APPLICATION OF NONCONVENTIONAL & RENEWABLE

ENERGY SOURCES

Various forms of renewable energy

Solar energy
Wind energy
Bio energy
Hydro energy
Geothermal energy
Wave and tidal energy

Solar Energy
Solar energy available is equivalent to
15000 times worlds commercial energy
consumption
5-7 kWh/m2 for 300-330 days in a year
Applications are heating, lighting, cooking,
drying etc.
Solar thermal or solar electric (photovoltaic)

Solar Thermal Energy Applications

Low-Grade Heating Devices - up to the
temperature of 100 C.
Medium-Grade Heating Devices -up to the
temperature of 100-300C
High-Grade Heating Devices -above
temperature of 300 C

Solar Collector
Flat rectangular box
with transparent cover
Small tubes carrying
water or fluid attached
to black absorber plate
Hot water transferred
to storage tank

Figure 12.1 Solar Flat plate collector

Solar Cooker
FRP shell lined with
SS reflector foil or
aluminized polyester
film
Cooking vessel at
focal point
Can generate 500 kg
of steam enough to
cook for 500 people 2
twice a day

Figure 12.2 Box Type solar collector

Solar Photo-voltaic generation

PV cells made of silicon which
releases current when exposed
to light
Silicon cell covered with metal
grid to direct current to a
battery
Group of cells connected
together to from an array-1 cell
can produce 1.5 W
Modules are design to produce
12 V and rated by peak output
at solar noon on a clear day
Efficiency upto 15%
Adds-on -Tracking system and
backup system

Figure 12.6 Photovoltic water pumping

Wind Energy
Kinetic energy of wind to electrical energy
Annual Energy Output = Power x Time
Example: For a 100 kW turbine producing 20 kW at an
average wind speed of 15 mph, the calculation would be:
100 kW x .20 (CF) = 20 kW x 8760 hours = 175,200 kWh
Capacity factor is wind turbine's actual energy output for
the year divided by the energy output if the machine
operated at its rated power output for the entire year.
Reasonable capacity factor would be 0.25 to 0.30. (0.40
will be good)
Economic viability of wind power projects is extremely
sensitive to the capacity factor and, there fore careful site
selection is very important

Wind speed vs. power generation potential

Average Wind Speed
km/h (mph)
Up to 15 (9.5)
18 (11.25)
22 (13.75)
25 (15.5)
29 (18)

Suitability
No good
Poor
Moderate
Good
Excellent

Biomass Energy
Carbonaceous waste from human and
natural activities
Byproducts from wood industry, human and
animal waste, agricultural crops, forest
Main advantage is use of same equipment
for combustion as fossil fuel
Biomass use does not add to GHG
emissions Carbon dioxide

Direct Burning vs Biogas route

Biogas 60%
methane and
40% carbon
dioxide
Safe for cooking
and also produce
high grade
manure

Biomass Briquetting

Process of densifying loose agro-waste into a solidified

biomass of high density for fuel
Pollution free and eco-friendly
Some agricultural and forestry wastes can be briquetted
after suitable treatment
Can replace conventional fuels
JuteStick, Sawdust, Bagasse, CoffeeSpent, Tamarind,
CoffeeHusk, AlmondShell, Groundnutshells, CoirPith,
BagaseePith, Barleystraw, Tobaccodust, RiceHusk,
Deoiled Bran etc

Biomass gasifers
Conversion of solid Biomass (wood waste,
agricultural residues etc) into a combustible gas
mixture normally called producer gas.
Producer gas is basically CO2, NH4,H2 and
Nitrogen gas with calorific value of aroudn 1200
kCal/kg Gasification Efficiency ~ 60%
Suitable for IC engines for producing power
Use of gasification instead of direct burring leads
to 50% savings in fuel
Used along with diesel in dual firing mode in DG
set (70-80% substitution possible)

Energy potential by source (IREDA)

Energy source estimated potential
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Small Hydro
Ocean Thermal Power
Sea Wave Power
Tidal Power
Bio energy
Draught Animal Power
Energy from MSW
Biogas Plants
Improved Wood Burning Stoves
Bagasse-based cogeneration

20 MW / sq. km
20,000 MW
10,000 MW
50,000 MW
20,000 MW
10,000 MW
17,000 MW
30,000 MW
1,000 MW
12 Million Plants
120 Million Stoves
3500 MW