A presentation on

Green
Energy
Divyam
XII-C
 1. Introduction
Renewable energy has been an important component of
India’s energy planning. The importance of renewable
energy sources in the transition to a sustainable energy
base was recognized in the early 1970s. Modern renewable
energy is being used increasingly in four distinct markets:
power generation, heating and cooling, transport, and
rural/off-grid energy services. The Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India has been facilitating
the implementation of broad spectrum programs
including harnessing renewable power, renewable energy
for rural areas for lighting, cooking and motive power, use
of renewable energy in urban, industrial and commercial
applications and development of alternate fuels and
applications. In addition, it supports research, design and
development of new and renewable energy technologies,
products and services

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 Renewable energy plays an important role
in the long-term energy supply security,
diversification of energy mix, energy access,
environmental security and sustainability.
Renewable energy is bound to play an
increasing role in future energy systems.

This presentation analyses central level

policies and interventions for renewable
energy applications and also recommends
a set of guidelines to serve as a roadmap to
accelerate the deployment of renewable
energy technologies.

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 Estimates of Potential Capacities from Renewable Energy Sources (in MWs)

Sources Approx. Potential

Biomass energy 19,500

Solar energy 20,000

Wind energy 47,000

Small Hydropower 15,000

Ocean energy 50,000

Source: India Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources

The sum of these renewable resource potentials, 152,000 MW, is greater than the current total
installed energy generating capacity of India.

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2. Solar Energy
Solar energy is derived from the sun's radiation. The sun is a
powerful energy source. Did you know that the energy that it
provides to the Earth for one hour, could meet the global
energy needs for one year? We are able to harness only 0.001
percent of that energy. There is a reason why solar energy has
become a trending topic when talking about renewables.
While it has been popularly criticized for being expensive or not
very efficient, solar energy has now proved to be very
beneficial - not only for the environment but also financially
speaking. Additionally, due to the higher demand, the
technology has been improved considerably, turning into a
very efficient source of clean energy.

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2.1 In India
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) was
launched in 2010 after which the Indian SPV market has seen
significant growth. Grid connected SPV mainly consists of
ground mounted, rooftop and distribution grid plants. With the
provision of institutional arrangements, national and local
enabling mechanisms, and targeted policies, including
appropriate subsidies and financing arrangements, the total
installed capacity rose from 40 MW in 2010 to 2686 MW as on
30 June 2014. An aggregate capacity of 1686 MW was installed
in JNNSM Phase I, and an additional capacity of 1000 MW has
been added in Phase II of the program (TERI, 2014-15). The total
installed capacity of grid connected SPV as on June 2015 is
4060.65 MW (MNRE, 2015), which includes central and state
level initiatives. In order to meet this target, the government is
taking a number of measures which are listed below:

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• Provision of renewable purchase obligation (RPO) for solar power in the National Tariff Policy.

• Grant of subsidy on off-grid applications and GBI facility for bundled power and Viability
Gap Funding (VGF) for grid-connected solar power projects through various interventions
announced from time to time.

• Setting up ultra-mega solar power projects and solar parks, 1 MW solar parks on the banks
of canals, and solar power driven agricultural pump sets for energizing 1 lakh pumps.

• Concessional import duty/excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power

plants, accelerated depreciation and tax holiday.

Rooftop solar has been relatively lackluster in India with no clear policy thrust so far and only about
350 MW of rooftop solar being installed (100 MW) of total rooftop capacity. Concentrated Solar
Power (CSP) in India has reached the 225 MW mark. In 2014, the world's largest linear Fresnel plant
of 125 MW and equivalent to 13% of global added capacity came on line in India. The Dhursar CSP
plant of 125 MW is located in Rajasthan and is Asia's largest CSP installation. Another plant of 50
MW located in Andhra Pradesh.

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2.2 Advantages
• Renewable energy source : Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar
energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available
every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy. Solar energy will
be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion
years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.

