It is not surprising anymore that there are a considerable number of sources for renewable energy in India. Solar power, bio-fuels, industrial waste fuels, and hydro-electricity are of these energy sources. India especially has a large supply of renewable resources which it can harness.
India’s role in renewable energy resources
India has taken an aggressive step towards using renewable energy sources and has deployed many renewable energy products. In fact, today India is the only country in the entire world that has a dedicated department for renewable energy known as the MNRE (Ministry for New and Renewable Energy). The ministry has successfully launched a very ambitious project for renewable energy which is also deemed as the world’s largest.
The Indian government has taken a leap forward to cut down the power tariff on renewable energy resources. This is a giant and a very futuristic step.
What is renewable energy?
Any kind of renewable energy is a form of energy that is derived from natural elements such as wind, water, bio-waste, rain, tides, waves and even geo-thermal heat such as solar power. This form of energy is the cleanest and the safest for the environment. There are no carbon emissions or footprints that cause global warming. India has an abundance of these resources luckily.
How does renewable energy help?
Renewable energy in India directly helps the environment by causing zero emissions. Moreover, we are using natural resources to produce energy that can be used by industrial and residential consumers. We can save on natural resources, like coal and wood and cut down the use of these fossil fuels which pollute the environment and lead to production of greenhouse gases. Some of the direct benefits are:
The only downside is that the setup is expensive, but in the long run they have several benefits.
The different types of renewable energy
There are different types of renewable energy resources, and some of the main ones are:
Solar power: The energy of the sun is tremendous and this burning ball of fire can fuel the entire earth’s energy consumption needs. This is the best form of renewable energy in India available today. Solar energy is the purest form of energy and causes no harm to the environment. India enjoys bright sunny days at least for 300 days a year or 365 in some places. So why not harness this energy?
Wind power: Windmills have become a common sight in rural India today. Several private power supplying companies have set up windmill farms in various rural locations throughout India. These wind-driven turbines can produce enough energy to light up an entire industrial city. The investment is high but the returns and benefits are also equally high. Furthermore, the reduced in power tariff of using this energy resource is appealing to the average consumer.
Bio-energy: Biomass produced by Indians stands among the top 5 countries in the world. This bio-waste can be used to generate power and meet with basic power consumption needs. Although it cannot power up high industrial usage, it can still serve the common man’s power consumption needs.
Conclusion
Apart from the above, hydroelectricity also has to be given a thought. It is a great source for renewable energy. However, due to the massive de-forestation, global warming and changes in the climate, this energy is not available as much as it could be.
