Part B
A micro - project
report
GREEN ENERGY
Course Outcomes :-
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at
a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such
sources that are constantly being replenished. Renewable energy sources are
plentiful and all around .Fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - on the other hand, are
non-renewable resources that take hundreds of millions of years to form. Fossil
fuels, when burned to produce energy, cause harmful greenhouse gas emissions,
such as carbon dioxide.Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions
than burning fossil fuels. Transitioning from fossil fuels, which currently account
for the lion’s share of emissions, to renewable energy is key to addressing the
climate crisis.
1 Course Outcome Addressed
• Develop public awareness about environment
• Select alternative energy resources for engineering practice
• Apply techniques to reduce Environment pollution
• Apply techniques to reduce Environment pollution.
2 Literature Review
To start any work, one needs the planning to do that work in a sufficient time
and also in an effective way too. It helps to improve one’s skills. Steps for
Business Plan:
1. Step 1: Discussion on the topic.
2. Step 2: Setting Goals.
3. Step 3: Information Finding.
4. Step 4: Ready Project
Accordingly, the steps planning an Information with analyzing the own
information as well as the skills.
1.2 Actual Resources used:
Sr. no Name of Resources Specification Quantity
Resources
1 Computer Dell 1
System
Processor: i5 core
Ram: 20GB
2 Internet Websites:
https://www.compport.com -
/.../beginners-guide-
tomanagement-system
3 Books Environment science 1
4 Browser Chrome 1
5 Editor 0
1.3 Actual methodology:
1) Discussion with our subject teacher about micro project.
2) Selection of project name.To collect basic information about the project.
3) Discussed with group members about requirements.
4) To divide work into group members.
5) To start actually working on a project with proper knowledge.
A Study different renewable energy resources
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than
they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being
replenished. Renewable energy sources are plentiful and all around us.
Fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - on the other hand, are non-renewable resources that take hundreds
of millions of years to form. Fossil fuels, when burned to produce energy, cause harmful
greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide.
Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels. Transitioning
from fossil fuels, which currently account for the lion’s share of emissions, to renewable energy is
key to addressing the climate crisis.
Renewables are now cheaper in most countries, and generate three times more jobs than fossil
fuels.
Types of renewable energy:
1. Solar energy
2. Wind energy
3. Hydro energy
4. Tidal energy
5. Geothermal energy
6. Biomass energy
• Benefits of Renewable Energy
The advantages of renewable energy are numerous and affect the economy, environment, national
security, and human health. Here are some of the benefits of using renewable energy in the United
States:
1. Enhanced reliability, security, and resilience of the nation’s power grid
2. Job creation throughout renewable energy industries
3. Reduced carbon emissions and air pollution from energy production
4. Increased U.S. energy independence
5. Increased affordability, as many types of renewable energy are cost-competitive with
traditional energy sources
6. Expanded clean energy access for non-grid-connected or remote, coastal, or islanded
communities.
SOLAR ENERGY:
Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed in cloudy
weather. The rate at which solar energy is intercepted by the Earth is about 10,000 times greater
than the rate at which humankind consumes energy.
Solar technologies can deliver heat, cooling, natural lighting, electricity, and fuels for a host of
applications. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic
panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation.
Although not all countries are equally endowed with solar energy, a significant contribution to the
energy mix from direct solar energy is possible for every country.
The cost of manufacturing solar panels has plummeted dramatically in the last decade, making
them not only affordable but often the cheapest form of electricity. Solar panels have a lifespan of
roughly 30 years, and come in variety of shades depending on the type of material used in
manufacturing.
• What is solar energy?
Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun, and can be harnessed using a range of
technologies such as solar heating, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal electricity. Solar energy is
a renewable source of energy that is sustainable and totally inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels that
are finite.
• How Does Solar Power Work?
1. The Sun's light is absorbed by the solar panels.
2. The silicon and conductors in the panel convert the light into Direct Current (DC) electricity,
which then flows into the inverter.
3. The inverter converts the DC into Alternate Current (AC) electricity, which is used in your home.
4. Any additional electricity that's not used by your home goes via your home's meter into the mains
power grid for others to use.
5. Electricity is drawn from the grid when you need more power than your solar energy system
produces.
Advantages of Solar Energy:
1. Renewable Energy Source-
Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly
renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day.
We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy.
Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to
us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.
2. Reduces Electricity Bills-
Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has
generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the
size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage.
For example, if you are a business using commercial solar panels this switch can have huge
benefits because the large system size can cover large chunks of your energy bills.
Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but there is also a possibility to receive
payments for the surplus energy that you export back to the grid through the Smart Export
Guarantee (SEG). If you generate more electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel
system is connected to the grid).
3. Diverse Applications-
Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity (photovoltaics) or heat
(solar thermal). Solar energy can be used to produce electricity in areas without access to the
energy grid, to distil water in regions with limited clean water supplies and to power satellites in
space.
Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings. Not long ago Sharp
introduced transparent solar energy windows.
4. Low Maintenance Costs-
Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them
relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If in doubt, you can
always rely on specialised cleaning companies, which offer this service from around £25-£35.
5. Technology Development-
Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will intensify
in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can potentially increase the
effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power
systems.
2.WIND ENERGY:
Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air by using large wind turbines located on
land (onshore) or in sea- or freshwater (offshore). Wind energy has been used for millennia, but
onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have evolved over the last few years to maximize
the electricity produced - with taller turbines and larger rotor diameters.
Though average wind speeds vary considerably by location, the world’s technical potential for
wind energy exceeds global electricity production, and ample potential exists in most regions of
the world to enable significant wind energy deployment.
Many parts of the world have strong wind speeds, but the best locations for generating wind power
are sometimes remote ones. Offshore wind power offers tremendous potential.
Advantages of Wind Power:
1. Wind power creates good-paying jobs. There are over 120,000 people working in the
U.S. wind industry across all 50 states, and that number continues to grow.
According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wind turbine service technicians are the second fastest
growing U.S. job of the decade. Offering career opportunities ranging from blade
fabricator to asset manager, the wind industry has the potential to support hundreds of
thousands of more jobs by 2050.
2. Wind power is a domestic resource that enables U.S. economic growth. In 2021, wind
turbines operating in all 50 states generated more than 9% of the net total of the country’s
energy. That same year, investments in new wind projects added $20 billion to the U.S.
economy.
3. Wind power is a clean and renewable energy source. Wind turbines harness energy from
the wind using mechanical power to spin a generator and create electricity. Not only is
wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without
burning any fuel or polluting the air. Wind continues to be the largest source of renewable
power in the United States, which helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Wind energy
helps avoid 329 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – equivalent to
71 million cars worth of emissions that along with other atmospheric emissions cause acid
rain, smog, and greenhouse gases.
4. Wind power benefits local communities. Wind projects deliver an estimated $1.9 billion in
state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. Communities that develop
wind energy can use the extra revenue to put towards school budgets, reduce the tax burden
on homeowners, and address local infrastructure projects.
5. Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based, utility-scale wind turbines provide one of the
lowest-priced energy sources available today. Furthermore, wind energy’s cost
competitiveness continues to improve with advances in the science and technology of wind
energy.
6. Wind turbines work in different settings. Wind energy generation fits well in agricultural
and multi-use working landscapes. Wind energy is easily integrated in rural or remote
areas, such as farms and ranches or coastal and island communities, where high-quality
wind resources are often found.
Challenges of Wind Power:
1. Wind power must compete with other low-cost energy sources. When comparing the cost
of energy associated with new power plants, wind and solar projects are now more
economically competitive than gas, geothermal, coal, or nuclear facilities. However, wind
projects may not be cost-competitive in some locations that are not windy enough. Next-
generation technology, manufacturing improvements, and a better understanding of wind
plant physics can help bring costs down even more.
2. Ideal wind sites are often in remote locations. Installation challenges must be overcome to
bring electricity from wind farms to urban areas, where it is needed to meet demand.
Upgrading the nation’s transmission network to connect areas with abundant wind
resources to population centers could significantly reduce the costs of expanding land-
based wind energy. In addition, offshore wind energy transmission and grid interconnection
capabilities are improving.
3. Turbines produce noise and alter visual aesthetics. Wind farms have different impacts on
the environment compared to conventional power plants, but similar concerns exist over
both the noise produced by the turbine blades and the visual impacts on the landscape.
4. Wind plants can impact local wildlife. Although wind projects rank lower than other energy
developments in terms of wildlife impacts, research is still needed to minimize wind-
wildlife interactions. Advancements in technologies, properly siting wind plants, and
ongoing environmental research are working to reduce the impact of wind turbines on
wildlife.
How wind Energy created:
3. HYDROPOWER:
Hydropower harnesses the energy of water moving from higher to lower elevations. It can be
generated from reservoirs and rivers. Reservoir hydropower plants rely on stored water in a
reservoir, while run-of-river hydropower plants harness energy from the available flow of the river.