• Reduces electricity bills : Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your
solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your blii will be dependent
on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. Moreover, not only will you be saving on
the electricity bill, but if you generate more electricity than you use, the surplus will be exported back to the
grid and you will receive bonus payments for that amount (considering that your solar panel system is
connected to the grid). Savings can further grow if you sell excess electricity at high rates during the day
and then buy electricity from the grid during the evening when the rates are lower

• Diverse applications : Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity
(photovoltaic) or heat (solar thermal). Solar energy can be used to produce electricity in areas without
access to the energy grid, to distill water in regions with limited clean water supplies and to power
satellites in space. Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings. Not long ago
Sharp introduced transparent solar energy windows

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2.3 Disadvantages
Although a lot of good study is said every day about solar energy, people should familiarize themselves
with the disadvantages of solar energy before committing any financial resource. Here is an outline of
basic disadvantages to solar energy:

• It's not 100% reliable : This means that when the sun is not shining, there is no generation of energy. The
generation of power is mostly affected at night and during winter months. Most people have now invested
in battery backup systems, which store up power to be used when the sun is not shining. However,
investing in backup systems can ramp up the overall cost of installing a solar panel. It mostly ends up not
adding value to the solar energy technology.

• High initial capital cost : lthough installation of solar panels would bring immense benefits in the long run,
the upfront costs can be punitive. Depending on the company you choose to buy solar panels from, it
could cost an arm and leg. It’s even difficult to quantify the entire cost of installation without the help of
manufacturing companies. Some nations have introduced rebates and tax credits to enable lots of people
to install solar panels, but unless you are putting some money aside for this, it can be an unbearable cost.
Also, it might take up to 10 years to 15 years before you can break even with your initial investment. It’s not
about how much payback period is, anything that can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is worth
trying.

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• Problem of efficiency : A lot has been documented about the in efficiency of solar energy. Most people do
not understand what efficiency means. People look at 15% efficiency and think that it’s not good enough.
They think that the ideal efficiency ought to be 100%. Efficiency is all about the amount of space it takes to
generate the energy. It would shock you to know that a 250-watt solar panel featuring 15% efficiency
produces the same power like a 250-watt solar panel featuring 20% efficiency. The disparity is shown in
size. Smaller panels tend to be more efficiency than larger panels.

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 3. Wind Energy
When you take a trip to remote farms, you’re more likely to come across creaky
windmills. Although they may look old and low-tech, they are the predecessorfor
modern day innovative wind turbines that produce electricity for homes,
businesses and even industries. In the ancient days, wind was mainly used for
grinding grains and pumping up water for domestic use. These days, it turns
large wind Shares turbines to generate energy, which is converted into electricity.
The modern wind turbines may vary technology wise, but the principle of
operation is similar; they both capture wind energy to produce electricity. Wind
energy or wind power is energy captured from moving air to generate electricity.
Wind has kinetic energy in it. The kinetic energy is converted into mechanical
energy using a turbine. The mechanical energy can be utilized for numerous
purposes ncluding pumping water and grinding grain. Better still; the mechanical
energy can be converted into electricity using a generator to power schools,
homes, and businesses.

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 3.1 In India
India currently has about 23,762 MW of installed wind power capacity and is
ranked fifth in the world for total installed capacity, although the demand
contracted by 26% in the previous year (REN21 2014). A steep devaluation of the
rupee against the US dollar (increasing financing and import costs) and the
removal of key support policies, in 2012 delayed investment in wind power.
However, retroactive reinstatement of the generation based incentive (GBI) in
late 2013 helped resurrect the market. Wind power is a mature and scalable clean
energy technology in which India holds a domestic advantage. India has an
annual manufacturing capacity of over 9.5 GW for wind turbines. During 2013,
India installed 1.729 GW of new wind power capacity. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat are the leading states for wind power
capacity

