Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydropower were explored. All deposit natural energy are free and enough for the whole world. Wind energy is one abundant resource that should be exploited since wind currents run uniformly over the whole planet. United Nations conferences stated that all current policies to invest in renewable energy are bluntly biased towards domestic gas and coal sources and nevertheless preferred to wind and other alternative energy sources. Concentrated solar thermal energy is viable on a planet-wide scale but sophisticated technology and a lot of political negotiation is needed to exploit this. Meanwhile, anthracite coal mines should be shut down, since this energy source does not permit sustainable development. The second part thoroughly examined the detailed impact concerning the prizes of current energy resources and ensuing need for research into other energy resources [1].
1. Introduction to Renewable Energy
The term renewable energy designates all forms of energy derived from natural environmental resources which can be replenished in a short period of time. Bird and bat conservations, are an example described as a driving force for the economies of serengeti. They provide ecosystem services of substantial value since the consequences of their extinction would incur costs in job creation, agriculture revenues, and costs resulting from investments in mitigation, monitoring and analysis of dead and wounded birds and bats. Nonetheless, policy measures must remain sensitive to the economic context since costs may impose unsustainable pressure on the economy and jeopardize fragile efforts for competitiveness and employment [2].
1.1. Definition and Importance of Renewable Energy
This subsection delves into the definition and significance of renewable energy. It aims to establish a foundational understanding of what renewable energy encompasses and why it holds significance in the context of sustainable power.
Renewable Energy – any energy source that is consumed at the same rate at which it is replenished. Almost zero greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly inexhaustible sources of power. Creates new jobs for the installation and maintenance of energy projects. Our group analyzed data trends to see how and where the use of renewable energy has grown [3]. Large variety of renewable energy sources: wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal. Increasing demand in all sectors. 53% of consumers indicated that renewable energies were very or extremely important to them. Solar and wind power installations lower overall energy costs, create jobs, and greatly improve public health. Wind and solar power are currently the fastest growing alternative energy industries. Renewable energy is being used and continues to grow the most in utility-scale electricity and heat generation plants. Wind but especially solar have experienced the most significant drops in cost in recent years. Overall, Solar Power is the most promising area of renewable energy for the near future.
2. Types of Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy can be classified into various types depending on the sources of energy available. A few such examples are: Wind energy, Hydro power energy, Solar energy, Biomass energy, Tidal energy, Geothermal energy etc. A brief discussion on each type is necessary to get a good idea on renewable sources of energy.
Wind Power Energy
Power generation from wind energy is one of the oldest and proven technology since the use of wind to propel ships in the oceans during the early days. Wind from cool oceans to warm continents creates pressure difference which leads to flow of air from high pressure to low pressure creating winds; the winds can be used to rotate a turbine and generate electricity [2]. Wind energy is clean energy. It does not pollute the environment. Investment in wind energy in electricity generation creates a large number of job opportunities. Wind is essentially a free source of energy. Operational and Maintenance costs are very low [3]. Wind is a renewable source of energy. More than 60 countries are using wind energy in large scale. The World Wind Energy Association estimates that about more than 135000 MW of wind energy is used globally in 2006. In India wind energy generation was started in 1995. After 95-96, it grew at an astonishing rate and became the first largest wind energy generating state in the country with sharing 96.89% in the year 2000. The Tamilnadu state electricity board has initiated a wind power movement in Tamil nadu during 1995.
Hydro Power Energy
Hydro power is one of the renewable unified sources of energy and ideal energy that brings considerable enhance in conserving the economic resources, energy self-sufficient and environment free. Hydro power energy generation utilizing artificial water flows in micro and macro scale applications; in this study’s focus on micro hydro power generation using A water based turbine foil shape has been implemented on industrial prototype. The turbine foils with a number of blades/magnetic wheels are designed to convert the water flow at speed 5/s along the foil blades attached to the rotating shaft. The flow at the blades due to rigid water motion would give rise to converting energy on rotating the turbine shaft further connected to the frequency generator coil to obtain the ac signals obtained in suitable range of kilowatts. It is observed a good influence of the hydraulic water body design on turbine efficiency.
