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International Journal of Management (IJM)
Volume 6, Issue 9, Sep 2015, pp. 29-43, Article ID: IJM_06_09_004
Available online at
http://www.iaeme.com/IJM/issues.asp?JTypeIJM&VType=6&IType=9
ISSN Print: 0976-6502 and ISSN Online: 0976-6510
© IAEME Publication
___________________________________________________________________________
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: A SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO SOLAR ENERGY
M.R. KOLHE B.E (Elect), M.B.A.
Research Student (Ph.D)
R.T.M. Nagpur University,
Nagpur India
Dr. P.G. KHOT
Prof. Dept of Statistics
R.T.M. Nagpur University
Nagpur India
ABSTRACT
Alternative energy, simply means energy that is produced from sources
other than our primary energy supply: fossil fuels. Coal, oil and natural gas
are the three kinds of fossil fuels that we have mostly depended on for our
energy needs, from home heating and electricity to fuel for our industries,
automobiles and mass transportation.
The fossil fuels are of non-renewable nature. They are limited in supply
and will one day they will be depleted. There is no escape from this
conclusion. Fossil fuels formed from plants and animals that lived hundreds of
millions of years ago and became buried underneath the Earth’s surface
where their remains collectively transformed into the combustible materials
that we use for fuel. In fact, the earliest known fossil fuel deposits are from the
Cambrian Period about 500 million years ago, way before the dinosaurs
emerged onto the scene. This is when most of the major groups of animals first
appeared on Earth. The later fossil fuels which provide more substandard
fuels like peat or lignite coal (soft coal) began forming as late as five million
years ago in the Pliocene Period. There is no doubt that at our current rate of
consumption, these fuels cannot occur fast enough to meet our current or
future energy demands. Fossil fuel, along with nuclear energy a controversial,
non-renewable energy source is supplying 93% of the world’s energy
resources. The rest, 7% of the world’s energy needs, are supplied by
alternative energy sources — more appropriately called renewables.
Every day, the world produces carbon dioxide by using of fossil fuels that
is released to the earth’s atmosphere and which will still be there in next one
hundred years time. This increased content of Carbon Dioxide increases the
warmth of our planet and is the main cause of the so called “Global Warming
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Effect”. One answer to global warming is to replace and retrofit current
technologies with alternatives that have comparable or better performance,
but do not emit carbon dioxide. We call this Alternative energy.
It is expected that by 2050, one-third of the world's energy will need to
come from solar, wind, and other renewable resources. Climate change,
population growth, and fossil fuel depletion mean that renewables will need to
play a bigger role in the future than they do today.
Alternative energy refers to energy sources that have no undesired
consequences such for example fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Alternative
energy sources are renewable and are thought to be "free" energy sources.
They all have lower carbon emissions, compared to conventional energy
sources. These include Biomass Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy,
Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Energy sources. Combined with the use of
recycling, the use of clean alternative energies such as the home use of solar
power systems will help ensure man's survival into the 21st century and
beyond.
In this paper, the stress has been given on the future of fossil fuel which
are at diminishing stage and their replacement by renewable energy sources
and their limitations.
Key words: Global warming, Energy Sources, Nuclear Energy, Transition
Energy, Solar photovoltaic, Green Energy.
Cite this Article: M.R. Kolhe and Dr. P.G. Khot. Alternative Energy: A
Special Reference to Solar Energy, International Journal of Management, 6(9),
2015, pp. 29-43.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJM/issues.asp?JTypeIJM&VType=6&IType=9
1. INTRODUCTION
Now Fossil fuels exist, and they provide valuable services. It’s not so much that we
use fossil fuels for energy that is problematic, but it’s the side effects of using them
that causes all of the problems. Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, the
number one greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Combustion of these
fossil fuels is considered to be the largest contributing factor to the release of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the 20th century, the average temperature of
Earth rose by 1 °F. This period saw the most prolific population growth and industrial
development which was and remains totally dependent on the use of fossil fuel
energy — in Earth’s history.
