Classification of Energy Sources

In this article we will know about the classification of energy sources . we will know about the type of energy sources and their introduction . we also know about the conventional energy and non conventional energy sources

Classification of Energy sources
Classification of energy sources

Energy Sources Introduction

Energy is the basic necessity for the economic development of a country. Many functions necessary to present day living grind to halt when the supply of energy stops. That’s why, we can say that human life is impossible without energy. it is practically impossible to estimate the actual magnitude of the part that energy has placed in the building up of present day civilization.

The greater the per capital consumption of energy in a country, the higher is the standard of living of its people. we have need to know about the classification of energy sources.

An object having a capability to do work is said to posse’s energy. The object which does the work losses energy and the object on which the work is done gains energy. Energy exists in different form in nature (e.g. kinetic, potential, light, wind). The low of conservation of energy state the energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. Therefore the sun of all the energies in the system is constant. As a matter of fact, there is a close relationship between the energy used per person and his standard of living.Now we have studied about the classification of energy sources which are available at earth

Classification of Energy Source

Different types of energy source are classification as fallows

  1. Based on usability of energy

  • Primary energy sources :   Resources available in nature in law form are called primary energy sources for example coal, oil, uranium, hydro-energy etc.
  • Secondary energy sources: the form of energy. Which is consumed by the consumers, is known ad secondary energy sources. E.g. electrical energy, thermal energy chemical energy.
  1. Based on traditional use of Classification of energy sources

  • Conventional energy sources: The forms of energy, which have been traditionally used by many countries and commonly used, are called conventional energy sources. E.g. fossil fuels, nuclear and hydro resources.
  • Non –conventional energy source: resources which are considered for large scale after the oil crisis of 1973 is called non-conventional energy sources e.g. Solar, wind, biomass etc.
  1. Based on long-term availability of Classification of energy sources

  • Non- renewable energy source: Those natural energy sources which are exhaustible and can’t be reused e.g. fossil fuels, uranium etc.
  • Renewable energy sources :Those energy sources which are inexhaustible and can be reused again e.g. solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, water energy
  1. Based on commercial application of Classification of energy sources

  • Commercial energy source:     Those energy sources which are available in the market for a certain price are known as commercial energy are electricity, coal and refined petroleum products.
  • Non-commercial energy source;     The energy sources which are not available in the market for prices are known as non-commercial energy sources. E.g. firewood, cattle, dung etc. these are main classification of energy sources.

Conventional energy sources

Classification of Energy sources
tidal energy

Which are used for last centuries are known as conventional energy sources. For e.g.   fossil fuel, natural gas, power and petroleum. Various type of conventional energy sources are described as follow:

  1. Coal:    Coal is the most important and mostly uses part of source of energy and about 2/3 part of the country‘s commercial energy requirements. It is indispensable in metallurgical and chemical industries. After the industrialization, coal has became the most common source of energy. Thermal power produced from low grade coal accounts for 55% of total installed generating capacity of electricity in the country.    Coal consist volatile material, moisture and carbon and ash content. In India coal mines are mainly found in West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra. The coal mining industry in India was firstly stated at Raniganj in West Bengal in 1774. NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) is the largest state owned power generating company in India.

Depending upon the quantity of carbon and ash content the coal is classified from high rank to low rank as follows: these are basic classification of energy sources.

  • Anthracite (80%Carbon)
  • Bituminous (60 to 80% Carbon)
  • Lignite (50 to 60% Carbon)
  • Peat (Less than 50% Carbon)
  1. Petroleum:  The word ‘petroleum’ has been derived from the Latin words ‘Petro’ meaning rock and ‘oleum meaning oil’. As petroleum is derived from petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons in solid, liquid and gaseous form. About the 30% of the energy needs of the world are fed by oil.
  2. Natural Gas :  Natural gas is available from the oil wells alone or in association with crude oil, but most of the output comes from associate sources. Natural gas reserves have been located in Tripura, Rajasthan and almost in all of the offshore oil fields of company in Gujarat, tamilnadu; Andhra Pradesh and Orissa Natural gas can be used as a source of energy as well as used as used as an industrial raw material in petro chemical industry.          

Nuclear power:  It doesn’t result in the emission of any of the poisonous gases like CO2, SO2, or NO2. It is extremely reliable because most of the nuclear reactors have a life cycle of above 40 years. Nuclear waste can be safely stored underground and have no negative impact on eco system. Although the initial cost of building nuclear plants in high but the running cost is relatively low. It takes a long time and lot of money to plan and build a nuclear power plant that is safe and effective.

Non Conventional Energy sources ( Classification of energy sources).

  1. Tidal Energy: Gravitational forced between the moon, the sun and the earth produce tides in the sea. The periodic rise and fall of the water level of sea is called tide. When the water is above the mean sea level, it is called flood tide and when the level is below the mean sea level , it is called ebb tide. Tidal energy is one of the best available renewable natures. It is costly in comparison to fossil fuels due to complex conventional tidal power installations, which include massive dams in the open ocean.
  2. Solar energy:  The sun is the main source of heat and light on earth. Solar energy can provide for more energy than all the fossil fuels on earth. Solar energy keeps the temperature of the earth’s surface above normal, causes the water cycle and generates photo syntheses in plant
  3. Wind energy: This is an important source of non-conventional energy . Wind has kinetic energy and this energy can be utilized for performing mechanical and electrical works.  Wind turbines can be used to generate electricity, for lifting water from wells and for direct water pumping. hence these are basic classification of energy sources.
  4. Geothermal energy

This energy is produced by natural process occurring within the earth. The major source of this energy is molten underground rock or magma. Geothermal energy is extracted from natural steam, hot water or dry rocks in the earth’s crust for heating and power generation.

Power:  Power due to its various uses in agriculture, commercial, Industrial, official, transportation etc. play an important role in the development and progress of a country. It can be generated by water, fuels, wind, solar energy, tidal waves, etc.      

Hence these are classification of energy sources. if you will find any incorrect in above article you must below comment in comment box.

If you want to know more about the Classification of energy sources you must watch this video.

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