India's pursuit of renewable energy sources

International Research Journal in Engineering and Emerging Technology (IRJEET)
Volume – 01, Issue – 01, March – 2020
www.we-irjeet.com 2019 IRJEET – All Right Reserved 1 | Page
Study of Renewable Energy Sources in India - A Review
Manish Sharma1
, Tej Bahadur Singh2
1
(Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre, India)
2
(Assistant Professor, Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre, India)
Abstract: Energy is at the heart of most critical economic, environmental and developmental issues facing the
world today. Clean, efficient, affordable and reliable energy services are indispensable for global prosperity.
India with a population of 1.2 billion people, is one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world.
There is always a very strong demand for energy, which currently comes mainly from coal, oil and other
sources which are non-renewable. Also, the consumption of these energies is harmful for the environment.
This means that “India has to switch from non-renewable energy (oil and coal) to renewable energy or find
some alternative options for energy sources”. The Indian government has already taken several steps and
launched various agencies and platforms to achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's leading producers
of clean energy. Renewable energy is the energy of a resource that can be replaced by existing energy sources
such as solar, wind, water, biological processes and geothermal heat fluxes. These energy resources can be
used directly or indirectly as forms of energy. In this paper we will discuss the potential areas and technological
opportunities in this direction in the context of India.
Keywords: Non-renewable Energy, Renewable energy, Environment Problems, Clean Energy, Energy
1. INTRODUCTION
Energy is one of the most important inputs for a country's economic development. In the
developing world, the energy sector is crucial to achieving this. Global energy production exceeds
20,000 TW-h (terawatt hours). Fossil fuels are expected to continue to provide much of the energy
used around the world. Demand for renewable energy sources accounted for 19% of the global share.
Fig 1. Global share of renewable energy
1.1.STATUS OF INDIA IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
India was the first country in the world that set up a ministry of non-conventional energy resources
in 1980s. Renewable energies in India are part of responsibility of the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE). The total estimated potential of renewable energies production in the
country at 31.03.12 is estimated at around 89,774 MW. Outside the solar and wind, there are other
renewable energies which make significant progress -especially small hydropower plants and
biomass. Some of segments that now show little activity - waves, tides and geothermal energy for
example - has considerable potential growth in the future.

The main drivers of renewable energy growth in India are:
 High growth rate of total energy demand
 Increasing dependence on fossil fuel imports
 The need for a viable solution for rural electrification
 Supply of electricity peak demand
 Pressure on industry and politics to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.
Fig 2. Renewable energy installed capacity in India
Table 1. Total Renewable Energy Installed
Total Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (MW) reported on December 2013
Waste to Power 99.08
Biomass Power 1,284.60
Solar Power (SPV) 2180.00
Bagasse Cogeneration 2512.88
Small Hydro Power 3763.15
Wind Power 20,149.50
Total 29,989.21
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND ITS POTENTIAL IN INDIA
2.1.SOLAR ENERGY
Solar power in India is a fast-developing industry. The country's solar installed capacity reached
33.730 GW as of 31 December 2019. India has the lowest capital cost per MW globally to install solar
power plants. Solar power in India is a fast developing industry. The country's solar installed capacity
reached 33.730 GW as of 31 December 2019. India has the lowest capital cost per MW globally to
install solar power plants.
Solar technologies are currently divided into two main categories:
 Photovoltaic: converts sunlight directly into electricity due to photovoltaic effects.
 Thermal: converts the heat of the sun mainly for heating and drying.
 Solar Photovoltaic (PV): Solar photovoltaic (PV) refers to the technology of using solar cells
to convert solar energy into electricity. The potential exploited is less than 150 MW, of which
about 20 MW are connected to the grid. In India, the goal is to reach an installed capacity of 1
to 2 GW for 2013, 4 to 10 GW for 2017 and 20 GW for 2022.