The impact of global warming on the environment is extensive and affects many
areas. In the Arctic and Antarctica, warmer temperatures are causing the ice to melt
which will increase sea level and change the composition of the surrounding sea
water. Rising sea levels alone can impede processes ranging from settlement,
agriculture and fishing both commercially and recreationally. Air pollution is also a
direct result of the use of fossil fuels, resulting in smog and the degradation of human
health and plant growth. There are also the great dangers posed to natural ecosystems
that result from collecting fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil. Oil spills have
devastated ecosystems and coal mining has stripped lands of their vitality.
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As demand increases, the production of fossil fuels is further expected to rise,
approximately doubling the amount of use of each fossil fuel. As world population
continues to grow and the limited amount of fossil fuels begins to diminish, it may not
be possible to provide the amount of energy demanded by the world by only using
fossil fuels to convert energy. There are plenty of ways to convert energy without
fossil fuels, and many of are being used, but not nearly to their full potential.
Countries must take action to promote a greater use of renewable & other energy
resources, such as Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biomass, geothermal energy or nuclear power,
so that we can be well prepared when the supplies of fossil fuels are not as plentiful as
they seem today.
2. ENERGY SOURCES
2.1. Non-Renewable Energy
The world is addicted to cheap, readily available resources like, coal, oil, gas but they
are polluting energy sources and exist in finite amounts. When the nation's energy of
choice is fossil fuel, nuclear energy or a combination of both, it is a deadly addiction.
History will repeat itself in the convulsions of war, starvation and political upheavals
when the current cheap supplies start dwindling, unless we prepare now for a future
based on new energy systems.
Back in the 1960s, predictions that the United States would have pumped over
half of its total supply of oil by the 1970's met with stiff opposition from the energy
dealers and by governments buoyed up by fuel profits. They were wrong, the U.S. is
now well past its halfway point in consuming its inexpensive oil reserves. Nuclear
energy was touted as an unlimited panacea, destined to be so cheap the electric
companies wouldn't even put meters on houses. Conventional oil is running out, and
we now know nuclear fuel is quite limited in supply as well.
Burning fossil fuel or splitting atoms to power a car or boil water is like throwing
antique furniture into your fireplace in order to heat your house. It wastes precious
resources better suited to producing new materials or diagnosing medical conditions
to improve health, rather than pouring it into gas-guzzling automobile engines or
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electric power plants that degrade the environment. But what choices do we have?
Yes, the choice is replacing them by renewables.
Fossil fuel phase out is the proposed energy transition beyond fossil fuels
through multiple means, including transport electrification, decommissioning of
operating fossil fuel-fired power plants and prevention of the construction of new
fossil-fuel-fired power stations. Its purpose is to reduce air pollution, mining
tragedies, and greenhouse which cause climate change. A move to the many forms
of renewable energy is involved in shifting away from fossil fuels.
2.2. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is beneficial, if used in the right manner and its scope utilised to the
fullest. However, there is a great deal of radiation danger associated with Nuclear
energy. It is capable of causing genetic disorders, thus once exposed, can affect
generations to come adversely. Another drawback is the storage of nuclear wastes, as
it too can lead to disastrous effects if not disposed or stored in the right manner. A
well known nuclear disaster was the attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United
States during World War II. An experiment, as described by some, was a grave event
in the history of nuclear energy and its effects. It was the first of its kind. Another
infamous event is the Chernobyl disaster. Although an accident, it made the world
realize that controlling such a potentially great power is not entirely in our hands. The
accident happened during a test in a nuclear power plant. The extent of damage was
controlled as the plant was shut down immediately, and the residents relocated.
The most recent nuclear mishap was the Fukushima Accident in Japan. It was
caused by an earthquake-generated tsunami. The nuclear reactor was seismically
robust, however could not sustain the effect of the gallons of sea water that went
inside the reactor, thus leading to power failure which in turn led to overheating. This
ultimately resulted in a hydrogen explosion and subsequent events led to the discharge
of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.
Owing to limited domestic sources of natural uranium and abundant thorium
resources, a three-stage nuclear power program was envisaged about 50 years ago.
The first stage involved pressurized heavy-water and light-water reactors (about
10,000–20,000 MW); the second stage, plutonium or fast-breeder reactors; and the
third stage, thorium-based breeder reactors. This program would have provided the
highest energy security to India. Restrictions on nuclear fuel slowed down the first
stage. The decks are now being cleared quickly, and an indigenous 500-MW fast-
breeder reactor for the second stage is also nearing completion. This technology
demonstrator is a shot in the arm for Indian science and engineering.
