“Alternative Energy Sources”

Article shared by Samiksha S

The rapid increase in the demand of energy has caused worry about its supply. The main sources of energy are conventional sources. They are non-renewable and exhaustible sources.

The demand of energy has increased all over the world and the condition poses a threat on the sources of energy like Petroleum and Natural gas by the year 2030-35 if any alternative sources do not substitute or supplement them.

The Government of India gives high priority to the use of alternative, non-conventional and renewable energy sources as supplement to the depleting conventional sources of energy. These alternative sources include – Solar energy, Wind energy, Geo-thermal energy, Tidal energy, Biomass energy etc.

These energy sources have huge potential of energy and they can be useful in various ways.

Solar energy is a wide source. Solar cells, solar cookers, solar ponds etc are the devices to trap solar energy. It can produce electricity, cook food, heat water and can be converted to other forms of energy.

The solar photovoltaic system which uses solar cells to convert the solar energy into electrical energy is the most promising and progressive sources of alternative energy.

Wind energy is in form of Kinetic Energy. A blade of windmill is moved by blowing winds and could be exploited for doing work. Theoretically about 60% of the wind energy can be converted into other forms of energy. Wind mill farms are being set up in the world to exploit this energy at suitable places.

Geothermal energy can be used to produce electricity. However, the inner heat of the Earth not available everywhere which can be commercially exploited. Such potential has been found in Pegu valley in Jammu and Kashmir in India.

Tidal energy associated with the kinetic energy of tides can be converted into electricity by using turbine. In the coastal areas this possibility is available.

Biomass energy is being used in villages but improvement in method and scientific equipments can increase utilisation. It reduces waste materials and gives cheap energy. Jathropa is a plant that produces diesel and it is pollution free. Besides the railways lines, Jathropa planting is in implementation. Hydrogen is also proved to be a great advantageous source of energy.

Nowadays, nuclear energy is gaining utmost importance.

These alternative sources of energy promise a new horizon in sustainable manner.