🔹 Energy Conservation
Energy conservation simply means reducing the growth of consumption of electrical energy by avoiding the unnecessary use of electric energy.
🔹 Need of Energy Conservation
- To save money
- To save fossil fuels
- To reduce carbon emissions
- To reduce the variation between supply and demand
- To control pollution
🔹 Types of Energy Sources
Energy Sources are divided into four types:
- Primary Energy Source → e.g., Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Sunlight, Uranium (for nuclear energy), Wind, Water
- Secondary Energy Source → e.g., Steam, Electricity, Hydrogen, Refined Fuels (Petrol, Diesel)
- Commercial Energy Source → e.g., Electricity, Natural Gas, Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, LPG, Coal
- Non-Commercial Energy Source → e.g., Wood, Agricultural Waste, Dried Leaves, Cow Dung, Animal Waste
1) Primary Energy Source
The energy sources that are found directly in nature are called Primary Energy Sources.
Examples: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
2) Secondary Energy Source
Secondary energy source means energy sources which are obtained by using primary energy sources.
Examples: Steam, Electricity, Hydrogen, Refined Fuels (Petrol, Diesel)
3) Commercial Energy Source
The energy sources which are available in the market at a definite price are known as commercial energy sources.
Examples: Electricity, Natural Gas, Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, LPG, Coal
4) Non-Commercial Energy Source
The energy sources which are not available in the market at a definite price are known as non-commercial energy sources.
It is also called as traditional energy source.
Examples: Firewood, Cow Dung, Agricultural Waste, Dried Leaves, Animal Waste
| Type of Energy Source | Definition | Examples |
| Primary Energy Source | Energy sources that are found directly in nature | Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Sunlight, Wind, Water, Uranium |
| Secondary Energy Source | Energy sources that are obtained by using primary energy sources. | Steam, Electricity, Hydrogen, Petrol, Diesel |
| Commercial Energy Source | Energy sources available in the market at a definite price | Electricity, Natural Gas, Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, LPG, Coal |
| Non-Commercial Energy Source | Energy sources not available in the market at a definite price; also called traditional energy sources. | Firewood, Cow Dung, Agricultural Waste, Animal Waste, Dried Leaves. |
🔹Present Energy Scenario
(i)As we know, our demand for electrical energy is increasing in day-to-day life because of the rise in population, industrialization, and modernization etc.
(ii) There are various power plants like TPP (Thermal Power Plant), NPP (Nuclear Power Plant), DPP (Diesel Power Plant), etc., which can produce energy. But these non-renewable energy sources cause pollution.
👉 To overcome this problem, it is necessary to use renewable energy sources.
(iii) Nowadays, various primary energy sources are used. Around 85% of primary energy sources have been used in the last 200 years.
(iv) But these primary energy sources are depleting in nature. Hence, it is necessary to continuously use both primary energy sources and renewable energy sources. By using renewable sources, there are fewer chances of pollution.
(v) Because of using renewable energy sources, there are fewer chances of pollution.
(vi) It can reduce carbon emissions.
(vii) It can also reduce overall energy demand, etc.
🔹 Functions of Government Organizations
- NPC (National Productivity Council)
- BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency)
- MEDA (Maharashtra Energy Development Agency)
- MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
🔹 Question
Q. State the function of the following organizations:
- NPC
- BEE
- MEDA
- MNRE
1) NPC (National Productivity Council)
- NPC is a national-level organization which works on product management, environmental management, and energy management.
- It arranges seminars, workshops, and best practices to spread knowledge from one person to another.
- NPC provides training to all levels of industrial staff.
- NPC is also used for awareness purposes about energy efficiency and energy conservation.
2) BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency)
- BEE is a body of the Central Government.
- The main function of BEE is to regulate, observe, and implement energy conservation programs.
- BEE also arranges seminars and workshops to spread knowledge.
- It provides both theoretical and practical knowledge to industries.
- BEE helps in increasing awareness about energy conservation.
3) MEDA (Maharashtra Energy Development Agency)
- MEDA coordinates with BEE and the Central Government to observe the Energy Conservation Act.
- MEDA is also a body of the Central Government.
- The main function of MEDA is to check, process, and implement the Energy Conservation Act.
- MEDA circulates information and knowledge to the public.
4) MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
- The main function of MNRE is to use various technologies related to renewable energy sources.
5) IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency)
- The main function of IREDA is to promote and use various technologies related to renewable energy sources.
Q) Explain the need for energy conservation in the present scenario.
Answer:
- Fossil fuels like coal and oil have taken millions of years to form, and now they are on the verge of depletion.
- In the last 200 years, we have consumed nearly 60% of all energy resources.
- Today, about 85% of primary energy sources come from non-renewable and fossil fuels. Due to rising consumption, they are depleting very fast.
- Growth of industries and adaptation of advanced technology have increased energy demand.
- Swelling of population and rise in the standard of living have also greatly affected energy demand.
- The rate of growth in energy demand is more than the energy generation rate.
- Energy saved is as good as energy generated.
- There is a wide gap between generation and demand. Hence, for sustainable development, we need to adopt energy efficiency measures.
| Energy Conservation | Energy Audit |
|---|---|
| 1. It is reducing the growth of energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary usage of energy. | 1. It is an inspection and analysis of energy flow in buildings or systems to reduce the amount of energy input to the system. |
| 2. Energy conservation procedures are carried out after energy auditing. | 2. Energy audit procedure for the given plant is carried out initially. |
| 3. Energy conservation techniques can be carried out by an energy manager. | 3. Energy audit procedure is carried out by an energy auditor. |
| 4. Energy conservation procedure is costly, time-consuming, and depends on consumer’s application. | 4. Energy audit is the better procedure for energy conservation |
| 5. Energy conservation devices are required for conservation techniques. | 5. Various measuring instruments with proper sensing are required for energy auditing. |
Q. List of Conventional and Non-Conventional Energy Sources
Ans–
1) Conventional Energy Sources:
i) Thermal power plant (Coal)
ii) Hydro power plant
iii) Nuclear power plant
iv) Diesel power plant
v) Natural Gas
vi) Oil
2) Non-Conventional Energy Sources:
i) Solar power plant
ii) Wind energy
iii) Tidal energy
iv) Fuel cell, v) Biomass power plant , vi) Geothermal energy power plant , vii) Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power plant
Q. List out any six significant features of Indian Electricity Act.
Ans:
- The Central Government has to prepare a National Electricity Policy in consultation with the State Governments.
- Thrust to complete rural electrification and provide for management of rural distribution by Panchayats, cooperative societies, franchisees, etc.
- Provision for license-free generation and distribution in rural areas.
- Generation being delicensed, and captive generation being freely permitted. Hydro projects need clearance from the Central Electricity Authority.
- Transmission activity at the central as well as state level to be a government company, with responsibility for planned and coordinated development of the transmission network.
- Open access in transmission networks from outside.
- Provision for private licensees in transmission and entry in distribution through an independent network.
Q. Define energy audit and need of energy audit.
Ans: Energy Audit
An energy audit is an inspection, survey, and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process, or system. Its purpose is to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output.
Need of Energy Audit:
- Helps to understand how energy and fuel are used in an industry.
- Identifies areas where wastage occurs and where there is scope for improvement.
Q. State the function of various instruments used in energy audit.
- Lux Meter:
Measures illumination levels in a working area. - Contact Thermometer:
These are thermocouples which measure temperature. - Infrared Thermometer:
This instrument is useful for measuring hot spots in furnaces, surface temperature, etc. - Tachometer : It is used for measuring the speed of a rotating machine.
- Megger : It is used for measuring insulation resistance of electrical equipment.
- Load Manager : It is used for measuring major electrical parameters such as kW, kVA, kVAR, Power Factor (P.F.), Current (Amp), and Voltage (Volts).
Q. Compare Commercial and Non-Commercial Energy Sources:
| Commercial Source | Non-Commercial Source |
|---|---|
| 1) Energy which is available to use at some price. | 1) Energy which is available free of cost to users. |
| 2) Examples: a) Coal b) Natural Gas c) Electricity | Examples: a) Firewood b) Agricultural Waste |
| 3) This is a non-renewable form of energy. | 3) This is a renewable form of energy. |
| 4) Its utilization leads to more pollution of the environment. | 4) These pollute the environment to a lesser extent as their use is not as high as the commercial ones. |
| 5) High capital investment is required for its utilization. | 5) It can be used in raw form. |
| 6) It is used in urban as well as rural areas. | 6) It is dominantly used in rural areas. |
Respected Sir/Madam,
I would like to inform you that these are my summarized notes for Unit 1: Energy Conservation Basics, compiled in this notebook/blog for quick reference.