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In 2011, the Centre for Wind Energy Technology revised India’s wind power potential to 102,778 MW at 80 m
height and at 2% land availability. This was a significant upward revision from the earlier estimate of
approximately 49,130 MW at 50 m height and at 2% land availability. Over the past years, other research
organizations have also estimated India’s wind power potential using various models for mapping the
wind resource. A study conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, assuming a turbine
density of 9 MW/km2, estimated the total wind potential in India with a minimum capacity factor of
20% to be 2006 GW at 80 m hub height and 3121 GW at 120 m hub height
• Comparison between Wind and Fossil Fuels :

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 Basis Wind Fossil Fuel

Have to be procured and made Useable through laborious

Availability Usable as it exists
and environmentally damaging processes

Limitation on Inexhaustible Limited in reserves, expected to be completely exhausted

availability in the coming 60 years

Has to be transported from its source site for further

Used where it is available or transported where
Transportation processing, exposing the environment to pollution from
needed
accidents

Environmental Used in producing electricity, releasing greenhouse gasses

Zero emission
effect of use

Reduces our reliance on oil, safeguarding

national security. Allows for selfsufficiency. Over-reliance on oil as a resource has undermined India’s
Geopolitical
There is no adverse effect on global energy security, e.g. OPEC crises of 1973, Gulf War of 1991
Implications
environment. The whole system is and the Iraq War of 2003.
pollution free and environment friendly.

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3.2 Advantages
Wind is a unique resource because we interact with it every minute. It has been harnessed since the
ancient times, and it is the most eco-friendly source of energy around. It has a wide range of uses. You
may be familiar with a few, but others may totally catch you by surprise. Enough said, let's drive through
the most innovative uses of wind energy.

• To power vehicles : In the course of your research, you must have run across wind-powered vehicles. If
you haven't, then know that there are vehicles powered chiefly by wind. A typical example is the widely
documented wind-powered car that completed a 3100-mile journey through Australia. Although it wasn't
totally powered by wind, it's a perfect example of how vehicles can be moved by alternative sources of
energy. Precisely, the car used a combination of batteries, wind, and kite. For the entire journey, the car
used an estimated $10 to $15 of energy, which underlines the cost-effective nature of wind energy.
• Generation of power : Electricity is the main source of energy worldwide. Due to abundance of electricity,
almost every device produced is powered by electricity. The traditional way of electricity generation is the
use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal. These fossil fuels emit greenhouse gasses and other
harmful substances that pollute the environment. Wind energy provides reprieve from the dangerous
gasses emitted to the atmosphere. The wind energy is captured using strategically located wind turbines.
This can be carried out on a massive scale, for example, wind turbines installed on wind farms. It can be
small scale, for instance, wind turbines installed by individuals to produce energy for home use.

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• Cargo ships : A typical example of the use of wind energy is the cargo ships developed by Cargill, Inc., an
American corporation that is committed to making the world grow by innovating cutting-edge
technologies. Cargill has scaled up and fully embraced the idea of installing a huge kite on one of its cargo
ships to harness wind power. The project is geared towards cutting back on consumption of fuel and
carbon dioxide emission. We all know that wind power has been used over the centuries to power sailing
and smaller vessels, but innovators have taken it up a notch to assist drive cargo ships.

• Used in sports : Shares For countless of years, wind power has been utilized to power some breathtaking
sports such as windsurfing, sailing, kite flying, hang gliding, kitesurfing, wind skiing, Para- sailing and much
more.

• Water pumps : Utilizng wind power to pump water from underground is not a new technology. It has been
used since ancient times. It's a cheap alternative for some countries and communities. Essentially, there
are no extraordinary costs involved compared to using huge pumping tracks powered by fossil fuel
sources of energy.

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3.3 Disadvantages
Wind energy, without any doubt, offers the best advantages in regard to the environment and cost.
However, it harbors some disadvantages worth putting into perspective if you intend to invest in wind
energy. Here are a few:

• Wind is inconsistent : Wind energy has a lot in common with solar energy in terms of consistency.
Although wind energy qualities as a renewable resource, wind speeds actuate each day. This can be a big
disappointment to wind turbine developers who will commit every penny and every ounce of energy in the
project only to end up with actuating wind patterns.

• Involves high upfront capital investment : A lot has been done to bring down the cost of installing
turbines; the overall costs, however, remain on the higher side. The first step to installing a turbine is usually
to do a rigorous survey to determine the winds speed of the location. This involves erecting a sample
turbine to gauge the wind speeds over a stipulated period. If the location is found be ideal, the wind
turbine will be manufactured and transported to the site and set up on a strong foundation.

• Visual impact : Although wind turbines come with eye-catching designs, they impact the natural beauty
of the landscape. When a lot more wind turbines are set up, the area becomes unsightly. The local
community starts to sound alarm bells, and this can escalate to a conflict.

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• Can reduce the local bird population : Wind turbines are particularly disadvantageous to the local bird
species. A lot of bird death as a result of collision with turbine blades has been reported in these areas. This
can wipe out the population of certain bird species. Also, wind turbines require them to be dig deep into
the earth which could have negative effect on the underground habitats. However, there has been an
index of bladeless wind turbines in the marketplace designed to reduce bird deaths. This could be a game
changer for turbine manufacturers.

• Noise disturbances : The most hated disadvantage to wind turbines is the noise they produce. The sound
produced by one turbine can be perceived from far distances. Combine many turbines, and the noise
becomes unbearable. Many homeowners' lives have been turned upside down due to the noise pollution
from turbines. Although the emphasis is to site wind turbines away from the local community, most
companies disregard this rule. This explains the strong public objections to wind turbine installations in
most areas. The visual pollution is another reason why people do not mind it attractive to install it in their
backyard.

• Takes up significant portion of land : The best location of wind turbines can be the most fertile land where
farming is practiced. Installation of wind turbines would take away land that has been the bedrock of
agricultural activities for many years.

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• Safety Concerns : In the last couple of decades, the frequency of tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones
have increased considerably. Now these severe storms can cause extensive damage to the wind turbines
and can be a safety hazard to the people working in these wind farms. The damage may cause huge
damage to wind turbines.

• Suited To Particular Region : Wind turbines are suited to the coastal regions which receive wind
throughout the year to generate power. Therefore, countries that do not have any coastal or hilly areas
may not be able to take any advantage of wind power. The location of a wind power system is crucial, and
one should determine the best possible location for wind turbine in order to capture as much wind as
possible. Just like solar energy which relies heavily on sun to produce power, wind energy needs high
speed winds to produce power on constant basis.

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 4. Biomass Energy
From the start of civilization, biomass fuels were unquestionably
being utilized for the generation of energy. However, in the past few
decades, debates have raged over whether biomass fuel is really
useful and sustainable. Biomass energy, sometimes known as bio
energy, is a renewable form of energy produced from organic
matter. Biomass occurs in the form of living or recently living plants
and waste. Biomass energy is the energy which is contained inside
plants and animals. This can include organic matter of all kinds:
plants, animals, or waste products from organic sources. Organic
materials used to produce Biomass energy include forest residues
(branches, dead trees, and tree stamps), wood chips, yard clippings,
and municipal solid waste. This means that wood remains the
largest source of biomass energy.

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 4.1 In India
Biomass-based power generation has been increasing in India with
the installation of megawatt-scale plants processing a variety of
biomass residues such as shells, husks, dialed cakes, and wood.
According to the MNRE, 500 million tons (MT) of agricultural and
agro- industrial residues are generated annually in the country, of
which about 120-150 MT per year could be surplus for power
generation.7 Biomass power generation from agriculture and agro-
industrial residues is estimated at about 17 000 MW. Rajkumar Impex
Pvt. Ltd, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, is a leading cashew processing
company in India. It has established a biomass power plant with the
capacity of 6 MW using cashew nut shells as fuel, the first of its kind
in India.

