How india is blessed with abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass
Answers
Solar Energy-India being a tropical country, is well endowed with plenty of solar energy. It is used to provide power to solar water heaters, solar cooking, etc. the largest solar power station is in Madhopur, Gujarat.
Wind Energy- India is ranked as a ' Wind Super Power' in the world. India's gross wind power potential is 45,000 MW. the high wind energy regions are- Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, TN etc
Bio-Gas - It is found in villages. It is produced by the decomposition of organic matter.
Geo-Thermal Energy- The geo-thermal energy is used for generating heat and electricity. In India experimental projects are set up in Paravati valley in HP, Puga valley in Ladakh.
Tidal Energy- It is used to generate electricity. In India, the Gulf of Kuchch provides 900MW tidal power.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
The most cost effective method of reducing the gap between the demand and supply of energy in the country is the promotion of energy efficiency and its conservation. Energy conservation is the practice of reducing the amount of energy being used through decreased consumption or by the use of power efficient devices like light bulbs or air conditioners. It has been estimated that around 25,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity can be created through energy efficiency in the electricity sector alone, with the maximum potential being seen in the agriculture and industrial sectors.
Conservation of Energy decreases energy costs, bringing down the need for new power plants and energy imports to keep up with a growing population and economy. The reduction of emissions also promotes a clean environment and healthy lifestyle for citizens and is the most economical solution to energy shortages.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy is energy created from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, water, waste products and other sources that can be naturally replenished. India is fortunate to be blessed with an abundance of such sources. These sources of energy are available locally throughout the year and do not need elaborate arrangements for distribution. This makes them well suited to decentralized applications for use in remote areas. Other advantages of renewable energy sources are its environment friendliness and low operation costs.
Biogas - External website that opens in a new window - Biogas is derived from organic products, primarily cattle dung, kitchen waste and agro forestry wastes and is used mainly in rural areas. The Government promotes the use of biogas through the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme. Biogas can be used for cooking, heating, lighting, motive power in certain gas engines and generation of electricity through attached alternators. There is an estimated potential for the installation of 12 million family type biogas plants in the country. Currently, India ranks second in the world in biogas production.
Biomass - External website that opens in a new window - Biomass has been used by mankind ever since the beginning of civilization and includes wood, sugarcane residues, wheat chaff and other plant matter. It is carbon neutral and has the potential to provide significant employment in rural areas. The three main biomass technologies being promoted by the Government are bagasse-based cogeneration in sugar mills, biomass power generation, and biomass gasification for thermal and electrical applications. Of late, biomass power has become an industry attracting annual investments of over Rs.1000 crores while generating more than 9 billion units of electricity per year.
Solar Energy (104 KB) - - India is a sunny country with most parts receiving about 4 to 7 kilowatt hours of solar radiation per square metre per day with 250 - 300 sunny days in a year. This makes solar energy a very attractive option for generating both power and heat. The thermal route uses the heat from the sun for water heating, cooking, drying, water purification, power generation and much more. The photovoltaic route converts sunlight into electricity, which can then be used for lighting, pumping, communications and power supply in non electrified areas.
Energy from Wastes - Rapid industrialization, urbanization and changes in the lifestyles, which accompany the process of economic growth, give rise to generation of increasing quantities of wastes and the environmental problems of air & water pollution and climate change. In recent years, technologies have been developed that not only help in generating substantial decentralized energy from waste but also in reducing their quantity for safe disposal. There exists an estimated potential for recovery of over 3500 MW of energy from urban and industrial wastes. The government is implementing a Programme on Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes.