Overview
This lecture covers energy resources, with a focus on conventional (nonrenewable) resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, alongside hydro, thermal, and nuclear power generation in India.
Types of Energy Resources
- Energy resources are divided into conventional (nonrenewable, traditional) and nonconventional (renewable, modern) sources.
- Conventional sources include coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
- Nonconventional sources include solar, wind, and hydropower.
Coal: Types and Distribution
- Coal accounts for 54% of India’s energy needs and is formed from compressed plant material over millions of years.
- Types of coal (from highest to lowest quality):
- Anthracite: 80%+ carbon, hard, jet-black, high heating value, low smoke/sulfur, found in Jammu & Kashmir.
- Bituminous: 60-80% carbon, dense, brittle, black, high calorific value, found in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, MP.
- Lignite: ~60% carbon, soft, high moisture, brown-black, found in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Peat: 50-60% carbon, first stage of coalification, burns like wood, low energy, high smoke/ash.
- Coal fields are classified as Gondwana (>200 million years old, found in Damodar, Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro valleys) and Tertiary (~55 million years, found in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland).
Petroleum: Extraction & Uses
- Petroleum is separated from crude oil by fractional distillation.
- The term "petroleum" comes from Latin: 'Petra' (rock) + 'Olium' (oil).
- Petroleum is a hydrocarbon liquid, mainly from sedimentary rocks, and called mineral oil.
- Uses: power for vehicles, lubricants, and as raw material for many industries.
- Distribution: 63% from Mumbai High, 18% Gujarat, 16% Assam; major fields include Ankleshwar, Digboi, Moran.
Natural Gas
- Used as both energy source and chemical industry raw material.
- Can occur with or without petroleum.
- Advantages: fast plant setup, easy pipeline transport, low CO₂ emissions.
- Found in Krishna-Godavari basin, Mumbai High, Gulf of Cambay, Andaman & Nicobar.
Hydroelectricity and Thermal Power
- Hydropower is generated by fast-flowing water driving turbines; renewable, no pollution, used in multi-purpose projects (e.g., Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley).
- Thermal power uses coal, petroleum, or natural gas to run turbines; nonrenewable, causes pollution, forms 70% of India’s power.
Nuclear (Atomic) Energy
- Generated by altering atomic nuclei (fission of uranium & thorium).
- Uranium and thorium are mainly found in Jharkhand, Rajasthan; Monazite sands of Kerala are rich in thorium.
- Nuclear power is economical and has high future potential.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Conventional Energy — Traditional, nonrenewable energy sources like coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
- Nonconventional Energy — Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
- Calorific Value — Amount of energy released during fuel combustion.
- Fractional Distillation — Process to separate crude oil into its components by heating.
- Multi-purpose Project — Infrastructure serving more than one function, such as electricity generation and irrigation.
- Monazite — A mineral rich in thorium, used for nuclear energy.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review NCERT and additional notes for renewable energy resources.
- Be prepared to discuss the conservation of energy resources in the next class.