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4.2 Advantages
Biomass has been in existence before people started talking about renewable energy sources and energy
efficiency. This long term use would not be possible if biomass didn't have any bent. As most governments
are leading campaigns to and alternative sources of fuel to fossils, biomass energy continues to make
headlines as a possible alternative. Here are the advantages that make biomass energy a perfect
alternative to fossil fuels.

• It's a renewable form of energy : Biomass energy is considered a renewable form of energy because the
organic materials used to produce it are never-ending. The organic materials including wood, crop waste,
garbage, sewage sludge, and manure are continually produced by society. In a nutshell, regrowth of these
organic materials supports the fact that biomass is renewable.

• It's carbon neutral : We all know that release of vast amounts of carbon contributes greatly to climate
change. Biomass energy takes care of this since it is a natural part of the carbon cycle as opposed to
fossil-based sources of fuel such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Researchers say that the only carbon
emitted to the environment from biomass fuels is the amount that was absorbed by plants in the course of
their life cycle. In the process of replenishing the used plant materials, the new ones that spring up absorb
equal quantity of carbon, hence, developing neutrality that witnesses no new carbon generated. This
aspect renders biomass uniquely clean.

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• Widely available : Just like sun and wind energy, biomass energy sources are bountiful in supply. You can
and them virtually in every nook and cranny of the world. The fact that it's bountiful in supply means that
we may never encounter problems that we are presently experiencing with fossil-based sources of fuel.
Nonetheless, it's vital that we maintain the abundance of this natural resource by being responsible in its
use.

• It's cheaper compared to fossil fuels : Producing biomass energy does not involve heavy capital outlay.
Fossil fuels production, on the other hand, involves high upfront capital costs such as drilling to reach oil
wells, constructing gas pipelines and collection of biomass fuel. The low cost resulting from the production
of biomass fuel is passed on to customers. This means that customer's energy bills will not depend on
aspects such as availability and knee jack decisions of energy production and supply rms. Low biomass
cost makes this form of energy attractive to manufacturers and producers since they are able to generate
higher protects from extremely low output.

• Minimizes overdependence on traditional electricity : Virtually anyone can produce biomass energy
because the raw materials are available everywhere. Traditional forms of electricity can sometimes be
unreliable due to power outages. Biomass energy produced at home can be a good backup for traditional
electricity.

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• Reduces amount of waste in landslides : Most waste produced in homes is either plant matter or
biodegradable. This kind of waste can be channeled to more pro table use. Biomass energy generation
utilizes any waste that would have otherwise found way into landfalls. This minimizes the impacts of waste
in landfalls to the environment. This impact may be compounded by contamination of local habitats and
destruction of wildlife ecosystems. Minimized waste means reduction of land intended for landfalls, hence,
more space for human habitats.

• Can be used to Create Different Products : Biomass energy is also versatile, as different forms of organic
matter can be used to create different products. Ethanol and similar fuels can be made from corn and
other crops. With so many living things on the planet, there is no limit to how many ways it can be found
and used.

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4.3 Disadvantages
While the upsides to biomass energy are plenty, it's not exactly a perfect source. Here are the downsides to
biomass energy:

• Not entirely clean energy : Using animal and human waste to power engines may save on carbon dioxide
emissions, but it increases methane gases, which are also harmful to the Earth's ozone layer. So really, we
are no better o environmentally for using one or the other. And speaking of using waste products, there is
the smell to consider. While it is not physically harmful, it is definitely unpleasant, and it can attract
unwanted pests (rats) and spread bacteria and infection.

• Risk of deforestation : Biomass energy sources are renewable, but they have to be utilized sustainably.
Uncontrolled biomass production can result in deforestation. If deforestation is allowed to happen, scores
of animal and bird species would be rendered homeless, not to mention the drought as a result. In fact,
this is the main reason for slowing down the large scale use of biomass fuel. Governments feel replanting e
orts may not match the rate of cutting down of trees.

