ALTERNATE SOURCE OF ENERGY
By
Bhaskar Karnick & V.Krishna Moorthy


Contents

  • Introduction
  • Energy Consumption and Development
  • Harmful Effect of  conventional Energy 
  • Energy sources
  • Alternate Energy
  • Solar Energy
  • Muncipal Waste-based Energy
  • Natural Sources of Energy
  • Alternate Energy and India
  • What can an  individual Do ? 
  • What can Government  Do ?
  • Disaster
  • Energy Definitions
  • Important Links

    Introduction

    Energy is seen in different form in the universe Heat, Light, sound  and Electric Energy. The universe is full of energy,  Plant and animal use energy for their growth and survival. Different type of energy is used for different purposes. All living being are comfortable within a specific range of temperature. Huge amount of energy is used  for either heating or cooling closed Environment. The modern life has become hectic today, Even with all modern gadgets twenty four hours are not enough to complete a days work, this  has resulted in extended hours of activity as a consequence need for light has extended far beyond the day time  provided by nature. Moreover even in day time, offices and houses needs light because of the ill designed building and the type of work carried out either at home - office. 

    As the need for energy grows, Scientific community is gearing up, to meet  the challenge and hectic research in cutting edge technology to identify new energy sources like hydrogen fuels. We need to mimic natures wisdom to see how nature has evolved living being with most efficient and complimentary systems.  

    Life originated because of solar energy. The civilized development of society has always relied on solar energy for food. Non renewable energy concentrates such as fossil fuels are being used up at an alarming rate. Energy conservation is one method of slowing the dwindling consumption of our fossil fuels. Careful management of  non renewable energy reserves, severe penalties for oil spills, tight controls on toxic emissions, and increased spending for alternative energy research will also aid energy conservation.

    Because of different constraints, we no longer live near to our offices resulting in continuous need for transportation of  goods and people for long distance and short distance within the city. We are now completely dependent machines for doing every thing for us from washing to cooking. many other wise redounded activities have been added to our life style on the name of development. Every activity needing Energy to do the work.

    The universe is full of energy, theoretically  there should not be any problem in using any amount of energy. But when we use energy, 100% of energy is not utilized due to efficiency factors. The unutilized energy is converted in to  heat and in chemical reaction and release  carbon monoxide, Carbon di oxide and other harmful gases. This generation of unavoidable waste due to burning, pollutes the atmosphere and makes the earth not so comfortable for we human. If this activity continues, the mother earth would not be able to support the  very existence of living being. 

    The table below list different energy resources along with their potential and current utilization :

     Resource   Gross Potential   Achieved 
    Wind 45000 MW 1628MW
    Solar thermal 35 MW/sq km -
    Solar photovoltaic 22 MW/sq km 2.24 MW
    Biomass 3500 MW 381 MW
    Small Hydro 15000 MW 1663 MW