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India is a country with a huge population and a growing demand for energy. The conventional sources of energy, such as coal, oil, and gas, are not only limited and depleting, but also cause environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, there is a need to explore and utilise the non-conventional sources of energy, such as solar, wind, biomass, and ocean, that are abundant, renewable, and eco-friendly.

Non-conventional sources of energy are those that are not widely used or exploited, and have the potential to meet the energy needs of the present and future generations. They are also known as alternative, renewable, or green sources of energy. They have several advantages over the conventional sources, such as:

• They are inexhaustible and available throughout the year.
• They do not emit harmful gases or pollutants that contribute to global warming and climate change.
• They reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels and enhance the energy security of the country.
• They create employment opportunities and promote rural development.
• They are cost-effective and affordable in the long run.

India has a vast potential of non-conventional energy sources, which can be harnessed for various purposes, such as electricity generation, heating, cooling, cooking, lighting, and transportation. Some of the major non-conventional energy sources in India are:

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun’s radiation. India, being a tropical country, receives ample sunlight throughout the year, making it one of the most suitable places for solar energy utilisation. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the total installed capacity of solar energy in India was over 72 GW as of September 2023. The solar energy potential in India is estimated to be about 5,000 trillion kWh per year, which is more than the total energy consumption of the country.

Solar energy can be used for various applications, such as:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems: These are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity. They can be installed on rooftops, buildings, or ground-mounted systems. They can be used for lighting, pumping, refrigeration, communication, and other purposes. India has the fourth-largest installed capacity of solar PV in the world.
• Solar thermal systems: These are devices that use sunlight to heat water or air. They can be used for water heating, space heating, cooking, drying, and industrial processes. India has the largest number of solar thermal collectors in the world.
• Solar power plants: These are large-scale installations that generate electricity from solar energy. They can be either grid-connected or off-grid. They can be based on either solar PV or solar thermal technologies. India has several solar power plants, such as the 2050 MW Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka, the 2245 MW Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, and the 750 MW Rewa Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Solar energy has several benefits, such as:

• It is clean and green, as it does not produce any harmful emissions or waste.
• It is abundant and reliable, as it is available throughout the year and during peak demand hours.
• It is decentralised and distributed, as it can be generated and consumed at the point of use, reducing transmission and distribution losses and costs.
• It is modular and scalable, as it can be installed in any size and location, depending on the requirement and availability of space.

However, solar energy also faces some challenges, such as:

• It is intermittent and variable, as it depends on the weather and time of the day, affecting its availability and quality.
• It is expensive and capital-intensive, as it requires high initial investment and maintenance costs, compared to conventional sources of energy.
• It is land-intensive, as it requires large areas of land for installation, which may pose environmental and social issues.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is the energy derived from the kinetic energy of the wind. India has a long coastline and a diverse terrain, which create favourable conditions for wind energy generation. According to the MNRE, the total installed capacity of wind energy in India was 44.089 GW as of 31 August 2023, making it the fourth-largest in the world. 

Wind energy can be used for various applications, such as:

• Wind turbines: These are devices that convert wind energy into electricity. They can be installed on land or offshore. They can be used for grid-connected or off-grid power supply. India has several wind farms, such as the 1500 MW Muppandal Wind Farm in Tamil Nadu, the 1100 MW Jaisalmer Wind Park in Rajasthan, and the 1000 MW Kutch Wind Farm in Gujarat.
• Wind pumps: These are devices that use wind energy to pump water from wells or boreholes. They can be used for irrigation, drinking water, or livestock watering. India has about 30,000 wind pumps installed in various states. 
• Wind mills: These are devices that use wind energy to perform mechanical work, such as grinding, milling, or sawing. They can be used for agricultural or industrial purposes. India has a long history of using wind mills, especially in the coastal regions.

Wind energy has several benefits, such as:

• It is clean and green, as it does not produce any harmful emissions or waste.
• It is abundant and renewable, as it is available throughout the year and in most parts of the country.
• It is cost-effective and competitive, as it has low operating and maintenance costs, and can compete with conventional sources of energy in terms of tariff.
• It is beneficial for rural development, as it creates employment opportunities and enhances the socio-economic status of the local communities.

