VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

JNANA SANGAMA, BELAGAVI-590018

A Self-study Report
Solar Energy Vs Alternative sources of Energy

Submitted in partial fulfillment for self-study component of

MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY
in
COMPUTER NETWORK ENGINEERING
Submitted by

Abhijna B N & M S Suprita

1RV19SCS01 & 1RV19SCS10

Dr Shantha Rangaswami,
AssociateProfessor,
RVCE

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

R.V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
R.V.VIDYANIKETAN POST, MYSURU ROAD,
BENGALURU- 560059
2019-21

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 Index

Name of the topic Page No.

1. Introduction 4

2. Solar Energy 5

3. Wind Energy 6

4. Hydropower Energy 7

5. Geothermal Energy 8

6. International and other National Policies 9

7. Statistics 10

8. Incentives 11

9. Conclusion 12

10. References 12

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 List of Figures

1. Fig 1: Renewable and Non Renewable Energy

2. Fig 2.1 : Solar Energy

3. Fig 2.2 : Solar Panel

4. Fig 3 : Wind Energy Generation

5. Fig 4: Electricity generation using dams

6. Fig 5.1 : Geothermal energy

7. Fig 5.2: Geothermal power plant and heat pump

8. Fig 6.1 :Installed solar panels wrt Capacity

9. Fig 6.2 : Annual solar power generation wrt to various years

10. Fig 6.3: Solar water heating collector global capacity wrt years

11. Fig 6.4 : No of countries wrt no of policies implemented year wise

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INTRODUCTION:
All commodities used for satisfying our needs and wants are called resources
Resources are classified into the following two types:
• Renewable
• Non Renewable
Renewable resources are those resources that can be replenished or renewed naturally over
time. Air, water, wind, solar energy etc are all renewable resources
Non-renewable resources - natural resources that are available in limited quantity.
cannot be renewed or replenished in short duration,also known as exhaustible resources.
Examples- coal, natural gas, petroleum etc.

Types of Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Non Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy:
• Energy generated from natural
resources
• Energy from the source that is Fig 1 : Renewable and Non Renewable Energy
not depleted.
Non Renewable Energy:
• Non-renewable energy comes from sources that can not be replenished.

Cons of Non Renewable energy

➢ When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases

and primary contributors to global warming and climate change.

➢ They release CO2 when burnt destroying ozone layer.

➢ Oxides like Sulphur di oxide and others released by fossil fuels convert rain to acidic

rain harmful to wildlife and humans.

➢ Transporting oil tankers ,oil crashes happen and gets spilled in the sea which is deadly

for sea animals who come in contact with it.

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 Solar Energy

• It is the technique of obtaining the usable

energy from the light of the sun. The
potential for solar energy is enormous,
since about 200,000 times the world’s
total daily electric-generating capacity is Fig 2.1 : Solar Energy

received by Earth every day in the form of

solar energy

• Solar power energy has come into use where other power supplies are absent such as
places far off from the national electrical grid.

• Solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells (photovoltaic
cells). In such cells, a small electric voltage is generated when light strikes the
junction between a metal and a semiconductor (such as silicon) or the junction
between two different semiconductors.

• Solar energy is currently used in number of applications:

• Heat(hot water, solar cooking)

• Electricity Generation(Photovoltaics and solar thermal, sterling and other

heat engines)

• Desalination of sea water

Advantages of Solar Energy

• Clean Energy Source

• Renewable and Sustainable
• Power Remote Areas
• Can be installed on Rooftops
• Reduce electricity bills
• Availability
• Low Maintenance
• Silent Fig 2.2 :Solar Panel

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Wind Energy

• Wind power is using the energy of wind has been in use since ancient times to move
ships and for hundred of years to pump the water or grind corn and grain into flour ,
now it is usually changed into electricity using wind turbines.
• As of the end of March 2017 the total installed wind power capacity was 32.17GW.
• Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the
rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of electrical generator.

Advantags of Wind Energy:

• Clean source of power

• Renewable energy

• Cost Effective

• Extra saving for land owners

• Use of Modern Technology

• Rapid growth and huge potential

Disadvantages of Wind Energy

• Noise Pollution

• Threat to birds

• Expensive to set up

• Wind Reliability

• Suitable to certain locations

Fig 3 : Wind Energy generation
• Effect on Environment

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Hydropower Energy

• Hydropower is changing the energy of moving into more useful forms.

• Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity.This is
called Hydroelectric power or Hydropower.
• Today the largest use of Hydropower is for a dam that can use the falling water to make
electricity.
• As of April 30 2017, India’s installed utility scale hydroelectric capacity was 44594
MW.

Advantages of Hydropower:

• Clean source of power

• Renewable energy source
• Cost competitive energy source
• Contributes to development of remote
communities
• Recreational opportunities
• Fundamental development for
sustainable development

Disadvantages of Hydropower:
• Environmental damage

• High upfront capital costs

Fig 4 : Electricity generation using dams
• Might cause conflicts

• May lead to droughts

• Risk of floods in lower elevation

• Carbon dioxide and methane emission

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 Geothermal Energy

• This type of energy is obtained by

tapping the heat of the earth, which
Fig 5.1 : Geothermal Energy
is mostly in the form of hot water
and steam. Various technologies are used to get to the heat under the earth’s surface at
different depths.
• In certain areas of the planet geothermal energy is closer to the surface and therefore
easier to harness
• Using deep wells in hot rock in which the fluid is heated to produce steam which then
drives the turbines to generate electricity. The facilities that enable this process is called
dry steam , flash steam and binary – cycle plants.

Advantages of Geothermal Energy:

• Renewable Source
• Environment friendly
• No fuel needed
• Abundant Supply
• Significant Saving for home owners
• Innovation in Technology

Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Fig 5.2 : geothermal power plant and heat pump

• Suitable to particular region

• High Initial costs

• Cost of powering the pumps

• Surface Instability

• Environmental Concerns

• High temperature needed

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 International policy:

• The Paris Agreement is a landmark environmental accord that was adopted by nearly

200 countries in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts.

• Paris Agreement to phase out of fossil fuel subsidies for reducing low greenhouse gas

emissions.

• The central aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees

Celsius and even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius

Other national policies:

• The renewable portfolio agreement (RPA) was implemented in 2006 by North Korea.

• Wind Power Concession Program by China in 2003

• Renewable Energy Strategy 2009 by United Kingdom in 2009

• Amendment of the Renewable resources energy act by Germany in 2010.

• India has set an ambitious target to generate 60,000 MW of electricity from wind power

by 2022.

• The Indian Government's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced a new

wind-solar hybrid policy in May 2018

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 Statistics:

Fig 6.1 :Installed solar panels wrt Capacity Fig 6.2 : Annual solar power
generation wrt to various years

• The daily average solar-power-plant generation capacity in India is 0.20 kWh.

• Solar Panels capacity is increasing over the years.
• Solar power generation has seen significant increase

Fig 6.3 Solar water heating collector global capacity wrt years
Solar thermal heating and cooling systems served millions of residential as well as commercial
clients in 2017. Solar thermal technology was used for a wide range of applications such as:
hot water; space heating and cooling; product drying; water desalination; and cooking services.

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 Fig 6.4 No of countries wrt no of policies implemented year wise

Number of countries that implemented the policies year wise worldwide

Incentives

• Viability Gap Funding: Under the reverse bidding process, bidders who need least

viability gap funding at the reference tariff (RS 4.93 per unit in 2016) is selected.

• Funding was Rs 1 Crore/MW for open projects on average in 2016.

• Depreciation: For profit-making enterprises installing rooftop solar systems, 40

percent of the total investment could be claimed as depreciation in the first year

(decreasing taxes).

• To protect the local solar panel manufacturers, 25% safe guard duty is imposed for two

years period from August 2018 on the imports from China & Malaysia who are

suspected of dumping solar panels in to India.

• Capital subsidies were applicable to rooftop solar-power plants up to a maximum of

500 kW. The 30-percent subsidy was reduced to 15 percent.

• Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): Tradeable certificates providing financial

incentives for every unit of green power generated.

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CONCLUSION:
Solar energy is better than other energy sources as :
• Solar is much less location-dependent than hydropower and wind.
• Energy losses during transmission and distribution as energy source so close. Eg
.Solar panels placed on the rooftop of houses.
• Solar panels efficiency is increasing over the years.

REFERENCE :

• Towards Sustainable Energy: A Systematic Review of Renewable Energy sources,

Technologies and public opinion Journal 2019 by Atika Qazi, Fayaz Hussain , Nasrudi,
Glenn Hardaker,Daniy,Khaled and Haruna.

• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)-www.irena.org

• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)- www.seia.org

• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership(REEEP)-www.reeep.org

• International Energy Agency (IEA)-www.iea.org

• https://www.britannica.com/science/solar-energy

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