Subject:- Renewable Energy Sources

Topic:- Introduction to Energy Sources

Difficulty:- High

• Economic growth in India depends on the power sector. The electric energy demands in the last two decades have increased at enormous space. In 1947 the total power generation was only 1360 MW. The present power generation status in India is as follows:

• Due to depleting natural resources of fuel. India is also developing non-conventional energy sources like wind, tide , biomass, geothermal & solar energy based power plants.

• Installed capacity of power generation in Maharashtra in 2005 was 10223 MW which has increased to coal and gas based capacity to 26838 MW as on 31 August 2012. Maharashtra still has 22% peak demand deficit.

• Renewable energy potential in Maharashtra is estimated to be 7852 MW. It has achieved about 32.1% of renewable energy addition. Another 535 MW. Capacity plant based on wind. Biomass, municipality , industrial waste, solar & solar PV based plants are expected to be installed by the year 2015-2016.

• To meet the gap in demand & supply of power, power production by non- conventional energy sources can play a big role.

As on Dec 2012, The installed capacity of renewable energy sources are as follows.

Wind – 184204 MW

Small hydro – 1248.6

Biomass Co- generation 2239.63

Waste to energy 96.08

Solar 1176.28

Total: 23180.99 MW