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2.3. Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are
naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves,
and geothermal heat. Renewable energy can replace conventional fuels in four distinct
areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, motor fuels, and rural (off-
grid) energy services. Based on REN 21's 2014 report, renewables contributed 19% to
our global energy consumption and 22% to our electricity generation in 2012 and
2013, respectively. This energy consumption is divided as 9% coming from
traditional biomass, 4.1% as heat energy (non-biomass), 3.9% hydro electricity and
2.1% is electricity from wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and biomass. Worldwide
investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US$214 billion in
2013, with countries like China and the United States heavily investing in wind,
hydro, solar and biofuels.
There are many forms of renewable energy. Most of these renewable energies
depend in one way or another on sunlight. Wind and hydroelectric power are the
direct result of differential heating of the Earth's surface which leads to air moving
about (wind) and precipitation forming as the air is lifted. Solar energy is the direct
conversion of sunlight using panels or collectors. Biomass energy is stored sunlight
contained in plants. Other renewable energies that do not depend on sunlight are
geothermal energy, which is a result of radioactive decay in the crust combined with
the original heat of accreting the Earth, and tidal energy, which is a conversion of
gravitational energy.
2.4. Total Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (31 Dec 2014)
Source Total Installed Capacity (MW) % to Total
Wind Power 22,465.03 66.48
Solar Power (SPV) 3,062.68 9.06
Small Hydro Power 3,990.83 11.81
Biomass power 1,365.20 4.04
Bagasse Co-generation 2,800.35 8.28
Waste to Power 107.58 0.32
Total 33,791.74
Above table indicates the total installed capacity of renewable as on 31.Dec’2014.
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3. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
3.1. Wind Power
The movement of the atmosphere is driven by differences of temperature at the
Earth's surface due to varying temperatures of the Earth's surface when lit by sunlight.
Wind energy can be used to pump water or generate electricity, but requires extensive
areal coverage to produce significant amounts of energy. Human has taken advantage
of wind power for thousands of years. The first known use was in 5000 BC when
people used sails to navigate the Nile River. Persians had already been using
windmills for 400 years by 900 AD in order to pump water and grind grain.
Windmills may have even been developed in China before AD, but the earliest written
documentation comes from 1219. Cretans were using "literally hundreds of sail-rotor
windmills to pump water for crops and livestock."
Today, people are realizing that wind power "is one of the most promising new
energy sources" that can serve as an alternative to fossil fuel-generated electricity.
The cost of wind has dropped by 15% with each doubling of installed capacity
worldwide, and capacity has doubled three times during the 1990s and 2000's. As of
1999, global wind energy capacity topped 10,000 megawatts, which is approximately
16 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. That's enough to serve over 5 cities the size of
Miami, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Five Miamis may not
seem significant, but if we make the predicted strides in the near future, wind power
could be one of our main sources of electricity.
Though wind energy is now more affordable, more available, and pollution-free, it
does have some drawbacks. Wind power suffers from the same lack of energy density
as direct solar radiation. The fact that it is a "very diffuse source" means that "large
numbers of wind generators (and thus large land areas) are required to produce useful
amounts of heat or electricity." But wind turbines cannot be erected everywhere
simply because many places are not windy enough for suitable power generation.
When an appropriate place is found, building and maintaining a wind farm can be
costly. It "is a highly capital-intensive technology."
3.2. Solar Energy
This form of energy relies on the nuclear fusion power from the core of the Sun. This
energy can be collected and converted in a few different ways. The range is from solar
water heating with solar collectors or attic cooling with solar attic fans for domestic
use to the complex technologies of direct conversion of sunlight to electrical energy
using mirrors and boilers or photovoltaic cells. Unfortunately these are currently
insufficient to fully power our modern society. The main advantages of solar energy
are that it is clean, able to operate independently or in conjunction with traditional
energy sources, and is remarkably renewable. The main disadvantages are that it is
currently more expensive than traditional energy, and the availability of solar
radiation varies from day to day, and from season to season.
3.3. Hydroelectric energy
This form uses the gravitational potential of elevated water that was lifted from the
oceans by sunlight. It is not strictly speaking renewable since all reservoirs eventually
fill up and require very expensive excavation to become useful again. At this time,
most of the available locations for hydroelectric dams are already used in the
developed world.
