Power Plant Engineering

2.13 INTRODUCTION TO VARIOUS NON CONVENTIONAL
(RENEWABLE) SOURCES OF ENERGY
Renewable energy development programme is gaining momentum in India. It has emerged as a
viable option to achieve the goal of sustainable development. However, Indian renewable energy pro-
gramme need more thrust at this stage. India has now the world’s largest programme for deployment of
renewable energy products and systems, the spread of various renewable energy technologies in the
country has been supported by a variety of incentives and policy measures.
Power generation from non-conventional renewable sources has assumed significance in the
context of environmental hazards posed by the excessive use of conventional fossil fuels. Renewable
energy technologies have provied viable for power generation not so much as a substitute, but as sup-
plement to conventional power generation. Currently renewables contribute over 3500 MW, which
represents almost 3.5 percent of the total installed generating capacity of one lakh MW from all sources.
Of this, wind power alone accounts for 1617 MW, while biomass power accounts for 450 MW and
small hydros 1438 MW. An additional 4000 MW of power from renewable sources is to be added during
the Tenth Five Year Plan period (2002–07) mainly through wind, biomass, small hydros, waste energy
and solar energy system. Further, India has set a goal elevating the share of renewable energy sources in
power generation up to 10 percent share of new capacity addition or 10,000 MW to come from renewables
by 2012.
Today, India has the largest decentralised solar energy programme, the second largest biogas
and improved stove programmes and the fifth largest wind energy programme in the world. A substan-
tial manufacturing base, has been created in a variety of renewable energy technologies placing India in
a positron not only to export technologies; but also offer technical expertise to other countries.