Chapter 2 - Energy sources and technologies

Abstract

The consumption of energy is the best measuring tool for the progress of any country. The prosperity of a nation is measured by the per capita energy consumption since it relates to the industrial development of that country. Electricity is one of the forms of energy that has a major share in global energy consumption. Various energy sources are available that can be used to generate electricity. Energy is present in the form of conventional energy sources like oil, coal, and gas, and alternative renewable energy sources like wind, solar, biomass, biogas, geothermal, and hydro. Conventional sources of energy are not renewable, since once they are consumed they will not be replenished. The reserves of oil, coal, and gas are vanishing, and their prices are rising. Conventional energy harnessing technologies like steam power plants, gas power plants, combined cycle power plants, and diesel power plants are matured and efficient technologies. Renewable energy sources are those energy sources that, once used, replenish themselves. The sun is an eternal source of energy irrespective of the amount we use. Similarly, the wind also blows because of the density difference of the air in different regions of the earth. The sun is again behind this phenomenon. Renewable energy sources are abundantly available on the earth and are being harnessed successfully. The technologies to harness energy from renewable energy sources are still in development and are less efficient than conventional technologies.