 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP): CSP systems use mirrors to focus solar radiation and
generate heat and steam to generate electricity by a conventional thermodynamic cycle. The
exploited potential is very small or insignificant. The National Solar Mission has already
supplied 500 MW to Indian companies and these CSP plants are being launched.
Fig 3. Solar resources map of India
2.1.1. ELECTRICITY GENERATION THROUGH SOLAR ENERGY
Solar electricity generation was 3.9 TW-h out of total utility generation of 101.45 TW-h, or 3.88% in
November 2019.
Table 2. Annual solar power generation data
Year Solar Power Generation (TW-h)
2013-14 3.35
2014-15 4.60
2015-16 7.45
2016-17 12.09
2017-18 25.87
2018-19 39.27
Table 3. Monthly solar power generation in India, April 2018 – March 2019
Month Regional Solar Power Generation (GW-h) Total (GW-h)
North West South East North - East
April 2018 690.00 684.35 1755.44 47.83 1.26 3,178.88
May 2018 698.67 735.52 1840.76 46.48 1.30 3,322,72
June 2018 677.47 583.55 1,726.32 23.93 1.10 3,013.37
July 2018 605.90 419.20 1,493.25 33.50 1.16 2,553.02
August 2018 621.21 416.62 1,559.23 37.39 1.34 2,635.79

September 2018 652.56 578.17 1,935.96 42.01 1.25 3209.96
October 2018 671.41 736.52 1,994.96 42.01 1.34 3209.96
November 2018 677.18 679.94 1,844.43 44.34 1.56 3,247.45
December 2018 688.42 692.34 1,759.76 40.13 1.47 3,182.11
January 2019 668.27 766.50 2053.77 44.65 1.63 3,534.81
February 2019 728.09 765.11 2,086 48.74 1.91 3,630.48
March 2019 873.28 901.25 2,472.59 59.27 1.59 4,307.98
Total (GW-h) 8,252.46 7,959.06 22,523 516.58 17.01 39,268.20
2.2.WIND ENERGY
India has the fifth largest installed wind energy capacity in the world. The most important
technology related to Wind energy is the wind turbine, the wind turns the blades of the wind turbine
and the rotating blades rotate and turned the shaft attached to the blades. The moving shaft can either
power a pump or run a generator that can generate electricity.
Fig 4. Wind power potential in India
The total available potential of 100,000 MW and the exploited potential is around 14,000 MW.
Estimates of the energy alternative India-EAI Wind Research Project with a total installed wind
capacity of more than 50,000 MW by 2020. The efficiency of existing wind turbines in India is slightly
lower than that of many other major wind energies producing countries. States with high wind potential

are Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. A
long coastline and relatively low construction costs could make India a prime destination for offshore
wind energy. As a result of these factors, the Indian government has decided to explore the possibilities
of harnessing the potential of offshore wind energy.
2.3.GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Heat energy continuously flows to the Earth’s surface from its interior, where central temperatures of
about 6 000°C exist. The predominant source of the Earth’s heat is the gradual decay of long-lived
radioactive isotopes (40K, 232Th, 235U and 238U). The outward transfer of heat occurs by means of
conductive heat flow and convective flows of molten mantle beneath the Earth’s crust. This results in a
mean heat flux at the Earth’s surface of 80kW/km2 approximately.
Fig 5. Geothermal potential in India
This heat flux, however, is not distributed uniformly over the Earth’s surface; rather, it is concentrated
along active tectonic plate boundaries where volcanic activity transports high temperature molten
material to the near surface.
The general characteristics of geothermal energy that make it of significant importance for both
electricity production and direct use include:
 Extensive global distribution; it is accessible to both developed and developing countries.
 Environmentally friendly nature; it has low emission of Sulphur, CO2 and other greenhouse
gases.
 Indigenous nature; it is independent of external supply and demand effects and fluctuations in
exchange rates.
 Independence of weather and season.
 Contribution to the development of diversified power sources