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3.4. Biomass
This is the term for energy from plants. Energy in this form is very commonly used
throughout the world. Unfortunately the most popular is the burning of trees for
cooking and warmth. This process releases copious amounts of carbon dioxide gases
into the atmosphere and is a major contributor to unhealthy air in many areas. Some
of the more modern forms of biomass energy are methane generation and production
of alcohol for automobile fuel and fueling electric power plants.
3.5. Hydrogen and fuel cells
These are also not strictly renewable energy resources but are very abundant in
availability and are very low in pollution when utilized. Hydrogen can be burned as a
fuel, typically in a vehicle, with only water as the combustion product. This clean
burning fuel can mean a significant reduction of pollution in cities. Or the hydrogen
can be used in fuel cells, which are similar to batteries, to power an electric motor. In
either case significant production of hydrogen requires abundant power. Due to the
need for energy to produce the initial hydrogen gas, the result is the relocation of
pollution from the cities to the power plants. There are several promising methods to
produce hydrogen, such as solar power, that may alter this picture drastically.
3.6. Geothermal power
Energy left over from the original accretion of the planet and augmented by heat from
radioactive decay seeps out slowly everywhere, everyday. In certain areas the
geothermal gradient (increase in temperature with depth) is high enough to exploit to
generate electricity. This possibility is limited to a few locations on Earth and many
technical problems exist that limit its utility. Another form of geothermal energy is
Earth energy, a result of the heat storage in the Earth's surface. Soil everywhere tends
to stay at a relatively constant temperature, the yearly average, and can be used with
heat pumps to heat a building in winter and cool a building in summer. This form of
energy can lessen the need for other power to maintain comfortable temperatures in
buildings, but cannot be used to produce electricity.
3.7. Other forms of energy
Energy from tides, the oceans and hot hydrogen fusion are other forms that can be
used to generate electricity. However each suffers from one or another significant
drawback and cannot be relied upon at this time to solve the upcoming energy crunch.
4. RENEWABLE ENERGY
Can renewable energy replace fossil fuels? The answer to this question is yes,
however it take time. Several countries have adopted ambitious plan to obtain their
power from renewable energy. These countries are not only accelerating RE
installations but are also integrating RE into their existing infrastructure to reach a
100% RE mix.
There are various renewable energy sources. Solar power can be used directly for
heating and producing electricity or indirectly via biomass, wind, ocean thermal and
hydroelectric power. Energy from the gravitational field can be harnessed by tidal
power; and the internal heat of the Earth can be tapped geothermally.
These tools and more can help make the transition from non-renewable to
renewable and environmentally friendly energy. However, presently none of these is
sufficiently developed or abundant enough to substitute for fossil fuels use. Every one
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of these power sources (with the exception of hydroelectric) has low environmental
costs, and combined have the potential to be important in avoiding a monumental
crisis when the fossil fuel crunch hits. These energy sources are often non-centralized,
leading to greater consumer control and involvement.
Currently each of these energy forms is significantly more expensive than fossil
fuels, which will lead to economic dislocations and hardship if they become the only
power source for the future. Although one source will not be able replace fossil fuels
at once, but proper mix of energy sources will be required with smooth transition
from fossil fuels to renewable and it is sure that major share will be taken by Solar
energy in future.
5. TRANSITION ENERGY
Despite past and present, administration's hope that the transition from a society
dependent on fossil fuels to a world of controlled population growth, sustainable
economies and alternative green energies will be forthcoming, the vision seems a bit
optimistic. This shift will require strong political and emotional fortitude and decades
to accomplish. The transition is not only necessary for the planet's ecological survival;
it's critical to the health and well being of every human being. Carbon-dioxide
emissions are a major culprit in the rapid global warming, which remains a long-range
fossil fuel problem.
It is a fact that the extraction, distribution, and burning of fossil fuels contribute
significantly to, many of the planet's environmental problems. As population grow the
consumption of coal, oil and gas by increases to many fold. There are over six billion
people on Earth now, nearly double since 1960, and sometime in the next century
there will be about 12 billion. The fundamental problem is the world's population
growth and over exploitation of fossil fuels. In a modern-day century, from 1950 to
2050, the world's population is estimated to grow from 2.5 billion to 9.3 billion an
increase of almost 3 times. Currently, the planet's human population is doubling about
every 39 years and rate of increase of population is very fast. It took 10,000
generations to reach a world population of 2 billion in 1930, while it will only take us
a decade in the 1990s to produce around 1.5 billion more! Not to mention all the
environmental and humanitarian losses this overpopulation problem is causing.
