Energy -IV ; Pujya Gurudev

Energy and Environment

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Hydro and Wind Energies: Generation of electricity using the force of water currents is also dependent indirectly on the Sun. The water vaporized from the surface of the oceans (due to heat of the Sun) eventually forms clouds and pours rains that fill the ponds, lakes and rivers on the earth. The state-of-art technology for hydropower generation is still not able to produce large amounts of electricity. Even in the developed countries, on an average, only two to three percent of total requirement of electricity is fulfilled by this mode. Moreover it requires formation of dams, which disrupts water supply for other vital purposes and also disturbs natural environment in the surround regions.

Electrical power generation by wind energy requires setting up farms of grand fans at suitable open spaces. It requires movement of power turbines by wind supply. So, for large scale sustainable production of electricity by this source would be feasible if wind generators that operate on cost effective and efficient source are deployed.

Solar Energy — Achievements and Scope: Most promising among the eco-friendly renewable sources of energy is the Solar Energy, with golden prospects in countries like India, which have abundance of sunlight. Let us look at what it is offering us at present and what are the assured benefits in the near future and what is expected from us — the user community, to ensure environmental protection and viability and expansion of energy enrichment through these perennial resources.

Significant progress in solar technology-development since a decade or so has not only sizably reduced the cost of production but also increased the productivity of — (a) solar cookers of both heat box and reflector types (e.g. the recent parabolic designs for domestic use and dish solar cookers for large-scale cooking); (b) solar stills for roof-top heating and solar water heaters; and (c) photovoltaic cells for generation of electricity. Use of these helps saving almost 90 to 100% of the fuel or electrical energy that one would consume for corresponding applications using the common devices or tools like electric heater, LPG gas stove, etc.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma