Environment · X-Factor Notes
Non-Conventional Energy (chapter 8) revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable/Non-Conventional Energy | Sources that are naturally replenishing and virtually inexhaustible, but flow-limited. Examples include solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, and hydroelectric energy. | U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004 |
| Conventional Energy | Includes sources like Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas, and Atomic or Nuclear energy. | |
| Fossil Fuels | Non-renewable energy resources obtained from the decomposition of buried organisms over millions of years. The ultimate source of energy stored in fossil fuels is the Sun. Uranium is used for nuclear power generation and is not a fossil fuel. | U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Re-Exam) (Pre) 2016 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Potential | Solar power source of renewable energy has the greatest potential in India. It is the largest storehouse of alternative energy. | U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2011 |
| Eco-Friendliness | Solar energy is the most eco-friendly and pollution-free source of energy. Solar cells convert light energy into electricity via the photovoltaic effect. | UPPCS (Pre) 2015, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018, UPPSC Pre-2022 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP 21) on November 30, 2015. | |
| Membership | A group of sun-rich countries located fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. It does not include all UN member countries.All UN members are eligible to join. | |
| Headquarters |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Type | Key Facts and Examination Mentions | UPPCS/Exam Year |
| Hydrogen (Future Fuel) | Produces the least pollution because when it burns in air, it combines with oxygen to produce water and releases energy (150 KJ/g). It is called the future fuel. | UPPCS (Pre) 2017, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013 |
| Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Pollution | Combustion of coal, petrol, and diesel is the basic source of air pollution. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is an air pollutant released by burning fossil fuel. | UPPCS (Mains) 2011, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018 |
| Fuel Cells | Electrochemical cells that convert chemical energy into electricity through reaction of hydrogen with oxygen. They produce Direct Current (DC), not Alternating Current (AC), and emit heat and water if pure hydrogen is used. | |
| Sustainable Source | Hydro-electricity is considered the best source of generating electricity in India from the viewpoint of sustainable development, as it uses water without depleting it, unlike coal or atomic energy. | UPPCS (Pre) 2012 |
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| National Target |
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| Government set a target of installing 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022. This target is part of a larger goal of 175 GW total renewable energy by 2022. |
| Notable Usage | The first Indian airport powered by solar energy is Cochin (UPPSC Pre-2022). The first Union Territory/city to run 100 percent on solar energy during daytime is Diu (achieved March 2018). | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017, UPPCS (Pre) 2019 |
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| Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) | This term relates to developing solar power production in India, encouraging the use of domestically manufactured solar utilities. |
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| Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission | Started on January 11, 2010. |
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| Located in Gurugram, Haryana. (Jan 2016) |
| UPPCS (Pre) 2019 |
| Financial Target | Members have set a target of raising USD 1 trillion for solar energy by 2030. |
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| First Summit | Held in New Delhi on March 11, 2018. | U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017 |
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| The major component is Methane (CH4). |
| U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018, UPPSC Pre-2022 |
| Biofuels (Crops) | Jatropha is a commonly identified biodiesel crop, rich in oil (UPPCS (Pre) 2015). Pongamia pinnata is also a good option because it grows naturally in arid regions and its seeds are rich in lipid content, nearly half of which is oleic acid (I.A.S. (Pre) 2010). Bio-fuel is generally not cost-effective (UPPCS (Mains) 2014). | UPPCS (Pre) 2015 |
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| Geothermal Energy | Geothermal energy sources in India are primarily found in the Himalayas, Khambhat Basin, Sonata (Son-Narmada-Tapi), Western Ghat, Godavari Basin, and Mahanadi Basin. Sources have not been found in the Ganga Delta. | UPPCS (Mains) 2016 |
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| Biogas | Primary components are methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is emitted from natural resources like wetlands and human activities like paddy cultivation and termites. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017, UPPCS (Pre) 2019, UPPCS (Pre) 2018 |
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| Biomass Gasification | Can use materials like coconut shells, groundnut shells, and rice husk. The resulting combustible gases consist of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and traces of methane. |
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| Pyrolysis and Plasma Gasification |
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| Mentioned in the context of Waste-to-energy technologies. |
| SDG 7 | Sustainable Energy for all (ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030) is the seventh goal of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). | UPPCS (Pre) 2017 |
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| Eco-mark | This scheme was launched in 1991 to encourage consumers to buy environmentally-friendly products. | UPPCS (Pre) 2013, UPPSC Pre-2022 |
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