With more and more developing countries wanting to offer their growing
populations the opportunity to consume fossil fuel products such as gasoline and
electricity, it is obvious that the global coal & oil supply will not sustain an
overpopulated planet. Life will become more difficult. William Rees state, "With
access to global resources, urban populations everywhere are seemingly immune to
the consequences of locally unsustainable land and resource management practices at
least for a few decades. In effect, modernization alienates us spatially and
psychologically from the land. The citizens of the industrial world suffer from
collective ecological blindness that reduces their collective sense of 'connectedness' to
the ecosystems that sustain them." What alternative energy sources exist to replace
our present great dependency on fossil fuels?
It is not possible just by making a few adjustments; society will make the jump
from unlimited fossil fuel consumption to sustainable economies based on improved
energy efficiency. The greater energy efficiency, fuel saving technologies and the
installation of minor adjustments in our daily lifestyles will not solve the coming fuel
crunch but will postpone it for time being.
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Renewable green energy sources can help reduce pollution and dependence on
petroleum products. Wind and solar energy do not create dangerous waste products
and are indigenous, secure and freely available.
Regardless of whether the process of switching from non-renewable to renewable,
will be easy or extremely difficult, sooner or later we are all going to have to face
some major changes to our current way of life. It is not that we lack the knowledge of
how to adopt sustainable measures. We are simply resisting such constraints, as many
would call them, which might threaten the luxuries in life that we have grown so
accustomed to. The point is that we now know fossil-fuel-based model is not
sustainable for the world. The challenge is to help developing countries leapfrog to a
more decentralized, efficient, renewables-based system. The alternative to this is
following the coal or oil-based path; suffering from price volatility, import
dependence, mounting pollution and health problems, and expensive retrofits.
Ultimately, the question is not when the global economy will switch from burning
environment-damaging and limited petroleum products to using more earth-friendly
alternative energies, but how will industry and humanity handle the transition. Now,
the time has come to switch over from fossil fuel dependent situation to earth-friendly
alternative energies to save the earth.
Wind energy Vs. Solar power – Which is right option?
There are two promising renewable energy sources i.e. solar and wind. When
considering an off grid or grid connect power system; these two main choices for
renewable energy equipments are wind turbines and solar panels. So which is the
superior, wind energy or solar power?
It really depends on the geographical location and energy requirements, but given
the substantial investment involved with either option, it’s critical to select the right
system for your needs from the outset.
Following points shows superiority of a solar power system over wind power:
Solar power,
It has no moving parts
It has better reliability and a 25 year warranty
It requires less monitoring
It does not require expensive maintenance
It provides more predictable energy output based on BOM and NASA data.
It has better value for money in sites with average wind speeds less than 5
meters/sec.
It is less conspicuous than a wind turbine
It is totally silent in operation
It allows for quicker installation with less cable required
It is less susceptible to lightning damage
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It is less susceptible to high wind damage.
It requires less space in most cases as the panels can be installed on a roof
For most suburban and rural settings and applications; solar power is usually the
best choice for the considering above reasons
6. SOLAR ENERGY / SOLAR POWER
From an environmental perspective, solar power is the best thing going. A 1.5
kilowatt PV system will keep more than 110,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the chief
greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere over the next 25 years. The same solar system
will also prevent the need to burn 60,000 pounds of coal. With solar, there's no acid
rain, no urban smog, no pollution of any kind. Mankind has been crazy to have not yet
bothered to harness the sun's energy. Sun light takes 8 minutes to travel 93 million
miles. Those photons are hauling and when they strike your PV module you can
convert that motion to electricity. In many ways PV is a much more elegant and
sophisticated technology. The Earth receives an incredible supply of solar energy. The
sun, an average star, is a fusion reactor that has been burning over 4 billion years. It
provides enough energy in one minute to supply the world's energy needs for one
year. In one day, it provides more energy than our current population would consume
in 27 years. In fact, "The amount of solar radiation striking the earth over a three-
day period is equivalent to the energy stored in all fossil energy sources."
