Green energy in India includes geothermal, wind, solar, hydro and biomass – energy sources that pollute less by lowering carbon emissions. In 1982, the Indian Government created the Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES) and a full-fledged Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources was established in 1992.
There is an acute energy shortage in India that impedes its industrial growth and economic progress. It is highly essential to tackle the energy crisis through judicious utilization of these green energy resources. Thus, a shift from conventional energy systems to those based on renewable resources is required to meet the ever-increasing demand for power in India. Today, India is well poised as a country that uses green energy efficiently and responsibly.
Solar Energy
Solar power is a clean renewable resource with zero emissions and is one of the prime renewable sources of green energy in India. This alternative energy can be harnessed using a photovoltaic cell that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar water heaters and solar photovoltaic (SPV) for decentralized power supply have proved to be most popular across the rural and remote areas where the likelihood of conventional electric lines is secluded. More than 700,000 PV systems of capacity over 44 MW are installed all over India for diverse solar applications such as home lighting, street lighting, solar lanterns and water pumping for irrigation.
Wind Energy
Wind power is generated by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current through an electrical generator. Wind power in India has made an important role in the field of energy resources playing a major role in the global wind energy market. The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased in the last few years. The Indian wind energy sector has an installed capacity of 10,464 MW and is ranked fifth in the world in terms of wind power installed capacity.
Hydro Electric Energy
Hydropower is obtained from the movement of water in rivers, oceans or other energy sources to generate electricity using turbines, or can be used mechanically to do useful work. The major advantages of hydro power includes saving scarce fuel reserves, cost of generation, operation and maintenance is far lower than the other sources of energy. Its ability to start and stop quickly and immediate load acceptance makes it suitable to meet peak demand and for improving system reliability and stability. Hydro projects are facing serious confrontation from environmentalists as the resettlement of the displaced people with their lands becomes a major issue here.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal power contributes to energy supply by means of electrical power generation and direct-heat uses. Hot water is brought from the underground reservoir to the surface through production wells and is flashed to steam in special vessels by release of pressure for generation of power. Indian geothermal power is another active renewable resource of green energy in India that has the capacity to produce 10,600 MW of power. India has 400 medium to high enthalpy geothermal springs, grouped in seven province and the most promising regions include, The Himalaya, Sohana, Cambay, Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA) and the Godavari.
Biomass Energy
Wood waste and agricultural wastes are the common source of biomass in all Indian villages and it needs to be tapped intelligently to provide not only electricity but also water to irrigate and cultivate agricultural fields for steady generation of power. Increased usage of biomass-based fuels will help in modernizing the agricultural economy at lower investment costs. More than 2,000 biomass units are estimated to have been established with a capacity in excess of 22 MW in India. A number of villages have been electrified with biomass gasifier based generators in India.
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