13 Energy Resource: Distribution, Livelihood & Scarcity Concerns

     

       Learning Objectives:

   After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Understand Energy Resource and classify different sources of energy Document description of Hydrocarbons (Coal, Petroleum and Natural
• Gas and electricity)
• Study Importance of Non-conventional source of energy.

Introduction

Energy is understand as a power, capacity to do work. Work in the terms of movement of objects over or through a distance. Energy exists in many form like kinetic, potential heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical, hydro, nuclear, geothermal etc. Energy is the primary input in the production of goods and services. More regular and ample is the availability of energy, more even will  be the parh to economic prosperity. The role of energy resources has increased considerably with the growth in urbanization and industrializationin recent times.

Depending upon is source and utilization energy can be divided into two broad classes viz.

1. Traditional or non-commercial
2. Commercial energy.

The   non-commercial    energy    includes   firewood,   charcoal,    cow-dung, agricultural  wastes  and  also  animal  power.  The  commercial  sources  of energy comprise coal, oil, natural gas, hydro-electricity, nuclear power as well as wind and solar power.

Energy may also classified as

1. Conventional and
2. non-conventional

   It’s depending upon its nature. Coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity are the main sources of conventional every while solar, wind, tidal, geothermal energy and biogas etc.are some of the outstanding example of non-conventional energy.

Source: UNEP industry and Environment; July-September. 2000:23

The developing economy of India is making it a prominent energy resource consumer in the global energy market. Although coal is the major energy source, renewable energy sources are also showing their presence felt in the energy production scenario (fig. 1). Regarding the sectoral energy consumption it can be seen that Industrial sector dominates, followed by electric power generation sector.  (fig. 2)

Fig 1. Energy consumption in India. (IEO, 2016)

Fig 2. Sectoral energy consumption in India,2012 (IEO, 2016)

Coal: coal is an inflammable organic substance. It is found in the form of sedimentary rocks. It is mainly composed of hydrocarbons, and therefore areused as fuel to supply heat or light both. It also contains volatile matter, moisture, and ash in varying proportions. Combustible matter in coal consists of carbon and hydrogen.

Since long coal has continue to be the backbone of power generation in India.In the country,70% of total commercial energy consumed are generated from it. The industries and power sector accounts for 94% of total consumption. Due to its high utility as a source of energy, energy experts shows that the world coal reserves are six times the known reserves of oil and coal has been described as the bridge into the future.

Origin of Coal

Originated from the organic matter wood. Large tracts of forest lands were buried under sediments in the geological past i.e., in the carboniferous age. Wood was burnt and decomposed due to heat from below and pressure from above. During the pressure of change from wood to coal, the amount of oxygen and nitrogen decreases and the proportion of carbon increase. Energy generating capacity of coal depends upon the percentage of carbon contained in it. And carbon composition percentage in coal depends upon the intensityand durationof pressure and heat on wood.

Varieties of coal

Depending upon its grade from higher to lowest four varieties.

1. Anthracite Coal

2. Bituminous Coal

3. Lignite and

4. Peat.

Anthracite coal: It is of best quality that contains 80% to 95% carbon. Very small volatile matter and negligibly small proportion of moisture is present. It is very hard, compact, and jet black in colour having semi-metallic lustre. It ignites slowly and burns with a nice short blue flame. It has the highest heating value and is the most prized among all the varieties of coal. In India it is found only in and around Kashmir in small quantity.

Bituminous coal:It is most widely used coal. It derives its name after a liquid called bitumen released after heating. It varies greatly in composition-in-carbon content (from 40% to 80%) and moisture and volatile content (15% to 40%). It is compact, dense, and is usually in black colour. This coal, composed of alternate dull and bright bands, is considered of good quality. It does not have terraces of original vegetable material from which it has been formed. Due to high proportion of low moisture andcarbon content, its calorific value is very high. It is used not only for stream raising and heating purposes but also for production of coke and gas. It is found in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Lignite: also known as brown coal, lower grade coal and contains about 40% to 55% carbon. This coal represents the intermediate stage in the alteration process of woody matter into coal. This coal’s colour varies from dark to black brown. It is friable and pyritious. Its moisture content is high over 35% so that it gives out much smoke but little heat. Its typical qualities make it liable to disintegrate on exposure and even to spontaneous combustion. It is found in Palna of Rajasthan, Lakhimpur of Assam, Neyveli of Tamilnadu, and Karewa of Jammu and Kashmir.

Peat: This coal type develops at the first stage of transformation from wood into coal. It contains less than 40% to 55% carbon. It has sufficient volatile matter anda lot of moisture. It burns like wood that gives less heat, emits more smoke and leaves a lot of ash after burning.

