Energy
Introduction
All physical activity in the world whether by human beings or by nature, is caused due to flow of energy in one form to the other.
Energy is required for doing all kinds of work.
It means " in-work" or "work content". the capacity to do work depends on the energy input.
The capacity to do work depends on the amount of energy one can control and utilize.
Energy is the most basic infrastructure input required for the economic growth and development of a country.
Before 200 years ago, people were essentially dependent on manual and animal Labour.
In 1785, the invention of the stream engine James watt of Scotland brought about industrial revolution.
It was the beginning of the mechanical age or other age of machines.
The advent of the internal combustion engine in the late nineteenth century gave further movement to the trend.
Gradually the industrial revolution spread to the whole world. In 1888 Nickola tesla invented the commercial induction motor.
The introduction of electrical machines along with commercial availability of electrical power started the new electrical age.
Energy has been the life blood for continual progress of human civilization. Thus with an increase in the living standard of human beings, the energy consumption also accelerated.
Energy consumption and standard of living
Energy is an important input of all sectors of any country's economy.
The standard of living of a given country can be directly related to energy consumption. Energy crisis is due to two reason. they are,
1) The population of the world has increased rapidly, and
2) The standard of living of human being has increased.
the energy required for human activities can be classified into the following major areas or sectors.
1) Domestic sector
2) Transportation sector
3) Agriculture sector.
Consumption of more energy in a country indicates more activities in these sectors.
That implies better comfort at home, due to the use of various appliances, better transport facilities and more agriculture activities and industrial production.
All these make better quality of life. Therefore the per capita energy consumption of a country is an index of the standard of living or prosperity of the people of that country.
Out of which 22% energy is consumed by USA , which was about 6% of the world's population. India has 17% of world 's population consumers only 2.6% of the total energy world energy.
This mismatch reflects the negative differential in the quality of life of the Indian people. The present annual per capita electrical energy consumption in USA is 1300kwh and that in India is 400 kwh.
Developing countries at present export primary products such as food, coffee, tea, jute, ores etc.
This does not give them the full value of their resources.
To get better value, the primary products should be processed to products for export.
This needs energy, the per capita energy in developed countries remains much more than in the developing countries.
If the standard of living in the developing countries, the energy required will be much more than the estimation.
Classification of energy
Energy resources can be classified in the following ways:
A) Based on usability of energy
1) Primary resources
Resources available in nature on raw form area called primary energy resources
Eg: fossil fuels, uranium, hydro energy. these are also known as raw energy resources.
2) Intermediate resources
This is obtained from the primary energy by one more steps of transformation. It is used as a vehicle energy.
3) Secondary resources
The form of energy which is finally supplied to the consumer for utilization is known as secondary or usable energy.
Electrical energy, Thermal energy, chemical energy.(eg) electrical energy ,thermal energy (in the form of stream or hot water), chemical energy (in the form of hydrogen or fossil fuels) etc.
B)Based on traditional use
1) Conventional
Energy resources which have been traditionally used for decades are called conventional energy resources.
Eg: fossil fuels, nuclear and hydro resources.
2) Non conventional
Energy resources which are considered for large scale use after the oil crisis are called non conventional energy resources.
Eg: Solar, wind, biomass
c) Based on long term availability
1) Non renewable
Resources which are finite and do not get replenished after their consumption are called non renewable.
eg: Fossil fuels, uranium
2) Renewable
Resources which are renewed by nature again and again, and their supply is not affected by the rate of their consumption are called renewable.
Eg: Solar, wind, biomass, ocean
D) Based on commercial application
1) Commercial energy resources
The secondary usable energy forms such us electricity, petrol, diesel, gas are essential for commercial activities, so they are categorized as commercial energy resources.
2) Non commercial energy resources
The energy derived from nature and used directly without passing through commercial outlet is called non commercial resources.
Eg: Wood, animal dung cake, crop
E) Based on origin
1) Fossil fuel
2) Nuclear energy
3) Hydro energy
4) Solar energy
5) Wind energy
6) Biomass energy
7) Geothermal energy
8) Tidal energy
9) Ocean thermal energy
10) Ocean wave energy
Consumption trend of primary energy resources
The average percentage consumption trend of various primary energy resources of world. The consumption trend differs from country to country.
About 87% of the world's energy supply comes from fossil fuels. The share of fossil fuel is more than 90% in the case of India.
Importance of renewable energy sources
The ever increasing use of fossil fuels and rapid depletion of these resources, have led to the development of alternative sources of energy, which are renewable and environmental friendly.
The following points may be considered for the importance of non conventional energy sources
1) As the demand of energy is increasing due to rapid industrialization and population growth, the conventional sources of energy will not be sufficient to meet the growing demand.
2) Conventional sources are non renewable and bound to finish one day.
3) Conventional sources also pollution, thereby their use degrades the environment.
4) large hydro resources affect wildlife, cause deforestation and create various social problems due to construction of big dams.
Due to these reasons it has become important to explore and develop on conventional energy resources.
The development of non conventional sources will serve as supplements rather than substitute for conventional sources.
0 Comments