Resources refer to the untamed natural essence of nature. Resources are
categorized in two types, namely Renewable and Non-renewable.
Most
of these resources like Sun, Air, and water are present in abundance in
the natural environment. Non-Renewable resources require a series of
geological development and thus take time to be reproduced once
perished.
Renewable Resources in India
By
Definition the Renewable sources of energy can be reproduced naturally
in environment. Solar Energy, Tidal Energy, Wind Energy,
Hydroelectricity are all forms of Renewable energy Sources.
Solar
Energy is amongst the most used Renewable energy source in India. Solar Energy seems to grow at an alarming rate of 50% per year.
For conversion of Solar Energy into electricity a device called
Photovoltaic cell is used. The Sun yearly delivers more than 10,000
times the energy that humans presently use.
Wind Power is presently used in India for the purpose of
generating Electricity. The rotation of turbine is used to generate
electricity. Windmills have been traditionally used to convert
Mechanical Energy to crush grains.
Hydropower is also a
naturally available renewable source of energy that taps the energy
derived from the movement of water in rivers and oceans. Water can be
used to generate electricity using turbines or to do other mechanical
work.
Geothermal Energy uses the heat flow energy within earth.
There are a number of radioactive elements inside Earth’s Crust and
mantle that are a constant source of energy, due to their decay. The
energy liberated from these substances is equal to the Solar Energy
received on earth, especially during the day.
Over the years
India is realizing the vast source of energy that it is gifted with, be
it Solar, Wind, Water, Biomass or any other form of natural renewable
energy.
India
is the proud host of the Biggest Conservation Energy program in the
world. A complete Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources was
established in 1992 and the Prime Minister controls the activities of
this ministry.
The wind resource
assessment program includes wind monitoring and wind mapping that
covers 800 stations in 24 states with 193 wind-monitoring stations in
operations.
Altogether 13 states of India acquire a net potential of
about 45000 MW wind energy. In the field of Solar Power More than
700000 PV systems generating 44 MW have been installed all over the
Indian states.
Non-Renewable resources in India
Non-Renewable
resources refer to the resources that cannot be reproduced and reused
on a large scale as they exist in a fixed amount. Once depleted these
resources cannot be reproduced. That is the demand for these resources
is always higher than its supply and rate of production.
Fossil Fuels
like coal, petroleum and natural resources are few examples of this
kind. It is necessary to understand the nature of these resources as
India presently is totally dependent on these resources.
Coal
occupies a premier position in India’s economic and commercial success.
The industries of steel and Carbo-chemicals are immensely dependent on
these resources. Coal is largely available in the valleys of rivers
Damodar, Son, Godavari and Vardha. Generally Anthrasite and Bituminous
qualities of coals are found extensively in these areas.
Major coal
belts lie in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. The lignite quality of coal is
found in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.
Presently the Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singarene Collieries Company
Limited (SCCL) control the coal industry in India.
Petroleum
industry in India was largely controlled by the Foreign Companies
immediately after independence. It is only in the past few years that
the industry has become an important Public Sector undertaking in India
and is becoming self-reliant. India’s petroleum industry is now
comparable is any other nation of the world.
Oil and Natural
gas is amongst the most important energy source in India. The industry
is also one of the biggest contributors to the central and State
treasuries.
Natural gas is gentle in nature, has greater efficiency and
is definitely cost effective. With the growing consumption and ever
rising demand there is no doubt that Natural gas is considered to be
the fuel of 21st centaury.
Since ages, the Non-Renewable
sources of energy have been the centre of all major industrial
developments in all parts of the world. However, with the growing
consumption and declining of these precious fuels, one must remember
the limited amount of these fuels.