Solar Energy
India receives 120000 trillion KWh/year radiation energy, equivalent to about 600000 MW power. This is huge amount of energy and is more than the total annual energy consumption of the country. Every year vast amount of energy is being wasted mainly as Thermal Energy. This energy can be used effectively with the aid of Solar Wind Energy, Solar Power Plants, Solar Heating, Solar Vehicles and Solar Cookers. Various innovations in Solar Energy Technologies can transform the above Thermal Energy into Electricity, which will serve the growing energy needs of the Nation. Use of Solar Energy reduces the use of fossil fuels and hence the CO2 emissions. India is committed to reduce the GHG emissions by 20% in the next decade. 2050 TEPC will develop a zero emissions Eco-Village, which will use gasifier based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and Solar PV systems, to convert Thermal Energy into Electrical Energy. It is estimated that a Solar Power Plant generates 6-10 Thermal Energy units per KWh of Energy produced. This thermal energy can be effectively utilized to meet not only the energy needs of a Eco-Village but also in vast number of Industrial Applications. In India there are very few Solar Energy Gasifier Projects and presently there is no Solar Thermal Power Plant. Various novel innovations in Solar Energy Gasifiers based on Eocene Coal has been successfully decoded, which are robust & fit into any Coal Technology and work well at Ladakh, Himalayas conditions.
Biomass Electricity
Electricity can be generated from Biomass by Gasification, Pyrolysis, Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion and Fermentation processes. Biomass Gasification is a thermal chemical conversion of Biomass into gaseous products containing H, N, C and mingled with tar and ash under controlled conditions of temperature, pressure and oxidant ratio. The produced gas can be substituted as a fuel for internal combustion engines or gas turbines, or it can be converted into chemicals. There are numbers of models which have been proposed to study the behavior of Biomass gasifiers; however Computational Fluid Dynamic models give a better understanding of the processes occurring inside the reactor. Solid Waste Biomass Gasifier Plants have been installed in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Validation of the model was carried out by comparing the simulated output with experimental outputs from a lab scale fixed bed downdraft gasifier. The results obtained from the experiments were reasonably matched with the predictions made through simulations validating the model. Various Biomass Gasifiers using a wide variety of Biomass fuels like Coals, Agro residue, Sugar cane tops, Sugar cane leaves etc, have been developed by TEPC.
2.1. Solar Energy
Solar energy exploits the sun’s rays, or solar irradiance, to create electricity. The sun supplies the Earth with 125,000 TW of solar incidence daily—enough to power over 7,000 Earths each year. Solar energy can be put to use in two different ways: solar thermal technology or solar photovoltaic technology. Both technologies utilize similar basic principles but differ in terms of implementation and end product [4].
Solar thermal technology uses the sun’s rays to heat water or air, which can then be used to meet heating or cooling needs or to power steam turbines which create electricity. It is a mature technology that is already being utilized extensively for applications such as swimming pool heaters, shower warmers, and industrial process water heating. As a result of its proven reliability and inexpensive technology, it would be logical to investigate opportunities for using solar thermal technology before moving on to solar photovoltaic technology. Currently, commercially available solar thermal technologies are either flat plate collectors (often referred to as non – concentrating systems) or parabolic troughs (commonly referred as concentrating systems). These two types of solar thermal systems are reviewed in this section, as they are the most applicable for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) campus.
Solar photovoltaic technology uses the sun’s rays to create electricity directly and can thus operate as an independent system. It is a much newer technology, first discovered in 1839. Unbeknown to most people, this technology is already implemented in agriculture in the form of solar water pumps. In the last decade, there has been a surge in the number of utilities across the country utilizing photovoltaic technology experimentally for grid support. While still an immature technology relatively to solar thermal, it is worth investigating for its opportunities—even on UNC’s campus. Commercially available solar photovoltaic technologies are either silicon-based wafer systems or thin film systems, which will be reviewed in this section.
2.2. Wind Energy
A dawn after a long turmoil. This is how Alabama-based scientist Dr. Jay leaps into his life, when one of his dreams, a renewable-wind power prototype, was built in the field – a future California. The world’s leading wind-farm manufacturer, Clipper Windpower Inc., saw a prospect in him and convinced him to abandon his five-year weathering trials at the University of Alabama, where he was by far the only scientist considering exploiting the flow of air to produce electricity. Twenty-five years later, Dr. Jay comes back to Alabama, where public acceptance of wind power is almost zero.