However, wind energy also faces some challenges, such as:

• It is intermittent and unpredictable, as it depends on the wind speed and direction, affecting its availability and quality.
• It is noisy and visual, as it creates noise and visual pollution, which may affect the health and well-being of the people and wildlife.
• It is land-intensive, as it requires large areas of land for installation, which may pose environmental and social issues.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is the energy derived from organic matter, such as plants, animals, or waste. India has a rich and diverse biomass resource base, which includes agricultural residues, forest residues, animal dung, municipal solid waste, and industrial waste. According to the MNRE, the total installed capacity of biomass energy in India was 10.31 GW as of 31 August 2023.

Biomass energy can be used for various applications, such as:

• Biomass combustion: This is the process of burning biomass directly to produce heat or electricity. It can be done in stoves, furnaces, boilers, or power plants. It can be used for cooking, heating, lighting, or power generation. India has several biomass power plants, such as the 20 MW Naranja Biomass Power Plant in Maharashtra, the 19.5 MW Dhampur Sugar Mills Biomass Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh, and the 18 MW Suryachakra Biomass Power Plant in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Biomass gasification: This is the process of converting biomass into a combustible gas, called producer gas or syngas, by heating it in the presence of a limited amount of air or oxygen. The gas can be used for cooking, heating, lighting, or power generation. India has several biomass gasification projects, such as the 1.2 MW Husk Power Systems in Bihar, the 1 MW Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies in Gujarat, and the 0.5 MW Decentralised Energy Systems India in Karnataka.
• Biomass digestion: This is the process of converting biomass into a biogas, mainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, by anaerobic digestion or fermentation. The biogas can be used for cooking, heating, lighting, or power generation. India has several biogas plants, such as the 12 MW Nisargruna Biogas Plant in Maharashtra, the 10 MW Shree Renuka Sugars Biogas Plant in Karnataka, and the 6 MW Mahindra & Mahindra Biogas Plant in Tamil Nadu.

Biomass energy has several benefits, such as:

• It is clean and green, as it reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and waste disposal problems associated with biomass.
• It is abundant and renewable, as it is available throughout the year and in most parts of the country.
• It is economical and efficient, as it has low capital and operating costs, and can utilise the locally available biomass resources.
• It is beneficial for rural development, as it creates employment opportunities and enhances the income and living standards of the rural population.

However, biomass energy also faces some challenges, such as:

• It is dependent and variable, as it depends on the availability and quality of the biomass feedstock, which may vary seasonally and regionally.

Other important energy sources

Geothermal and tidal energy are two forms of renewable energy that can be harnessed from the natural heat and movement of the earth and the ocean. India has a potential of both geothermal and tidal energy, but faces several challenges in developing and utilising them.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the energy derived from the heat within the sub-surface of the earth. It can be used for various applications, such as heating, cooling, or electricity generation. India has a rich and diverse geothermal resource base, which includes about 340 hot springs spread across seven geothermal provinces and a few geothermal springs. The geothermal energy potential in India is estimated to be about 10000 MW, which is more than the total energy consumption of the country.

The advantages of geothermal energy are:

• It is clean and green, as it does not produce any harmful emissions or waste.
• It is abundant and reliable, as it is available throughout the year and independent of weather conditions.
• It is economical and efficient, as it has low operating and maintenance costs, and can utilise the locally available geothermal resources.

The limitations of geothermal energy are:

• It is dependent and variable, as it depends on the availability and quality of the geothermal reservoir, which may vary seasonally and regionally.
• It is expensive and capital-intensive, as it requires high initial investment and exploration costs, compared to conventional sources of energy.
• It is land-intensive, as it requires large areas of land for installation, which may pose environmental and social issues.

