gives a major burst of electric power. Any time the water flows with exceptional force the machinery extracting the electricity has an easier time of it. With so many methods of creating energy hydroelectric power is considered a primary source.

• This is a clean fuel source. The Hoover Damn is a wonderful example of hydroelectric alternative energy, distributing over four billion kilowatt-hours of power each year. More of these facilities are being built to absorb the thirst for energy by the world.

• Electricity plays an important role in the world; everything is connected to its use. Hospitals cannot operate without power for life saving equipment, major power outages cause cities to be placed under curfew. Electricity is a factor in society so the world must find more efficient ways to produce it. Hydroelectric alternative energy is a viable source of energy for today’s needs as well as in the future.