In a typical understanding, wind power works in a straightforward way. Since the early ’80s, commercial wind turbine rotors have turned around for an ornately built base. The rotor’s copper wires, fixed one by one on its magnetic body, generate electricity by chasing around a magnetic field. Since the rotor’s energy conversion rate is merely 30%, vast wind-farm assemblies have been installed and linked with transmission lines to feed power into the utility grid. The wind’s unsteady input can abruptly slow down and cause a load shock. To stabilize the farm output, costly PC-based control systems are employed. This whole assembly is what Dr. Jay’s wind turbine grew out of. His “vertical-axis wind turbine,” on the other hand, churns in an entirely different manner.
2.3. Hydropower
Humans have used hydropower as an energy source for thousands of years, from water wheels in the mill to more recent dam projects in the twentieth century. Today, it accounts for approximately 17% of all energy production and 45% of all renewable energy on the globe. Since it is such an old resource, many countries across the world, developed and developing alike, look to hydropower facilities to bolster their energy security and provide a large, renewable energy resource to offset fossil fuel reliance [5].
Hydropower, in its most traditional sense, is when energy from flowing water is converted into electricity. At its most basic level, water is electricity by forcing it through a turbine to produce energy. This technology is represented by large facilities such as the Itaipu Dam along the Paraguay-Brazil border, but the basic process can just as easily be replicated on the small scale as well. In fact, many of the dams that controlled the energy in the rivers to run mills in the United States in the 1800s are now abandoned and archaic. These dam sites remain good locations for small hydropower deployments since they control the flow of water without altering its course, diverting a small fraction of the water that passes through the river as is [6]. Also, many former hydro-mill sites would have problems adjusting to a modern facility with more valuable, distributed energy generation (as opposed to large city energy via the grid), but small hydropower fits perfectly into the existing paradigm.
2.4. Geothermal Energy
Focusing on geothermal energy, this section presents a compact yet thorough understanding of geothermal, renewable energy. Because of preferring low pollution and high energy security compared to fossil fuels and uranium-based systems, investigating sustainable energy sources is required worldwide. As a renewable energy source, geothermal energy can be exchanged in four forms, including Direct Use Applications, Electric Power Generation, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, and Advanced Geopolymers. Geothermal energy is based on thermal energy storage accessibility, which was initially produced by solar heating, radioactive decay, crystallization, and differentiation of the Earth. The temperature gradient can be classified on state levels providing four types of resources. Regarding the well-completed reservoirs, there are two decisions for geothermal applications. When the geothermal resource is high temperature (>150°C), it can be generated for huge energy, and when the temperature is very low (<90°C), it can directly use heating energy. Five ways can generate geothermal energy from the ground hot water to electric power generation, Organic Rankine Cycle, Kalina Cycle, Steam Power Cycle, Binary Cycle, and Thermoelectric Generator. There are two geothermal power stations: dry steam and flashing steam. Environmental implications include land use, geophysical effects, greenhouse gas, water usage, and chemical effluents. Environmental management plans need to be studied after EIA [7].
2.5. Biomass Energy
Biomass energy is derived from organic compounds that can be obtained from various sources, some of which are produced directly and others obtained as a by-product of food production [8]. It is one of the most ancient types of energy, used as early as prehistoric times, serving as food for direct combustion, essentially carbonaceous materials. The two most prominent forms of biomass are plant biomass and animal biomass. Under the action of bacteria, dead and decaying plants or animals are converted into a mixture of gases, tar, and liquids, known as swamp gas or marsh gas, or peat. Animal life in the sea can undergo a similar process, which eventually leads to basic materials for oil production, whereas plant and animal matter on dry land eventually forms coal. Biomass energy has played a critical role in developing nations for cooking, heating, and combustion for industrial plants.