Hydropower reservoirs often have multiple uses - providing drinking water, water for irrigation,
flood and drought control, navigation services, as well as energy supply.
Hydropower currently is the largest source of renewable energy in the electricity sector. It relies
on generally stable rainfall patterns, and can be negatively impacted by climateinduced droughts
or changes to ecosystems which impact rainfall patterns.
The infrastructure needed to create hydropower can also impact on ecosystems in adverse ways.
For this reason, many consider small-scale hydro a more environmentally-friendly option, and
especially suitable for communities in remote locations.
ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER:
1. Hydropower is a renewable source of energy. The energy generated through hydropower
relies on the water cycle, which is driven by the sun, making it renewable.
2. Hydropower is fueled by water, making it a clean source of energy.
3. Hydroelectric power is a domestic source of energy, allowing each state to produce its own
energy without being reliant on international fuel sources.
4. Impoundment hydropower creates reservoirs that offer recreational opportunities such as
fishing, swimming, and boating. Most hydropower installations are required to provide
some public access to the reservoir to allow the public to take advantage of these
opportunities.
5. Hydroelectric power is flexible. Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero
power to maximum output. Because hydropower plants can generate power to the grid
immediately, they provide essential backup power during major electricity outages or
disruptions.
6. Hydropower provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing flood control,
irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
7. Hydropower is affordable. Hydropower provides low-cost electricity and durability over
time compared to other sources of energy. Construction costs can even be mitigated by
using preexisting structures such as bridges, tunnels, and dams.
8. Hydropower complements other renewable energy sources. Technologies like pumped
storage hydropower (PSH) store energy to use in tandem with renewables such as wind
and solar power when demand is high.
9. Hydropower is an established industry in the United States, employing 66,500 people. And
there are a growing number of jobs available in hydropower, including manufacturing,
utilities, professional and business services, construction, trade and transportation, energy
systems, water management, environmental science, welding, machinery, and other
services.
10. The U.S. hydropower workforce could grow to 120,000 jobs by 2030 and 158,000 by 2050.
For those interested in becoming part of this workforce, hydropower education programs
can be found nationwide.
11. Hydropower creates jobs in rural locations and boosts local economies.
Disadvantages:
1. It Has an Environmental Impact
Perhaps the largest disadvantage of hydroelectric energy is the impact it can have on the
environment. Dams can damage or otherwise impact the environment both upstream and
downstream through their construction process during the formation of the dam. To build a dam,
new roads and power lines must be installed that disrupt the environment. Dams also often form
reservoirs that flood large areas and displace natural habitats. When dams flood areas, it creates
sections of still or stagnant water that kills vegetation which emits greenhouse gasses as it rots.
This is especially true in humid and tropical environments.
locking the flow of water can also seriously impact fish migration, especially for species like slmon
that rely on rivers to spawn. Dams can even impact biological triggers that tell fish where to go
when it’s time to migrate. Some dams have sought to solve this disadvantage of hydroelectric
energy by creating fish ladders or fish elevators to help migratory fish make it to
2. It Displaces People
Reservoirs not only displace animals from their habitats, but they also displace people.
This disadvantage of hydroelectric energy can have quite a large impact on communities. People
who have lived in an area their whole lives may be forced to move, and although they are typically
compensated for moving, it can’t make up for what they have lost.
Cities, towns, and villages have been eliminated by dams, and local cultures displaced. If people
refuse to move due to construction, they have sometimes been forced out of their homes with the
threat of violence.
3. It’s Expensive
Another disadvantage of hydroelectric energy is the expense required to build a dam in the first
place. Although they don’t cost much to operate, the time it takes for a dam to pay for itself can
vary widely. Some dams take two to five years to construct, while others like the Itaipu Dam in
Brazil and Paraguay can take significantly longer, leading to increased costs. Everything totaled,
the Itaipu Dam took 18 years and $18 billion to build.
Since the 1950’s, an estimated $2,000 billion has been spent on dam construction around the world,
with average construction delays of 44% and overestimates on cost reaching an average of 96%.
Overspending and delays make it more difficult to get a return on the money invested in the
construction of the dam.
4. There are Limited Reservoirs
Although water is an unlimited resource, the conditions necessary to build a dam are limited. This
is a disadvantage of hydroelectric energy because it means you cannot simply build a dam
anywhere you please. In fact, most locations that are suitable for building hydroelectric dams have
already been used for this purpose. Another factor to consider is that even if a location could
support a hydroelectric dam, it may not generate enough profit to make the project worthwhile.
