RENEWABLE

ENERGY
SOURCES

Dr. I. JACOB RAGLEND

PROFESSOR
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Introduction to Energy
Types of Energy Sources
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Tidal Energy
Biomass Energy
Geothermal Energy

2
Definition of Energy: Energy can be defined as the ability
(or) capacity to do work
The different forms of energy:
Energy can be obtained in number of way. It may be in
the form of

(1) Chemical energy - due to chemical reaction

(2) Electrical energy - due to flow of electron
(3) Heat energy - due to thermal vibration
(4) Light energy - due to radiation of light
(5) Mechanical energy – due to moving parts
(6) Nuclear energy - due to nuclear reaction
The SI unit of energy is Joule (or) N/m.

3
Law of conservation of energy
According to law of conservation of energy, Energy can
neither be created nor destroyed. But, one form of energy
can be converted to another form.
Example:
 A battery generates electrons from chemical
reactions, which are used to make electrical energy.

 A heater convert electrical energy into heat energy.

 The human leg converts the chemical energy stored in the

muscles into mechanical energy when you pedal a
bicycle.

4
 Category of energy resource
On the basis of availability, the energy resources are
broadly categories as,
• Primary energy resources
• Secondary energy resources

Primary energy: All energy originates from natural sources

such as coal, solar, wind, hydro are called
primary energy resources.
Secondary energy: The energy converted from primary energy
sources. For example, the solar energy
can be converted into electricity

5
 Types of Energy sources
1. Conventional energy sources (or) Non-renewable energy sources
2. Non-Conventional energy sources (or) Renewable energy sources
(1) Conventional energy (or) Non-renewable energy
Conventional (or) Non-renewable energy sources are those,
which cannot be replaced continuously.

• Generally, non-renewable energy sources come out of the

ground as liquids, gases and solids.

Examples: The conventional (or) Non-renewable energy

sources are Oil, Coal, Petroleum and natural
gas, Nuclear energy

6
Non-Conventional energy (or) Renewable energy
Renewable energy is a source of energy that can never be
exhausted and can be replaced continuously

We can obtain renewable energy from the sun, from the

water, from the wind, from crop residues and waste

The types of Non-conventional (or) Renewable energies are

Solar energy Tidal energy

Wind energy Hydro energy
Biomass energy Biofuels
Geothermal Wave Power

7
 Solar energy

Solar energy comes from the light of the sun, which means it
is a renewable source of energy. We can use the sun light to
create pollution free electricity

The solar cell is the system used to convert the sunlight

energy into electrical energy

8
Solar collectors

9
 Areas of the world with high Solar radiation

• The basic resource for all solar energy systems is the

sun.
• Knowledge of the quantity and quality of solar energy
available at a specific location is of prime importance
for the design of any solar energy system
10
• Although the solar radiation is relatively constant outside
the earth's atmosphere, local climate influences can
cause wide variations in available radiation on the
earth’s surface from site to site.

• In addition, the relative motion of the sun with respect to

the earth will allow surfaces with different orientations to
intercept different amounts of solar energy.

• It is the primary task of the solar energy system designer

to determine the amount, quality and timing of the solar
energy available at the site selected for installing a solar
energy conversion system.

11
 Tidal energy

Tidal energy is the energy due to the water waves created in the
ocean. The tidal energy is also called hydropower.

• It is a hydropower due to raise and fall of water

wave in ocean. The raise and fall of water wave is
due to the gravitational forces of the moon and sun
as well as the revolution of the earth
• The raising and falling waves are used to rotate
the turbines and hence the electricity is produced.

12
13
Turbine rotation due to Tidal

14
 Wind energy

Wind energy is the kinetic energy associated with the movement

of atmospheric air
• Wind energy systems convert kinetic energy to more
useful forms of power.
• Wind energy systems for irrigation and milling have been in
use since ancient times
• From beginning of the 20th century it is being used to
generate electric power.

15
• Wind is simple air in motion.
• wind is caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s
surface by the sun.

• During the day, the air above the land heats up more
quickly than the air over water.
• The warm air over the land expands and rises, and the
heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating
winds.
• This winds are used to rotate turbine blades which spins
the generator to produce electricity

16
Windmill

17
 Biomass energy

Biomass energy (or) bioenergy, is the energy stored in non-

fossil organic materials such as wood, straw, vegetable oils
and wastes from the forest, agricultural and industrial sectors.

18
19
 Jatropha

• Biodiesel from Jatropha

• Seeds of the Jatropha nut is

crushed and oil is extracted

• The oil is processed and

refined to form bio-diesel.

20
 Geothermal energy

The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth)
and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the
earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside
the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity.

21
The earth can be compared with egg. The outer layer of the
earth is called crest and the center layer is called Mantle and
inner layer is called Core (Iron).

22
• Below the crust of the earth, the top layer of the mantle
is a hot liquid rock called magma.
• The crust of the earth floats on this liquid magma
mantle.
• For every 100 meters you go below ground, the
temperature of the rock increases about 3 degrees
Celsius.
• So, if you went about 10,000 feet below ground, the
temperature of the rock would be hot enough to boil
water.
• Deep under the surface, water close to the hot rock
can reach temperatures of more than 148°C.

23
• This is hotter than boiling
water (100°C). It doesn't
turn into steam because it
is not in contact with the air.

• When this hot water comes

up through a crack in the
earth, we call it a hot spring
and it is used to rotate the
turbines and the electricity is
produced.

24
• The most active geothermal resources are usually found along
major plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes
are concentrated.
• Most of the geothermal activity in the world occurs in an area
called the Ring of Fire.

25
 BIOFUEL

Plants use photosynthesis to grow and produce biomass.

Also known as biomatter, biomass can be used directly

as fuel or to produce liquid biofuel.

Agriculturally produced biomass fuels, such as biodiesel,

ethanol and bagasse (often a by-product of sugar cane
cultivation) can be burned in internal combustion engines
or boilers.

26
27
• Liquid biofuel is usually either a bioalcohol such
as
ethanol fuel or a bio-oil such as biodiesel and
straight vegetable oil.
• Biodiesel can be used in modern diesel vehicles
with little or no modification to the engine and
can
be made from waste and virgin vegetable and
animal oil and fats (lipids).

28
29
Advantage of Non-conventional (or) Renewable energy resources
1. It is fact that the consumption of conventional sources of
energy has caused more environmental damage than
any other human activity.
1. The use of fossil fuels such as oil and coal produce high
concentration harmful gases in the atmosphere and
creates so many problems such as Ozone depletion and
global warming.
1. The Non-conventional energy sources, such as the sun
and wind, can never be exhausted and therefore are
called renewable. They cause fewer emissions and are
available locally.

30
Contact details:

• Dr. I. Jacob Raglend

Professor,
Department of Electrical Engineering,
VIT, India.
Ph: +919965853338
e-mail: [email protected]
• Office: TT533
32