Biomass energy can be generated through a variety of methods, including biological, thermochemical, and photoconversion processes. The biological process includes anaerobic digestion in which fermentation is carried out by microorganisms in an environment with limited oxygen and this method is particularly applicable to humid wastes [9]. Thermochemical process includes biomass gasification is a high temperature partial oxidation process in which biomass fuel is converted to a synthetic gas by the action of heat, steam, and air or oxygen. This combined heat and power generation technology is assumed to achieve biomass conversion efficiency to electricity well above that of conventional technologies. Biomass pyrolysis is an alternative technique for biomass utilization, to convert biomass to a high grade fuel and important feedstocks for various chemicals and materials. Solar energy is a renewable resource, quasi-inexhaustible, and non-polluting energy source. It may be an attractive alternative to conventional energy sources for low-energy intensity processes and has been principally described by photovoltaics, solar chemical conversion, greenhouse systems, solar ponds, and other designs of solar collectors. In order to develop biomass energy rapidly, following measures need to be taken such as land should be more intensively cultivated, together with reforestation, afforestation and nature forest protection, as well as the promotion of higher yield and better quality forest species.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy
Newly developing countries, under the pressure of powerful environmental organizations and NGOs, will be forced to adopt renewable sources of energy as part of their long-term positive and sustainable reconstruction plans, reject carbon pollution, and accept energy production that is riched on nature, non-depleting and zero emission [2]. Renewable sources of energy—biomass, hydropower, tide—exist abundantly on earth. Wind energy and solar energy are also considered renewable energy sources. Natural phenomena are behind their creation. Renewable energy sources make up for 22.6% of energy production in the world. Nevertheless, this number is still low in proportion to overall world production. Social and economic changes could benefit a lot of undeveloped countries if renewable sources installations were accepted [1]. However, this is still not a lot of energy to meet the world’s needs. Energy dopamine is needed for economic and social growth, too.
Nevertheless, some still blame renewable energy for the high price of electric energy due to the installation costs. This point of view is hard to consider as reasonable, pandering just a small number of interests—the monopoly of carbon industries. A coalmine is built once as the price of oil is high and needs constant pumping. Nonetheless, once it is built, the energy price decreases. The same story is with the gas industry. Gas installations are still new everywhere, and until the saturation of gas tubes, the price was constantly increasing due to the demand. Nevertheless, the gates were opened to this industry, and it withstood the criticism of high energy prices. In Europe, there are countries in which coal is accepted as the cheapest energy production process. Renewable energy sources do not produce a large quantity of energy. Such a situation results in energy being used rather reasonably.
3.1. Environmental Benefits
Focusing specifically on the environmental advantages, the positive impact of renewable energy adoption on ecological well-being is delineated. Dominating the arguments on climate change are the consequences of non-renewable energy sources as crude oils, coals, and natural gases. Not only does fossil fuel use intensify the greenhouse effect but the eventual exhaustion of the energy source due to heftiness in global energy demand becomes another great concern considering the period required for its formation [2]. Humanity’s pathway toward sustainable relationships with the environment thus urges a switch from fossil fuel use totaling more than 80% in global energy consumption to energy sourcing with little or no environmental adverse impacts.
Renewable energies classified under meteorological phenomena, thermal energies, tidal, oceanic, geothermal, and bio fuels inherently possess the attributes of sustainability as ecological harmony and abundance, and thus their widescale employments ensure a sustainable ecological environment. A survey of the renewable forces—such as the sun, rain, wave, tide, growth, and movement of compounds—provides communities with understanding and awareness of their exploitable resources improving societal economic development [10]. With growing energy demand, arguments for energy resource depletion, and escalating energy prices due to the political situation at supply countries, a worldwide effort for energy sovereignty through sustainable renewable energy systems is observed.
3.2. Economic Considerations
Understanding the administrative, financial, and economic aspects, as well as the consequences on energy prices, gross domestic product, allowance prices, and new employment opportunities in the green and brown energy sectors, is crucial for the implementation process of renewable energy. Additionally, the anticipated impacts on energy infrastructure and energy sector regulation should be examined. Dedicated experts must join these discussions and negotiate the necessary compromises in conjunction with businesses, unions, nonprofit organizations, and the responsible state and local authorities. This process will require a significant expenditure of energy, finances, and time [2].
It is commonly acknowledged that greener alternatives to fossil fuels exist, particularly solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy. However, the transition to more sustainable and less polluting energy resources is not solely a technological or supply-side issue. In many countries, the relative social cost of power generation with renewable sources is significantly higher than that of the currently dominant fossil sources. A concern typically emerges later to raise the question of whether it will be economically feasible to implement the necessary transformations. Countries that are not rich in fossil and fissile energy resources have the potential to benefit from the transformation towards greener energy. This transition holds economic development and social equity perspectives, which are currently missing in many countries. Sufficient energy resources can create jobs and foster microenterprise development, resulting in wealth and competitiveness growth [11].
4. Technological Developments in Renewable Energy
As renewable power sources have become increasingly effective and economically viable, all eyes are currently focused on continuous technological developments. Of particular interest, renewable energy storage solutions continue to be the most active area of innovation and development.