The scope and utility of geothermal energy in India are:

• India has several potential sites for geothermal energy development, especially in the Himalayan region, where the Puga valley in Ladakh and the Manikaran valley in Himachal Pradesh are the most promising.
• India has initiated some efforts to harness geothermal energy, such as the first geothermal energy project by ONGC Energy Centre in Ladakh, which aims to create a carbon-neutral region and revolutionise farming
• India can use geothermal energy for various purposes, such as power generation, space heating, water heating, cooking, drying, and industrial processes, especially in remote and hilly areas, where conventional energy sources are scarce or costly.

Ocean Energy

Ocean energy is the energy derived from the movement and temperature of the ocean water. It can be used for electricity generation or other mechanical work. India has a long coastline and a diverse terrain, which create favourable conditions for ocean energy generation. According to the MNRE, the ocean energy potential in India is about 150 GW, which includes about 50 GW from tidal energy, 40 GW from wave energy, 30 GW from ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), and 30 GW from ocean currents.

Ocean energy can be used for various applications, such as:

• Tidal energy: This is the energy derived from the kinetic energy of the ocean tides and currents. It can be harnessed by using tidal barrages, tidal turbines, or tidal lagoons. India has several potential sites for tidal energy development, especially in the Gujarat and West Bengal coasts, where the tidal range and currents are high.
• Wave energy: This is the energy derived from the kinetic energy of the ocean waves. It can be harnessed by using wave energy converters, such as oscillating water columns, point absorbers, or attenuators. India has several potential sites for wave energy development, especially in the western and southern coasts, where the wave height and power are high.
• OTEC: This is the energy derived from the temperature difference between the warm surface water and the cold deep water of the ocean. It can be harnessed by using OTEC plants, which use a heat exchanger and a turbine to generate electricity. India has several potential sites for OTEC development, especially in the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands, where the temperature gradient is high.
• Ocean currents: This is the energy derived from the kinetic energy of the ocean currents, which are driven by the wind, the earth’s rotation, and the density differences of the water. It can be harnessed by using ocean current turbines, which are similar to wind turbines, but submerged in the water. India has several potential sites for ocean current development, especially in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, where the current speed and direction are high.

Ocean energy has several benefits, such as:

• It is clean and green, as it does not produce any harmful emissions or waste.
• It is abundant and renewable, as it is available throughout the year and in most parts of the country.
• It is beneficial for coastal development, as it can provide electricity, water, and other services to the coastal and island areas, where conventional energy sources are scarce or costly.

However, ocean energy also faces some challenges, such as:

• It is intermittent and variable, as it depends on the tidal cycle, the wave height, the temperature gradient, and the current speed, which may vary daily and monthly.
• It is expensive and capital-intensive, as it requires high initial investment and construction costs, compared to conventional sources of energy.
• It is environmentally and socially disruptive, as it may affect the marine ecosystem, the coastal morphology, the navigation, and the livelihoods of the local communities.

Conclusion

Non-conventional sources of energy are a key to sustainable development in India, as they can provide clean, green, abundant, and renewable energy to meet the growing demand and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. India has a vast potential of non-conventional energy sources, such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and ocean, which can be harnessed for various purposes, such as electricity generation, heating, cooling, cooking, lighting, and transportation. However, there are also some challenges and barriers in developing and utilising these sources, such as technical, economic, environmental, and social issues. Therefore, there is a need to overcome these challenges and promote the use of non-conventional energy sources in India, by adopting a solution-oriented approach, which involves:

• Developing and implementing effective policies and regulations, that support and incentivize the non-conventional energy sector, and address the legal and institutional issues.
• Enhancing and expanding the research and development that improve and innovate the non-conventional energy technologies, and reduce the costs and risks.
• Increasing and diversifying the investment and financing, that mobilise and allocate the resources and funds for the non-conventional energy projects, and create a conducive market environment.
• Raising and spreading the awareness and education that inform and engage the stakeholders and the public about the benefits and opportunities of the non-conventional energy sources, and create a positive attitude and behaviour.

By doing so, India can achieve its national and international commitments and goals, such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals, and become a global leader and role model in the field of non-conventional energy.