Solar energy is a free, inexhaustible resource, yet harnessing it is a relatively new
idea. The ability to use solar power for heat was the first discovery. A Swiss scientist,
Horace de Saussure, built the first thermal solar collector in 1767, which was later
used to heat water and cook food. The first commercial patent for a solar water heater
went to Clarence Kemp of the US in 1891. Producing electricity from solar energy
was the second discovery. In 1839 a French physicist named Edmund Becquerel
realized that the sun's energy could produce a "photovoltaic effect" (photo = light,
voltaic = electrical potential). In the 1880s, selenium photovoltaic (PV) cells were
developed that could convert light into electricity with 1-2% efficiency ("the
efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of available sunlight converted by the
photovoltaic cell into electricity"). Photovoltaic power "remained a curiosity for many
years, since it was very inefficient at turning sunlight into electricity." It was not until
Albert Einstein proposed an explanation for the "photoelectric effect" in the early
1900s, for which he won a Nobel Prize that people began to understand the related
photovoltaic effect.
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World’s & India’s Solar Map
Solar energy may have had great potential, but it was left on the backburner whenever
fossil fuels were more affordable and available. "Only in the last few decades when
growing energy demands, increasing environmental problems and declining fossil fuel
resources made us look to alternative energy options have we focused our attention on
truly exploiting this tremendous resource." We still use solar power in the same two
forms today, thermal and photovoltaic. The first concentrates sunlight, converts it into
heat, and applies it to a steam generator or engine to be converted into electricity in
order "to warm buildings, heat water, generate electricity, dry crops or destroy
dangerous waste." Electricity is generated when the heated fluid drives turbines or
other machinery. The second form of solar power produces electricity directly without
moving parts. Today's photovoltaic system is composed of cells made of silicon, the
second most abundant element in the earth's crust. "Power is produced when sunlight
strikes the semiconductor material and creates an electric current." The smallest unit
of the system is a cell. Cells wired together form a module, and modules wired
together form a panel. A group of panels is called an array, and several arrays form an
array field. Two main types of solar energy systems are in use today: photovoltaics,
and thermal systems.
6.1. Solar photovoltaic
Photovoltaic systems convert solar radiation to electricity via a variety of methods.
The most common approach is to use silicon panels, which generate an electrical
current when light shines upon it. Penn State University is involved in several projects
to demonstrate and encourage the use of solar energy at appropriate locations within
Pennsylvania. Solar photovoltaics are especially valuable for remote rural applications
where it would be prohibitively expensive to supply electricity from a utility line.
6.2. Solar thermal systems
Solar Thermal Systems seek to store heat from the sun that can be used for a variety
of purposes. Many different approaches can be employed here, including active
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systems, such as solar hot water heaters, and passive systems, in which careful
engineering design results in a building that automatically stores and utilizes solar
energy. Greenhouses are a prime candidate for passive solar design, in which they
collect solar energy on sunny days in winter and utilize it to keep the house warm at
night. These days solar energy is the most popular energy source in the world. Here is
the list featuring the most important factors that make solar energy a “one of the most
promising renewable energy sources in the world.”
Solar energy is renewable energy source meaning it is being constantly
replenished and cannot be depleted like this is the case with fossil fuels. As long
as Sun keeps shining solar energy will be available to us.
Solar energy is clean and environmentally friendly source of energy that doesn't
contribute to climate change.
Solar energy industry creates plenty new jobs that can give huge boost to our
economy.
Solar energy is extremely abundant source of energy with almost unlimited
potential.
Solar energy is free source of energy.
Solar energy can help improve our energy independence and energy security by
reducing the need for expensive foreign fuel import.
Solar panels are very silent and do not create noise pollution like some wind
turbines do.
Solar energy can help electrification of many rural areas, particularly in
developing world.
Solar panels have very good lifespan of 20+ years.
Solar panel prices have been constantly dropping in the last five years.
Solar panels require very little maintenance.
Solar energy industry is the fastest growing industry in the nation giving plenty of
business opportunities to young people.
Solar panels do not lose much efficiency over the years and can be recycled.