The integration of renewable energy systems into modern power grids, allowing for energy security, reduced power costs, job creation, and environmental impacts, has significantly increased during the last decade. Solar and wind energy are the most popular renewable energy sources recently. Their utilization continues to show a significant growth worldwide. This is four times more than that of its nearest rivals, Spain and Japan. The overall installed capacity of grid-connected PV systems grew approximately 132% from 2007 to 2008 alone, and the performance ratio subsequently improved to around 75%. Wind power’s total installed capacity in 2010 was estimated at around 340 TWh. This growth has resulted in a promising contribution of renewables in curbing the adverse environmental implications caused by conventional energy sources [12].
4.1. Energy Storage Solutions
Focusing specifically on energy storage, this discusses solutions for renewable energy. With renewable energy becoming a larger share of the energy mix, it becomes more important to effectively store renewable power. Renewable power is often produced variably at times of excess, resulting in a gap between production and demand. There is a need to study ways to address this excess production. This includes technological innovations in storage techniques, current techniques that are less relevant for balancing renewable power, and challenges of current techniques in effectively storing renewable power [13].
With electricity and fuel from fossil fuels directly being interchangeable, the simplest way to buffer energy sources would be to convert electricity to fuel. There are several electrolysis methods, including polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC), and alkaline electrolysis (AEL). With regards to converting water, important factors to consider are selectivity, stability, activity, and temperature [14]. To store renewable electricity in the form of synthetic methane, there is the process of methanation and purification. The process of methanation forms CO2 and renewable power with the help of catalysts, yielding synthetic methane, whereas purification captures the synthetic methane and can yield CO2 as a by-product.
5. Global Initiatives and Policies Promoting Renewable Energy
Efforts to promote the adoption of renewable energy date back at least to the 1970s. Recent attempts to facilitate the global development of renewable energy are taking place at the levels of nation states, sub-national authorities, international organizations, and various other actors. Nevertheless, activities at the community and individual household levels might entail some action in the form of initiatives for intermittent systems, but these efforts are usually small in scale and are much less likely to be subject to international obligations under a legal framework. Wide-ranging and large-scale efforts to promote renewable energy are ongoing at the national state level and involve the public and private sectors. Examples include feed-in tariff systems in Germany and Japan, renewable portfolio standard schemes in the United States, and purchase obligations in Denmark and Spain.
There is currently no comprehensive international agreement that encompasses legally binding obligations to promote the use of renewable energy. Nevertheless, these efforts are commonly based on political commitments to renewable energy development. Some of these commitments are legally binding under international law. For example, the member states of the European Union (EU) committed themselves to source 20% of their energy from renewable resources under the Energy and Climate Change Package adopted in December 2008. Similarly, under the Kyoto Protocol, Annex I countries (of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) must promote a higher share of renewable energy compared to that of non-renewables [15].
5.1. Paris Agreement Targets
The Paris Agreement was made in the Conference of Parties, COP21, held in Paris, France, in 2015. This promise comprises 196 countries and aims to achieve global warming below 2oC above the pre-industrial level. All countries are encouraged to pursue the renewable energy (RE) target, i.e., to increase the share of RE in total global energy consumption to around 20% by 2030, and development targets, i.e. to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission potencies by 30% below the business-as-usual trajectory by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 [15]. RE is considered an integral part of the challenges of energy security, climatic change, and sustainable development. Nevertheless, the broad objectives of the Paris Agreement cannot be achieved without the RE target. The RE target is essential to all countries as it benefits them by promoting sustainable socio-political development, protecting energy security, reducing poverty, and addressing climate change.
6. Challenges and Barriers to Renewable Energy Adoption
Despite the numerous benefits and technological advancements associated with renewable energy, there are many issues hindering its widespread adoption. A major natural challenge associated with the sustainable resources is that the natural sources, like sun, wind or water flow, cannot always be relied upon. The intermittent nature of these resources makes it hard to integrate them into the existing electrical grids. It is difficult to generate electricity from them at any desired time instant and in fixed magnitudes. The current grid infrastructure has been designed around traditional resources like fossil fuel based power plants that provide centralized, consistent, dispatchable power supply.
