The various non-conventional sources of energy are as follows:
Solar Energy:
Solar energy has been found to be a vast resource in its direct form. It has been calculated that the solar radiation falling on the earth’s atmosphere every hour could, if fully exploited, meet the annual energy needs of the world.
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Solar energy may be exploited in various ways. It could be direct production of heat for space or water heating, growing of crops and the production of electricity.
Presently solar energy is being utilized through two different routes : Solar thermal route and solar photo-voltaic route.
Image Source: solarpowerstore.co.za
Solar energy can be converted into thermal energy with the help of solar collectors and receivers.
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The solar thermal devices are being used for water heating, space beating, cooking, drying, water desalination, industrial process heat, steam generation for industrial and power generation applications, operations of refrigeration system etc.
By solar photovoltaic technology we can convert solar radiation into electricity without using any moving part like turbine etc.
Wind Energy:
Wind power has been used as energy since ages. A lot of interest ha^ been shown in wind energy for power production.
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Power in the wind is proportional to the cube of the wind speed. Wind energy may be utilized for various purposes like water pumping and power generation.
It has been considered to be potentially available, practically applicable and economically viable as a non-conventional source of energy.
In India its potentiality has been estimated to be at least 20,000 MW. Till the end of the Eighth Five Year Plan wind farms of total capacity of 900 MW have already been installed and connected with grid.
To support wind energy programmes Wind Resource Estimation Programme is being implemented.
Financial assistance is being provided through IREDA to the manufactures of wind machines as well as to those who are installed wind farms in the country.
Decision to establish Wind Research Centre has also been taken with the help of Danish Government.
Biogas Energy:
Biogas has acquired a very important place in the new sources of energy. It is prepared by cow dung, garbage, agricultural residues, vegetables, dirty water, hen excreta etc.
Biogas has following advantages:
(a) The biogas manure is very valuable and fertile.
(b) It controls massive cutting of trees.
(c) There shall be no occurrence of smoke-born diseases in rural women.
(d) Cooking shall be quick and nutritious. Thus the rural women shall have a lot of free time to devote in creative and developmental programmes.
(e) Biogas shall be able to execute all works like cooking, light etc. that are executed by power. Thus it will save power.
Advantages of Biogas Plants:
(i) It is a cheap source of energy, there is no need of any large expenses for fuel and raw material.
(ii)Establishing a biogas plant is very easy.
(iii) A biogas plant may be established either for a family or for a community.
(iv) There are no large expenses in continuing a biogas plant.
(v) Utilization of excrement and garbage.
(vi) Smokeless and fresh atmosphere in kitchen. Thus it shall prevent smoke-born diseases.
(vii) Quickly usable.
(viii) Does not pollute the environment.
(ix) Biogas energy may be utilized for irrigation and flour-mill apart from lighting.
(x) The biogas energy is capable of operating small machines also.
Biogas has many advantages and it is being increasingly used throughout the country.
A family biogas plant with 2 to 3 cubic metre capacity costs 2000 to 4500 rupees. A community biogas plant with 70 to 75 cubic metre capacity costs 2 to 3 lakhs of rupees.
Biogas Energy has been found to be a very convenient source of energy. Its chief source is rural wastes.
In order to exploit this source of energy The National Project on Biogas Development was initiated in 19S1-82 for the promotion of family type biogas plants.
Its aim is to provide clean and cheap source of energy in rural areas, to produce enriched organic manure for supplementing the use of chemical fertilizers, to improve sanitation and hygiene and to remove the drudgery of women.
Three types of designs of biogas plants namely the floating drum type KVIC design, fixed dome type and a bag type portable digester made of rubberized, nylon fabric are being propagated under this programme.
The most remarkable achievement of this programme has been acceptance by the rural people of the human night soil as feed material in addition to other bio degradable materials like animal dung, kitchen wastes, water high synth etc.