JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech III NON CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES Previous Question Paper (February/March - 2022 - R16)

Renewable energy sources are derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly at a rate equal to or faster than their consumption, such as solar, wind, and hydro power. They are generally environmentally friendly with low carbon emissions. In contrast, non-renewable energy sources exist in finite amounts and take millions of years to form, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Once depleted, they cannot be replaced on a human timescale, and their combustion typically results in significant greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.

Renewable energy systems harness naturally occurring energy flows to generate electricity or heat. The primary types include:

• Solar Energy Systems: Utilize photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity or solar thermal collectors to capture heat for water heating and power generation.
• Wind Energy Systems: Use wind turbines to convert the kinetic energy of moving air into mechanical power, which is then converted into electrical energy via a generator.
• Hydroelectric Systems: Harness the potential energy of falling or flowing water, typically using dams or run-of-river installations to drive turbines connected to generators.
• Biomass Energy Systems: Convert organic materials like plant matter, wood, and agricultural waste into energy through combustion, gasification, or anaerobic digestion to produce heat, electricity, or biofuels.
• Geothermal Energy Systems: Extract heat from the Earth's interior, utilizing steam or hot water from underground reservoirs to drive turbines for power generation or for direct heating applications.
• Ocean Energy Systems: Capture energy from the sea, including tidal power (utilizing gravitational forces of the moon), wave energy (harnessing surface motion), and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) based on temperature gradients.