Solar Photovoltaic power even has advantages over wind power, hydropower, and
solar thermal power. The latter three require turbines with moving parts that are noisy
and require maintenance. Solar energy is most sought today in developing countries,
the fastest growing segment of the photovoltaics market. People go without electricity
as the sun beats down on the land, making solar power the obvious energy choice.
6.3. Technical & Commercial vialability of Solar energy
Energy from the sun has immense potential as it powers life on earth. Commercially
available solar panels are around 10-15% efficient at converting energy (compared to
a coal power station operating at around 25% efficiency), and although new
technologies are in development which may utilize solar on a large scale, they will
take many years to perfect. Solar panels are still based on simple principles that do not
require sophisticated machinery or technology to make. Much of the cost is in the
price of high grade silicon (around $225 a pound) which current solar technology uses
heavily. While solar is not greatly viable on a commercial scale, it can be extremely
effective on a small scale, particularly when combined with other methods. Using
both off grid solar power and wind power generation combined can offset the limits of
each device, so that electricity can be derived from the wind at night and from the sun
on less windy days. As with most generation methods the power travels one way (as
Alternative Energy: A Special Reference To Solar Energy
http://www.iaeme.com/IJM/index.asp 41 [email protected]
opposed to our usual power supply which can travel both ways many times a second)
so much of the cost of a full system is spent connecting the intake supply to the grid.
This can be bypassed by connecting the panels to some deep-cycle batteries and
running appliances directly from them. This also offsets the major disadvantage of
solar that allows you to only derive energy during the day when energy use is low in
the average household. Deep cycle batteries can give about 12 hours of continuous
power which is perfect for solar collection. This is why DIY versions of solar
installations like Earth4Energy are much more popular than full scale professional
installations, which can take up to 20 years to pay back the initial cost. Earth4Energy
shows you how to utilize solar power on any scale, at a much lower cost than is
possible otherwise.
6.4. Advantage to India
India is becoming one of the world's main producers of Solar PV modules, with plans
to power 100,000 villages and install solar-powered telephones in its 500,000 villages.
Solar power is just as practical in populated areas connected to the local electrical
power grid as it is in remote areas. There are actually four broad categories that can be
identified for solar energy use: industrial, rural habitation, grid-connected, and
consumer/indoor. Industrial uses represent the largest applications of solar power in
the past 30 years. "Telecommunications, oil companies, and highway safety
equipment all rely on solar power for dependable, constant power far from any power
lines." Roadside call boxes and lighted highway signs rely on the sun's energy in order
to provide reliable services without buried cable connections or diesel generators.
Navigational systems such as marine buoys and other unmanned installations in harsh
remote areas are also ideal applications for solar power because "the load demands are
well known and the requirements for reliable power are the highest." Rural habitation
includes "cabins, homes, villages, clinics, schools, farms, as well as individually
powered lights and small appliances." Grid-connected systems pair solar power with
an existing grid network in order to supply a commercial site with enough energy to
meet a high demand, or to supplement a family's household supply. The practicality
and environmentally safe nature of solar power is influencing people worldwide,
which is evident in equipment sales.
There are only two primary disadvantages to using solar power: amount of
sunlight and cost of equipment. The amount of sunlight a location receives "varies
greatly depending on geographical location, time of day, season and clouds. The low
conversion efficiency of modern PV panels, present affordability challenge for solar
as a means of generating electricity on a large scale. It would simply cost too much to
install enough solar panels to provide the output of a modern power station.
Consequently, solar is seen as a microgeneration technology to be deployed by
individual consumers and businesses. The cost of installing a solar electricity system
at home varies depending on the peak capacity of the system, measured in kilowatt-
peak (kWp).