Therefore it becomes challenging to ensure system stability, when significant percentage of total produced electrical energy comes from these non-dispatchable sources. In the event of under voltage disturbances, the renewable generation decreases, which further aggravates the existing problems [16]. Moreover, the electricity generation of a renewable energy system (RES) is directly dependent on the availability of sources like wind, solar, etc., which on the other hand, are subject to change in weather conditions. Although with the advancement of technology, the weather scenarios can be accurately forecasted to a certain extent, such information needs to be acted upon by both the prospective operators and planners several hours ahead of time. This makes their scheduling difficult [10].
6.1. Intermittency and Grid Integration
Focusing specifically on intermittency and grid integration, renewable energy, such as solar and wind generation, is generally nondispatchable. Power plant operators must ensure that generation and demand remain balanced, which is more straightforward in the case of fixed conventional generation. Their availability is governed by complex meteorological phenomena. In future power systems, the significant share of nondispatchable generation may pose a challenge for balancing power [16]. In this case, balancing might require adjustments of generation from the “other” side of the equation — renewable generators. To ensure security of supply in these conditions, e.g., one can compare the power generation forecasts with the installed generation capacity for the next days. One can notice that they need to require a significant amount of ancillary services. Excess generation at off-peak hours might require hosting times for the generation or demand management. However, in the case of very high generation peaks relative to the previous requirements. Otherwise, a contractual adjustment of capacities or network reinforcements might be required. Since the complexity of nondisptachable generation is far beyond any mathematical tractability, automated decision-support systems were designed to circumvent this issue [17]. They rely on the concept of grid integration for balancing generation and load on a regional or continental level. Other approaches incorporate fossil generation as a balancing reserve or another generation of load. As the last alternative, storage technologies could be used to cover generation and demand mismatch. In case of PST being used, synchronous generation needs to be actively adjusted, and system frequency. In this case, all generators supplying generation to routed frequency deviation would be required to adjust their active power by enabling supplementary control. GSC is usually capable of variable-voltage control. Hence, it can be advantageous to use it for voltage regulation as it can switch its control scheme instantaneously at times of vermination.
7. Case Studies of Successful Renewable Energy Projects
Amaranth welcomes proposals from organizations or individuals around the globe who are interested in providing independent assistance for development of the Case Studies of Exemplary Renewable Energy Projects. All case studies published would depict successful renewable energy projects, including but not limited to solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, ocean, tidal and biomass projects. A detailed introductory paragraph about each project (maximum 1 page long) and contact details of the project developer need to be provided. An amplification to this is description of the project and its use of renewable sources of energy. Special importance should be given to how it provides an economic or financial advantage to the project developer. Each proposal should also include approximate costs for providing assistance and how quickly the project could be developed and the final product presented. Proposals should also outline how future collaborations might develop. [11].
All case studies should comply to a common set of guidelines. They should be in English, describe a project in summary (maximum 5 pages long), provide basic information about the project developer please return via email. Amaranth will create a specific database for this project, where all specifications and reports will be found. Further ideas for future proposal are in development. All suggestions about new proposals or projects to develop further would be more than welcome [18].
7.1. Solar Farms in India
With India’s large geographical area, a high solar irradiance level, an expansive population, a rapidly growing economy, and a continuously annulling power supply, it seems to be an apt match for solar energy to become the centre of attention in the world [19]. After the Paris accord, the Government of India decided to ramp up its solar energy initiatives, and the first major step in it would be the setting up of a solar park in the state of Gujarat. The park was developed by the government of Gujarat in consultation with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) and was inaugurated in January 2012. The Gujarat solar park holds the honour of being the first solar park in India and the one that has the largest installed capacity of 605 MW as of early-2016. The park was tried as a model by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to replicate similar parks across the country, so it is necessary to examine its working and effectiveness in meeting the stakeholder’s concerns. Several factors were taken into consideration before its implementation including possible opportunities of success and hindrance.
The unprecedented success of solar energy as a service model in the developing nation of India is an example to the world for billions of rural consumers still outside the grid [20]. This paper presents a detailed case study of the first and only utility-scale solar energy farm developed in India till date, having a capacity of 1 MW. The Developed project is grid interactive and meets the energy needs of a rural university campus with energy equivalent to powering more than 2000 homes. Further, details of the actual deployment of a solar farm from concept to completion are presented. The deployment and implementation of this milestone project are significant in the Indian electricity scenario, challenges in clean energy planning and modelling the challenges faced in grid independence and pioneering efforts in clean technology. The case study is crucial for ongoing and future projects using renewable energies in South Asia and Indo-China region where grid development is a challenge and enormous levels of solar insolation are available.