5. There are Droughts
When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric energy, it’s important to take
into consideration the fact that water can and does go through cycles of abundance and drought.
Lower than normal water levels can heavily impact energy production and is a disadvantage of
hydroelectric energy.
6. It’s Not Always Safe
Despite a lack of combustible fuel, dams still offer dangers of their own. Construction accidents,
as well as dam failure, can result in injury or loss of life. The Hoover Dam claimed as many as 112
deaths during its construction, and one of the worst catastrophes occurred when the Banqiao
Reservoir Dam in China was destroyed by a typhoon in 1975.
4.Biomass Energy:
Biomass energy, also known as bioenergy, becomes so popular nowadays, as it supplies the most
valuable entity that we demand in our daily life. The energy produced from the Biomass is a
renewable source, that means it can be generated in the future. Therefore, by analyzing the
advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy, we can apply this to our future to produce lots
of goods and also to save our mother nature from hazards. Types of Biomass-
1. Agricultural and Forestry Crop Residues-
Agricultural and forestry crop residues are those we get from the farm field and forests. These
are all plant residues like straw, residues from fruit processing like husk, stones, cane trash,
Stover; forest residues like logging residues, imperfect commercial trees, dead wood, and other
non-commercial plants that must be thinned from damaging overcrowded forests.
2. Animal Wastes-
Animal Wastes are the residues that come from animal farming like cattle farm, pig farm, poultry
farm and even slaughterhouse and fishery. These wastes are such as; dung, chicken droppings,
swine manure, and other organic debris from slaughterhouse and fisheries.
How Does Biomass Energy Work?
Biomass energy is the energy stored in the Biomass, which by further processing can be utilized
in various types of conversions like biochemical, electrochemical, or just thermal. Hence,
differently, we can ask “how is biomass energy used for multiple purposes or what are the
applications of it?” Therefore, here we are discussing the mechanisms of usage of Biomass for
generating bioenergy.
For Generating Heat:
Generation of heat by using Biomass is quite similar to the production of heat through fossil
fuels, but the only difference is the source. Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources we had
been using from millions of years, and thus Biomass is the perfect alternative of it.
The process of heat generation is through the combustion of the Biomass or wastes, but still, there
is a chance of environment pollution.
For Generating Electricity:
From Biomass, electricity can quickly produce and in various ways. We can directly burn those
wastes for heating water to generate steam, and by this steam using a turbine, we can smoothly
generate electricity.
In other ways, we can use dry agricultural wastes in high temperature and anaerobic condition
inside a gasifier. This can produce synthesis gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen(H2).
The process is termed as pyrolysis. Also, by using wet organic excrement like manure or food
garbage, we can generate methane (CH4)(biogas) in a digestion tank.
For Generating Biofuel:
Biofuel is another sustainable energy source, produced industrially by biochemical
conversion to reduce the use of natural fuels for energy demand in transport as well as other
sectors.
The most well-known biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is produced by fermentation
process in which Biomass such as sugarcane and molasses are converted into sugar through microbes
like yeasts, and they are further transformed into a large amount of ethanol.
Advantages of Biomass Energy:
There are lots of advantages of biomass energy as our primary power source. Some of them are as
follows:
It’s a renewable source-
The first benefit of using Biomass is that we can renew it when needed in future and hence, can
save our fossil fuels for future generations. These are all waste products which should not be
deficient in anyways.
Carbon Neutral-
Biomasses are said to be carbon neutral as the carbon dioxide released by these are neutralized by
the autotrophs in the process of photosynthesis. That means, these discharge the same amount of
CO2 as taken by the green plants for their metabolism.
Improves water quality-
As many industrial wastes will mix with our extensive water bodies, that much water quality
suffers. This may result in aquatic ecosystem loss and various other effects. But for the
production of biomass energy, we need those trashes, and therefore, oceans, rivers and other
water reservoirs will remain cleaned.
A great alternative to fossil fuels-
The most significant advantage of biomass utilization is less dependency on nonrenewable
sources, i.e., fossil fuels. Therefore, to fulfill our unavoidable power need like electricity, we
can use biomass’s rather than coals, petroleum or natural gases.
Conclusion:
Renewable technologies are considered as clean sources of energy and optimal use of these resources
decreases environmental impacts, produces minimum secondary waste and are sustainable based on
the current and future economic and social needs. Renewable energy technologies provide an
exceptional opportunity for mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and reducing global warming
through substituting conventional energy sources
Reference:
1. https://www.earthreminder.com/biomass-energy/
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/
3. https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-basics