• Requires a great deal of water : This is the most invisible disadvantage of biomass fuel. All plant matter
need sufficient amount of water to get by, meaning water sources must be abundant. If enough water is
not available, irrigation systems would have to be developed, which could prove to be costly. Irrigation
may also limit the availability of water to humans and wildlife.

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• Inefficient as Compared to Fossil Fuels : Despite the fact that biomass energy is natural in many ways, it
doesn't get close to fossil fuels in regards to efficiency. In fact, some renewable sources of energy like
biofuels are fortified with fossil fuels to increase their efficiency.

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5. Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is not a new invention or hype - in fact, it has
been used for thousands of years for different purposes, such as
cooking and heating. The Greek term geothermal literally
translated means "earth heat", which - in its essence - is all there is
about geothermal energy: it is energy contained underneath the
crust of the earth, found both in shallow grounds as well as deep
below the surface. Electricity or heat can be created by tapping
into these underground reservoirs of steam and hot water. As
opposed to conventional systems, in which fossil fuels are burned
to create energy, the concept of geothermal energy is
fundamentally different. Here, energy is not created, but moved:
from the inside the earth, to inside buildings and vice versa.
Therefore it is both a sustainable as well as a renewable energy.
Geothermal energy can provide houses with heating, cooling as
well as warm water supply.

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5.2 Advantages
• Environmentally friendly : There are a few polluting aspects to harnessing geothermal energy, and the
carbon footprint of a geothermal power plant is seen as minimal. An average geothermal power plant
releases the equivalent of 122 kg CO2 for every megawatt-hour (Mwh) of electricity it generates - one-
eighth of the CO2 emissions associated with typical coal power plants.

• Renewable resource : Geothermal reservoirs are naturally replenished. According to some scientists, the
energy in our geothermal reservoirs will last billions of years. While fossil fuels have an expiry date,
renewable sources like geothermal energy is not going to expire anytime soon.

• Potential capacity : Estimates for the potential of geothermal power plants vary between 0.035 to 2 TW.

• A stable resource : The power output of a geothermal plant can be accurately predicted. Not subject to
the same low-energy fluctuations as with solar or wind.

• Great for Heating/Cooling - There is significant growth in the number of homeowners utilizing geothermal
heating/cooling over the last couple of years.

• No fuel required : After installation, no mining or transportation activity is necessary.

• Small land footprint : Smallest land footprint of any major power source.

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5.2 Disadvantages
• Potential emissions : Greenhouse gas below Earth's surface can potentially migrate to the surface and
into the atmosphere. Such emissions tend to be higher near geothermal power plants, which are
associated with sulfur dioxide and silica emissions. Also, and the reservoirs can contain traces of toxic
heavy metals including mercury, arsenic and boron.

• Surface Instability : Construction of geothermal power plants can affect the stability of land. In January
1997, the construction of a geothermal power plant in Switzerland triggered an earthquake with a
magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale.

• High up-front costs for heating and cooling systems : While there is a predictable ROI, it will not happen
quickly. For an average sized home, installation of geothermal heat pumps costs between $10,000 -
$20,000 which can pay of itself in another 5-10 years down the line

• Location Specific : Good geothermal reservoirs are hard to come by. Iceland and Philippines meet nearly
one-third of their electricity demand with geothermal energy. Prime sites are often far from population
centers.

• Distribution costs : If geothermal energy is transported long distances, cost can become prohibitive.
Sustainability questions - Some studies show that reservoirs can be depleted if the fluid is removed faster
than replaced. This is not an issue for residential geothermal heating and cooling, where geothermal.

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• May Run Out of Steam : You have to be incredibly careful when you are trying to check everything that is
related to geothermal energy. Mind must be taken to watch the heat and not to abuse it, because if the
heat is not taken care of properly, it can cause a meltdown or other issues where the energy is not properly
distributed or used.

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 Thank You

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