Energy Resources and Consumption Trends

Study Notes

Fossil Fuels are a significant source of energy, including coal, oil, and natural gas
Renewable energy sources are replenished naturally, including solar, wind, and hydropower.
Non-renewable energy sources are finite and deplete over time, with examples being fossil fuels and nuclear sources.
Depletable energy sources diminish with use, including several non-renewable sources.
Non-depletable sources are practically inexhaustible, such as solar and wind energy.

Global energy demand is constantly rising,
Energy consumption increased by 2.3% in 2019.
Renewable energy sources contributed roughly one quarter of the global energy consumption growth in 2019.
Nuclear energy contributed roughly 7% of the global energy consumption growth in 2019.

Energy gap refers to the difference between a country's rising energy demand and its ability to meet that demand from domestic resources.
The energy gap is widening due to the phasing out of fossil fuels and the mismatch between energy consumption and production.

India is the third largest producer of coal and relies heavily on it as an energy source.
Coal is formed from the compression of plant matter over millions of years.
Different types of coal are classified based on carbon content and time period, such as anthracite, bituminous, and lignite.

India produces petroleum from Mumbai, Gujarat, and Assam.
Advantages:
- Easy transport of liquid fuel
- Lighter than coal for air transport
- Diverse by-products
- Economical storage
Disadvantages:
- Highly evaporable, requiring specialized storage
- Higher production costs than coal
- Contributes to air pollution with pollutants like NO, SO2, CO, and CO2
- Limited reserves compared to coal

A cleaner source of energy than coal and oil
Major Indian reserves are found in the Krishna-Godavari basin, Mumbai High, Gulf of Cambay, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Primarily composed of methane, with other hydrocarbons like propane, butane, pentane, and hexane also present.
Commonly used as a fuel and industrial raw material
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mixture of butane and propane.

Renewable and sustainable source of energy
Fast electricity generation
Cheaper than other sources
Widely available onshore, offshore, and in remote areas
Disadvantages:
- Limited to specific geographic locations
- Variable and intermittent energy output
- Complex design, manufacture, and installation due to diverse atmospheric conditions
- Requires vast open areas
- Economical only on a small scale

Utilizes flowing water to generate electricity
India's hydroelectric power generation capacity is 27,010 MW
Advantages:
- Extended lifespan
- Minimal operating staff
- Non-polluting and environmentally friendly
- Low cost of generation and maintenance
Disadvantages:
- Requires extensive land acquisition with potential for submergence
- Involves political, regional, and social hurdles in land acquisition
- Long approval process for hydro-power projects
- Challenges in rehabilitating and resettling displaced communities
- Significant initial investment

A combustible gas that releases a significant amount of energy upon combustion
Clean fuel with minimal pollution
Challenges:
- Fire and explosion hazards
- Difficult to store and transport
- Large-scale production for commercial use is still in development
- High production costs
- Requires substantial external energy to extract hydrogen from water or coal
Fuel cells offer a potential solution for storage and transportation
Abundant water is a readily available raw material for hydrogen production, making it environmentally friendly.