Coal Production

It was the first fuel to be used on a large scale. Most of the resources were formed during the carboniferous period (280 million to 350 million years ago). China and USA together contribution is about 60% of the coal production in the world. China has been the main coal-producing country in the world since 1986.

Coal is mined mainly in the north in Inner Mangolia, Shansi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan and Hegei regions. USA, Coal mining showed a decline after the Second World War due to subsidized oil and gas prices, development of nuclear energy and environmental restrictions, but it picked up after the oil crisis of the 1970s. Mining mainly in the Appalachian region and in interior states. In the CIS, major coal producing regions are Kuznetsk in Karagannda, Kuzbas basin, Pechora basin, Donbass region and Tungus basin, in Europe, coal is mined in Franco-Belgian coalfields, in Ruhr, Saar, Silesia, Saxony in Germany, and in Poland, UK, Spain and Central French Plateau.

In India Raniganj in West Bengal, Jharia, Bokaro, Giridih in Jharkhand, Wardha Valley in Maharashtra and Umaria and Sohagpur in Madhya Pradesh. Australia, Coal is mined in New South Wales, Queensland and West Australia. In Africa is very little coal except for some amount from South Africa. In recent times, the production of coal in India, Poland and Australia has been going up, while that in UK and Germany has been going down.

Table1: Global production of coal in (MTs) 2000-2010

Source: Energy Statistical Yearbook 2000, statistical energy of world review, 2010.

Petroleum or Mineral Oil: The word ‘Petroleum’ has been derived from Latin words ‘Petra (meaning rock)’ and ‘Oleum (meaning oil)’. Petroleum is an inflammable liquid. 90 to 95 % of the petroleum composed of hydrocarbons. Rest is organic compounds containing oxygen, nitrogen, Sulphur and traces of organo – metallic compounds. Compact and Convenient liquid fuel has revolutionized transportation. It can be easily transported from the production region to the consumption region. It emits very little smoke and leaves no ash, and can be used till last drop. It is used as a raw material for a variety of petro-chemical products, and also provides the most important lubricating agents.

Origin and occurrence

It is found in shallow depressions, sedimentary basins, and in the seas. Major oil reserves in India are found in the sedimentary rock formations of tertiary times, and are associated with anticlines and fault traps. Oil and natural gas originated from animal or vegetable matter contained in shallow marine sediments. “Oil reservoir must be porous so as to accommodate sufficiently large amounts of oil; permeable to discharge oil or gas drilled and the porous sand beds, conglomerates of fissured limestones containing oil should be capped by impervious beds so that oil does not dissipate by

percolation”. Oil on a commercial scale is usually found where the sedimentary rock strata are inclined and folded in the highest possible situation e.g., Crests of anticlines.

In erstwhile USSR, oil was first struck in the Caucasus region which has been the traditional oil producing region. Other region include Volga-Ural region, West Siberia, Lena basin, and Sakhalin islands. Natural gas is produced in Turkmenistan. West Asia accounts more than 50 % of world Oil reserves. Oil was struck here in 1909 for the first time of Masjid-e-Sulaiman. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, and Oman are important oil producing countries. MyammarIrrawadi and Chindwin valleys. In India, Assam, Gujarat, and Bombay High are important oil producing regions. Here sedimentary areas comprise about 27 basins, amongst which geological and geophysical studies have been conducted in 14 basins, while exploratory drilling in 9 basins. Africa has limited reserves which are spread over Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Nigeria. North Sea in Europe, the oil resources here are shared among UK, Norway, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands. Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan and Yangtse Valley and Shansiui province in China are important oil producing regions of East Asia. Of the total oil reserve of the world, the former USSR region has 22%, USA 15.5% and Saudi Aabia 9 %.

Fig 3. Global petroleum reserves.

Regarding the consumption of the petroleum, the OECD countries consumes more than the Non- OECD nations (Table2). It can be noticed that consumption by Non-OECD Asia is more than the OECD-US, indicating accelerating economic growth.

Table 2. World liquid consumption by region (million barrels per day) (Table source: IEO, 2016)

    Natural Gas

Natural gas is consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons. It is a flammable gas used as fuel, and occurs naturally underground (often in association with petroleum).

Besides the Middle East nations, USA, China and the former soviet region are major producer, and accounts for nearly 44% of the world natural gas production (Figure 4). On the consumption scale, world’s total consumption during 2011 was 117.1 trillion cubic feet, which has increased to 119.8 trillion cubic feet during 2012. Similarly regional variation in the consumption pattern is found between OECD and Non-OECD nations. During 2012, the total consumption by Non-OECD regions was 62.5 trillion cubic feet, compared to 57.5 trillion cubic feet of OECD regions (Table 3).

