Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3
Top ten cumulative installed wind energy capacities during 2009-2010
First half 2012
(MW)
Country
By June 2012 (MW)
Position
End 2011 (MW)
1
China
67'774
5'410
62'364
2
USA
49'802
2'883
46'919
3
Germany
30'016
941
29'075
4
Spain
22'087
414
21'673
5
India
17'351
1'471
15'880
6
Italy
a
7'280
490
6'787
7
France
b
7'182
650
6'640
8
UK
6'840
822
6'018
9
Canada
5'511
246
5'265
10
Portugal
4'398
19
4'379
Rest of the world
35'500
3'200
32'227
Total
254'000
16'546
237'227
The World Wind Energy Association (
2012
)
a
Till end of May 2012
b
Till end of April 2012
energy consumption (India
2009
). Estimates
have indicated that 15-50 % of the world's pri-
mary energy use could come from biomass by the
year 2050. The major reasons for this are as
follows: Firstly, technological developments
relating to conversion, crop production, etc.,
promise the application of biomass at lower cost
and with higher conversion effi ciency than was
possible previously. Secondly, the energy
obtained from biomass is a form of renewable
energy, and, in principle, when produced by sus-
tainable means, biomass emits roughly the same
amount of carbon during conversion as is taken
up during plant growth. The use of biomass
therefore does not contribute to a buildup of CO
2
in the atmosphere.
Biomass resources suitable for energy produc-
tion covers a wide range of materials, from fi re-
wood collected in farmlands and natural woods
to agricultural and forestry crops grown specifi -
cally for energy production purposes. Energy
production from food wastes or food processing
wastes, especially from waste edible oils, seems
to be attractive based on bio-resource sustainabil-
ity, environmental protection, and economic con-
sideration. India is very rich in biomass and has a
potential of 16,881 MW (agro-residues and plan-
tations), 5,000 MW (bagasse cogeneration), and
2,700 MW (energy recovery from waste).
Biomass power generation in India is an industry
that attracts investments of over INR 600 crores
every year, generating more than 5,000 million
units of electricity and yearly employment of
more than ten million man-days in rural areas
(Singh and Gu
2010
).
2.4
Hydropower
Hydropower is another source of renewable
energy that converts the potential energy or
kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy in
the form of water mills, textile machines, etc., or
as electrical energy (i.e., hydroelectricity genera-
tion). It refers to the energy produced from water
(rainfall fl owing into rivers, etc.). Hydropower is
the largest renewable energy resource being used
for the generation of electricity. India is endowed
with hydro resources which are both viable and
economically exploitable. In fact, hydropower is
the second highest contributor of the energy con-
sumed within India in the power sector. Large
hydropower projects are being utilized for power
production and account for most of the energy
consumed which comes from renewable sources.
Countries like Norway, Canada, and Brazil
have all been utilizing more than 30 % of their
hydro-potential, while on the other hand India
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