As the price of solar power lowers and that of conventional fuels rises, it "is
entering a new era of international growth." So much so, that solar power "will remain
an excellent energy option, long after the momentary fossil fuel model fades into
smoke." Given India’s vast solar potential, with most parts of the country receiving 4–
7 KWh per square meter per day, it makes perfect sense to develop and establish
domestic solar technology assuming that volume will reduce the price. The flavor of
the season in energy supply and use in the coming decades will be a very aggressive
M.R. KOLHE and Dr. P.G. KHOT
http://www.iaeme.com/IJM/index.asp 42 [email protected]
energy efficiency program and the development of affordable new renewables,
particularly solar power. The future energy business in India presents a whole range
of opportunities, encompassing coal mining and transportation; oil and natural gas
exploration and transportation; thermal, hydro, nuclear, and solar power generation
and the accompanying state-of-the-art equipment manufacture; energy-efficient
devices, appliances, and building materials; smart grid opportunities and distribution
modernization; and efficient, affordable vehicle engines. For entrepreneurs, success
will lie in the latest technology, the large volume of business, and affordable
competitive prices. There is enough local enterprise for joint ventures. Environmental
stewardship is strongly rooted in Indian culture, though avoidable violations persist,
particularly regarding water sources. The worship of animals, trees and water is a
common religious practice in India. The combined habits of frugal lifestyle and
tolerating harsh climatic extremes have kept greenhouse gas emissions low. Per capita
emissions are among the lowest in the world, only about 1/4th of the global average.
Fortuitously, the energy intensity in India’s growth has been reduced by half from the
early 1970s. Currently, Indians consume 0.16 kgoe per dollar of GDP compared to a
global average of 0.21, and 0.22 for the USA, 0.17 for Germany and the OECD, and
0.15 for Japan.
Although environmental issues are important to the citizens of India, climate
change awareness is not widespread. The greatest public concerns are population
growth and eradication of poverty. There is good news, too, though: On World
Environment Day, June 5, 2010, a global survey by the National Geographic Society
and Globescan consultancy showed that India had not only retained its top position as
the greenest consumer from 2009, it even increased its lead. However, it needs the 5
Es – Energy, Equity, Environment, Efficiency, and Enterprise – for maximizing the
common good and it is sure that by way of which India would grow prudently and
fast.
7. CONCLUSION
Imagination is more important than knowledge, for knowledge is limited, whereas
imagination embraces the entire world – stimulating progress, giving birth to
evolution is said by Albert Einstein. It’s true that to make sure we have plenty of
energy in the future, it's up to all of us to use energy wisely. We must all conserve
energy and use it efficiently. It's also up to those who will create the new energy
technologies of the future. All energy sources have an impact on the environment. We
should be concerned about the greenhouse effect and global warming, air pollution,
and energy security which have led to increasing interest and more development in
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, wave power and hydrogen.
Out of these, solar seems to be more promising but it needs it’s commercialization.
Till then we'll need to continue to use fossil fuels and nuclear energy until new,
cleaner technologies can replace them. One of amongst us might be another Albert
Einstein or Marie Curie and find a new source of energy or find ways to use available
renewable energy sources viably. Until then, it's up to all of us. The future is ours, but
we need energy to get there.
8. ABBREVIATION
MW-Mega watt, kWp-kilowatt-peak, PV- Photovoltaic, GDP- Gross domestic
product , OECD- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,
Alternative Energy: A Special Reference To Solar Energy
http://www.iaeme.com/IJM/index.asp 43 [email protected]
REFERENCE
[1] http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/solar.html
[2] http://www.energymatters.com.au/components/solar-vs-wind,
[3] M.R. Kolhe and Dr. P.G. Khot. Coal – An Energy Source for Present and Future,
International Journal of Management, 5(10), 2014, pp. 71 – 90.
[4] M.R. Kolhe and Dr. P.G. Khot. Coal – India’s Energy Scenario - Current and
Future, International Journal of Management, 6(7), 2015, pp. 49 – 68.
[5] M.R. Kolhe and Dr. P.G. Khot. Minerals: The Wealth on Earth. Coal – India’s
Energy Scenario - Current and Future, International Journal of Management,
6(2), 2015, pp. 9 – 18.
[6] M.R. Kolhe and Dr. P.G. Khot. Role of Renewables In Energy Mix In
Perspective of Indian Energy Independence Scenario, International Journal of
Management, 6(2), 2015, pp. 9 – 18
AUTHOR
M.R. KOLHE, received the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical
Engineering from Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering Nagpur (now
VNIT: Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur) and M.B.A. degree
from GS College of Commerce, Nagpur in 1974 and 1990, respectively. During 1975-
2013, he worked in Western Coalfields Limited (Subsidiary of Coal India Limited
Government of India Undertaking) and retired in 2013 as General Manager (Electrical
& Mechanical).