Fig 4. Global status of natural gas (Source: IEO, 2014)

Table 3. World natural gas consumption by region (in trillion cubic feet) (Table source: IEO, 2016)

             Survey conducted in 1997 in the Andamans has revealed 1,700 billion cubic feet of gas reserves which can meet the country’s requirements for the next 30 years. The gas discovered by Reliance industry in deep water of Krishna-Godavari off- shore basin the largest discovery of natural gas in the world in the year 2002. In June 2005, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) made a significant hydrocarbon find in shallow waters of Krishna- Godavari basin. Reliance industry struck gas off the Orissa Coast in Bay of Bengal in June 2004. Here the reserves are estimated at 4-5 trillion cubic feet. Mumbai

          High produces about three-fourths of the total gas in India. Over 11 % of the total gas of India is produced by Gujarat.

Electricity

It is a form of energy, clean and produces no residue can be transported over long distances. Hydel power is cleaner but more capital intensive source than thermal power. Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and New Zealand have developed their hydel power potential, while China, Japan, USA, and the former Soviet region are leading producers and consumers of hydel power. South America, 75 % of the total electricity used is hydro-electricity.

Electricity Scenario in India

In India some of the major multipurpose projects are Bhakra, Hirakud, Bokaro, Panchet, Tilaiya, Maithan, Rihand, Kojna, Nagarjunasagar and Kosi. The per capita consumption in India was only 373 Kwh in 2002-03. Following types of electricity are recognized:-

1. Hydroelectricity

2. Thermal electricity

3. Nuclear electricity

Hydroelectricity

The future prosperity of India depends to a great extent on our ability to produce and use hydroelectricity is a renewable, cheap, clean and environmentally benign source of energy. India is blessed with huge water resources and there are vast possibilities of producing hydroelectricity. The national hydroelectric power corporation (NHPC) was set up in 1975. Following influence of the development of hydroelectric power (HEP) in India.

I.  There should be perennial flow of large volume of water.

II. The water should fall from a sufficient height.

III. A readily available market is an essential requirement for generating HEP.

IV. The generation HEP requires huge capital investment.

V. It also requires technological advancement because production, distribution, and utilization are closely related to the technological level.

Sustainability of rivers for hydroelectricity generation

1)  Northern rivers are very useful, major factors are:-

a)  They receive water from both sources, raining water during rainfall and snow melting water from glacier.

b) Velocity of flow is high

c)  Low competition for use of water for other purpose makes water available for HEP production.

d) About three fourth of the total potential is confined to the river basins originating from the northern mountains region.

2) Peninsular rivers are comparatively poor with respect to hydroelectric power potential.

a)  Purely dependent on rainfall.

b) Storage of water is essential to regulate the flow.

c)  The bulk of potential is confined to hilly regions.

3) Some factors which favors the development of hydroelectric power in peninsular India.

a)  Topographical feature in upper reaches of the major rivers are seldom favorable for development of irrigation, would not clash with other priority uses of water.

b) The western part of the peninsula, are far away from the coal deposits of northeastern plateaus. They have to depend upon the hydroelectric power to meet their energy requirements.

Thermal electricity

It is generated by using fossil fuels like coal, diesel and natural gas. The thermal power generation recorded more than 181 times increases from 1950-51 to 2003-04. At present, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), established in 1975, has 13 coal-based super thermal power projects, and 07 gas/liquid fuel-based combined-cycle projects, with an installed capacity of 19,435 MW. Thermal electricity accounts for more than half of the installed capacity in 14 states. In the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Mizoram, and West Bengal. It accounts for over 90 of the installed capacity.

Nuclear electricity

It is obtained from Uranium and Thorium. Uranium is available in the copper belt of Jharkhand, and rocks of Aravali in Rajasthan. The monazite sands on the kerala coast also contains Uranium. It is also obtained from Mica in Gaya (Bihar), Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) and Udaipur and Jaipur. India has Vast deposits of thorium amounting to about 50 % of the world’s total is enough to generate 3, 50,000 MW energy for 300 years.

Non-conventional energy

New sources of energy which have not yet been fully exploited. It is solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, hydro power, hydrogen on the one side and the new technique, such as, fuel cells, electric vehicles, ocean energy, geo-thermal energy etc., on the other side. Besides being renewable are also non-polluting and environment friendly.

India has non-conventional energy potential of 1, 95,000 mw. Of this total potential, 31% is provided by solar energy, 30% by oceans and geo thermal energy, 26% by bio mass and 13 % by wind energy.

As of the end of 2016, the worldwide total cumulative installed electricity generation capacity from wind power amounted to 486,790 MW, an increase of 12.5% compared to the previous year. Installations increased by 54,642 MW, 63,330 MW, 51,675 MW and 36,023 MW in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively.

Wind energy

It is cheap, pollution free, environment friendly.

As of 2014, top five producer of wind energy in world are China, US, Germany, Spain and India, with a capacity of 114,763 Megawatts.