2.4.TIDAL ENERGY AND WAVE ENERGY
The ocean can produce two types of energy, such as the mechanical energy of tides and waves and the
heat energy of solar heat.
Tide Energy: Tides are generated by a combination of forces exerted by the gravitational
forces of the sun and the moon and by the Earth's rotation. The tides may be deprived of energy by
creating a reservoir or pond behind a barrier and then passing tidal water through the barrier turbines to
generate electricity. With India surrounded by the sea on three sides, the potential for tidal energy is
enormous. The economic potential of tidal energy in India ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 MW.
Wave energy: The sea wave energy is detected directly by surface waves or by pressure
fluctuations below the surface. Wave energy systems convert wave motion into usable mechanical
energy that can be used together to generate electricity. The main estimates show that the annual
energy potential of waves along the Indian coast is between 5 and 15 MW perimeter. The theoretical
potential of a coast is therefore between 40,000 and 60,000 MW.
Fig 6. Wave energy potential in India
2.5.HYDRO POWER ENERGY
India is the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power in the world. As of 30 April 2017, India's
installed utility-scale hydroelectric capacity was 44,594 MW, or 13.5% of its total utility power
generation capacity. Additional smaller hydroelectric power units with a total capacity of 4,380
MW (1.3% of its total utility power generation capacity) have been installed. India's hydroelectric
power potential is estimated at 148,700 MW at 60% load factor. In the fiscal year 2016-17, the total
hydroelectric power generated in India was 122.31 TW-h (excluding small hydro) with an average
capacity factor of 33%.
The hydro-electric power plants at Darjeeling and Shivanasamudram were established in 1898 and
1902, respectively. They were among the first in Asia and India has been a dominant player in global
hydroelectric power development. India also imports surplus hydroelectric power from Bhutan
The Indian government defines hydropower plants of up to 25 Watt as small hydropower plants.
The Ministry of Natural Resources estimates India's hydropower potential at over 15,000 MW and is
constantly reviewing it as new sites are identified. Over 40% of this potential has been identified in

four mountainous states in the north. The main advantage of SHP is that it is the only source of clean
and renewable energy available around the clock. It will have a very little impact on the environment.
The other advantages of the small hydropower plant are its ease of use, low cost and short wearing
time. In some cases, people in rural areas managed to manage the passage of firewood for cooking with
electricity, which limits deforestation and reduces CO2 emissions.
Fig 7. Hydro power plants in India
2.6.A NEW ERA IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
2.6.1. GRAVITRICITY
Also a new era of Renewable energy source are present that involves Generating electricity
through Gravity with the help of heavy weights to be suspended deep down in the earth surface to
produce electricity, this is the new and a clean way of generating electricity. For this abandoned mines
are used for suspending weights .The upward movement leads the charging and lowering leads to
charging.
In Gravitricity, we are developing a novel storage technology which offers some of the best
characteristics of lithium batteries and pumped storage.
Ideally suited to network-constrained users and operators, distribution networks and major power users,
the technology operates in the 1MW to 20 MW power range and enables existing grid infrastructure to
go further in a renewable energy world.

Fig 8. Gravitricity process
2.6.2. GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY RAIN DROPS
Tapping into the water cycle and generating electricity from rainy days could be one way to grow
our renewable energy use. New research has found a method that could generate enough power from a
single droplet of rain to light up 100 LED bulbs. That's a big jump forward in efficiency, in the region
of several thousand times.
"Our research shows that a drop of 100 microliters of water released from a height of 15 centimeters
[5.9 inches] can generate a voltage of over 140V, and the power generated can light up 100 small LED
lights," says biomedical engineer Wang Zuankai from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU).
One of the improvements the team built into their droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) was the
use of a polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE film, which is able to accumulate a surface charge as it's
continuously hit by water droplets, until it gradually reaches saturation.
The team found that as water droplets hit the surface and spread out, the drops act as a 'bridge' that
connects two electrodes: an aluminium electrode and an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode (with the
PTFE on top).
Fig 9. Electricity generation by rain drops