China accounts for 31% of the global total of wind power sector. A wind power capacity of 65,879 Megawatts is boasted by United States, with an average annual growth of 25.6% over the last 10 years. Germany had 10% of the global total (39,165 Megawatts) of wind power capacity. With an installed capacity of 22,987 Megawatts, Spain ranks fourth. Despite being a relative newcomer to the wind sector, India is fast catching up with Spain. India had 22,645 Megawatts of wind power capacity, having added 2,315 Megawatts during the year (Figure 5).

Fig 5. Wind energy across states (Source: GEF National workshop, MNRE, 2015) Solar energy

It is non-exhaustible, reliable, and immense and pollution free. It may be utilized for water heaters, distillation plants, power generating devices, space heating, air conditioning and refrigeration etc. presently utilized through two different routes solar thermal route and solar photovoltaic route. Solar photovoltaic technology converts sunlight in to electricity used for a variety of low power applications such as tele – communication, railway signaling, and street lighting.

Worldwide growth of photovoltaics is extremely dynamic and varies widely. According to the energy report, ‘by the end of 2016, cumulative photovoltaic capacity increased by more than 75 gigawatt (GW) and reached at least 303 GW, sufficient to supply 1.8 percent of the world’s total electricity consumption.’

“The top installers of 2016 were China, the United States, and India.There are more than 24 countries around the world with a cumulative PV capacity of more than one gigawatt. Austria, Chile, and South Africa, all crossed the one gigawatt-mark in 2016. The available solar PV capacity in Honduras is now sufficient to supply 12.5% of the nation’s electrical power while Italy, Germany and Greece can produce between 7% and 8% of their respective domestic electricity consumption.”

In India current solar energy generation capacity is about 3744 MW (March, 2015). India has a potential for 748 GW (Figure 6).

Fig 6. Solar energy across states (Source: GEF National workshop, MNRE, 2015) Biomass energy

It is a clean and cheap source of energy which improves sanitation and hygiene, removes the drudgery and produces enriched organic manure for use in agriculture. Bioenergy may be obtained through bio-degradable material like animal dung, human night-soil kitchen wastes, water hyacinth, agriculture residues and city wastes etc. this can be of crucial importance in  poor, predominantly agriculture countries like India and China.

Geothermal energy

Energy produced by using heat generated in the earth’s interior which is available on the earth’s surface in the form of hot water springs and geysers. This form of energy is being produced in USA CIS, Iceland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Ladakh. Based on current geologic knowledge and technology, while the IPCC reported geothermal power potential to be of 35 GW to 2 TW ; the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) estimates that only 6.5 percent of total global potential has been tapped so far.

“As of 2015, worldwide geothermal power capacity amounts to 12.8 gigawatts (GW), of which 28 percent or 3,548 megawatts are installed in the United States. International markets grew at an average annual rate of 5 percent over the last three years and global geothermal power capacity is expected to reach 14.5–17.6 GW by 2020.”

Kenya, the Philippines, Iceland, El Salvador, and Costa Rica are the countries that are generating more than 15 percent of their electricity from geothermal sources. Due to the geographical advantage in India, there are vast possibilities of developing and exploiting geothermal energy. About 340 hot springs localities have been identified, of which in many the temperature nearing boiling point have been recorded. Assessment of Geothermal energy potential selected sites in Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh has been is being undertaken.

Wave and Tides energy

A clean but very expensive method of producing electricity. Some western and developed countries are producing electricity in this way. ‘India Possesses 8000-9000 MW of tidal energy potential the gulf of Khambat is the best suited area with about 7000 MW potential of Tidal energy. This is followed by Gulf of Kachchh (1000 MW) and Sunderbans(100 MW).’

Conclusion

   Energy is the basic necessity of power to mobilize and sustain all life systems, social and economic progress, and level of living. Human has been continuouslyattempts from the beginning of life to boosting the use of animate and inanimate power sources and converting them in to useful types to serves his purposes. Due to technological efficiency non-conventional energy are used in daily life. About more than 75% of energy comes from three fossils fuels coal, petroleum and natural gas, and little bit from nuclear power. As per above discussion world are rapidly moving toward non-conventional source of energy that include solar, wind, hydelpower, biomass and geothermal energy. India is also emphasis on these energy source. It is very useful for sustainable and clean environment.

References

• Singh, K N and Siddiqui, A R (2012) Economic Geography. Allahabad: PrayagPustakBhawan.
• “The International Geothermal Market At a Glance – May 2015”. GEA— Geothermal Energy Association.
• IEA: Global Installed PV Capacity Leaps to 303 Gigawatts, greentechmedia, Eric Wesoff, April 27, 2017.
• Statistical Yearbook 2010. Enerdata. Key World Statistics 2014. IEA.