The droplet bridge in turn creates a closed-loop surface so that all of the collected energy can be
released – droplets act as resistors, and the surface coating acts as a capacitor.
This approach could eventually be applied anywhere that water hits a solid surface, the researchers say
– the hull of boat, the inside of a water bottle, or the top of an umbrella.
2.6.3. INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT
The national transporter has planned to source around 1000 MW solar power and around 200
MW of wind power progressively by the year 2021-22 across all zones and production units of Indian
Railways.
Fig 10. Initiative take by the government
Indian Railways goes green! In a bid to produce solar power, the national transporter is taking
numerous significant steps that are expected to help Indian Railways reduce their dependence on
traditional sources of energy as well as minimize the environmental damage. According to the Railway
Ministry, the national transporter has planned to source around 1000 MW solar power and around 200
MW of wind power progressively by the year 2021-22 across all zones and production units of Indian
Railways. Out of this, solar plants of 500 MW are to be installed on the railway buildings’ roof tops to
meet non-traction loads at railway stations, etc. While land-based solar plants of around 500 MW will
be used to meet both traction as well as non-traction requirements.
To boost the usage of solar power, Indian Railways with Indian Railway Organization for Alternate
Fuels (IROAF) is installing flexible solar panels on coaches. With lithium-ion batteries, as many as 450
DEMU trailer coaches are being installed with flexible solar panels. Also, 500 passenger trains with
existing batteries are being installed with flexible solar panels. The flexible solar panels can be easily
installed on train coaches. They are nearly 80 per cent lighter than conventional solar modules. The
flexible solar panels do not require
CONCLUSIONS
In this Paper the advantages and the importance of renewable energy is viewed, as how renewable
energy sources can be help to protect the depleting fossil fuels and also how renewable energy with
zero emission of some drastic pollutants such as co2, Sulphur etc.

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This paper presents the increasing demand of energy and matching its requirements with the help of
renewable energy sources. India has been imparting a good sum of money in achieving more and
more power through renewable energy sources.
By 2050, some estimates show the power requirements of India at one terawatt or trillion watts.
This would mean a six-fold increase in India's performance in installed capacity. It is a big challenge.
But it's big opportunity for Indian companies. In India the Suzlon, the third wind energy installer is
representing almost 10% of the global market across the world. Other innovative companies in the
field of solar energy, biomass energy production and energy efficiency are also increasing. As most of
India's power plants still need to be built, India has options that many countries can only dream of
that.
The paper also presents the new technologies that are arising to generating power as compared to
other ways of renewable energy sources such as hydro power, solar power these new Ways are
“Gravitricity”, Power through “Rain Drops”.
Also The initiative taken by the Indian government to install flexible solar panels on the train roofs to
source 1000 MW solar power by 2021-2022.
REFERENCES
[1] Kashfina Kapadia, Aditya Agarwal Renewable Energy and its potential in India. 2016
[2] Lata triphati, A.K Mishra Renewable Energy: An overview on its contribution. 2016
[3] Dr. T.V Ramachandra Renewable Energy transition Perspective and challenges 2018
[4] Boris Eren, Nigar Impact of economic Growth on renewable energy development 2019
[5] Paul J. Burke Barriers in adoption of renewable energies 2019
[6] Pavel Mitigating the energy Crisis in Nepal 2019
[7] Anand A Samuel, Energy Model for renewable energy utilization 2019
[8] T.S.A Narayan compressed air generator 2019
[9] Krishna M tradeoff between energy and employment 2019
[10] Charles Rajesh Kumar Renewable energy for sustainable development 2020
[11] Javier Uche Analysis of a domestic trigeneration energy scheme 2019
[12] Dalia Fadly Private Sector investment in renewable energy 2019
[13] Jed Cohen social acceptance to renewable energy 2019
[14] Lorenzo, Jao L Hybrid renewable energy System 2019
[15] Johana karetite Study of the different structures of hybrid systems 2019
[16] Sanjeev H. Kulkarni status of rural electrification 2015
[17] Vikas Khare, Savita Nema Reliability analysis of hybrid energy systems 2018
[18] S.S channel, Rajnish shrivastva Overview of the initiatives 2018
[19] S. Tia A study of particle Swarm technique 2017
[20] Jinsoo Han, Chang Smart home energy management 2016
[21] Martin Chil, Thomas Gravitricity a new Era in renewable energy 2019
[22] Ana critiana, Nathan Storage gravitational energy 2019

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