8. Future Trends and Innovations in Renewable Energy
As technology advances, new types of solar panels are being developed. One of the latest technological innovations in solar power is the floating solar panels or floating photovoltaic (FPV) system. The FPV system is a new and innovative approach towards harnessing solar energy, particularly addressed in water bodies, dams, irrigation canals, and similar sites. A floating solar panel is a solar power generation system designed to be mounted on a floater that helps it float on water, typically oceans, bays, or lakes [21]. FPV panels operate following the same principles as land-based solar panels, converting sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells. FPV systems offer a cleaner, greener, and sustainable energy generation process.
The most significant advantages of floating solar panels are, they do not occupy valuable land. Hosting solar plants on water bodies can save land for other usage, such as agricultural activity. Furthermore, it raises no and low environmental concerns. Water quality is maintained, as fewer water evaporation and algae growth would occur. It also enhances the output of solar panels, as the cooling effect from water leads to improved performance. Floating solar is less dense and can be deployed in places unsuitable for ground solar due to competition for land [22]. Because of these advantages, floating solar panels are expected to experience growth in the upcoming years.
8.1. Floating Solar Panels
Amidst increasing investment in renewable energy, the emergence of new renewable energy ideas has warranted discussions on potential future trends in renewable energy. Tough discussions on the pros and cons of each idea would hold merit. The ideas discussed fall under existing renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, geothermal, ocean, bio, biomass, solars and derivate mechanisms, and recent innovations to existing forms of energy generation. Each trend is subjected to challenges and expectations. As a candidate expected to work in the energy computing and cyber-physical domain in the future, the one innovative concept in renewables that would generate notable interest is floating solar panels.
Floating solar panels are one of the recent additions to solar power electrification. Much to the name, floating solar panels are solar arrays with buoys that keep them afloat on water bodies. Similar to conventional solar arrays, floating solar arrays consist of Floaters, Solar Panel Racking Systems, Solar Panels, Electrical Components, and Mooring Systems but are slightly modified for water use. First composed of materials such as HDPE or other design resilient against corrosion, Floaters are five-braced panels that allow the solar array to remain afloat [23]. Secondly, since floating solar panels require mounting system designs resistant against wind and wave forces, the raft mounts used in floaters must withstand forces up to 1.2 m waves, wind speeds of a maximum of shears of 10m/s, and mooring designs to hold against buoy storage forces. Moreover, floating solar arrays utilize mainly polycrystalline panels rather than thin-film panels to avoid dielectric losses from moisture infiltration [24]. Floating panels additionally cool solar panels as water acts as a heat-sink, allowing the solar panels to operate at 12% better efficiency than traditional land solutions. Floating solar arrays are devices with high potential in the future as they fulfil bases such as being eco-friendly and cost-friendly. Although the installation cost of floating solar arrays would be 1.3 to 1.5 times more than land-based solutions, this would balance with the advantage of not requiring land acquisition. Solutions to high geographical requirements can also be developed; both India and China are starting to invest in this solution.
9. Conclusion
The exploration of renewable energy has unveiled significant findings, underscoring its role as a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Various types of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass, have emerged as promising candidates for a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. The technological advancements, efficiency enhancements, and decreasing costs associated with these renewable energy sources have made them competitive in energy markets, enabling their integration into existing energy systems on a large scale. Moreover, innovative thinking and technology have driven emerging energy technologies that can help attain the sustainable energy target crucial for global welfare. Key economic, environmental, and technical aspects have been examined, revealing the economic feasibility of solar, wind, and hydropower energy in resource-rich regions. Biomass power has also been identified as a suitable renewable energy source to meet the growing energy demand of industries. As nations strive to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy mix to combat the detrimental impacts of climate change, the exploration of renewable energy has shed light on an exciting paradigm shift in the global energy sector.
Renewable energy has emerged as the power source of the future for a clean world, eliminating dependency on fossil fuel sources for energy production. With the current environmental challenges imposed by fossil fuel energy production, renewable energy provides a viable alternative. Technological advancements, coupled with emerging innovations, have changed the dynamics of renewable energy, turning it from a premium power source to a viable option in efforts to avoid climate catastrophe. Although classic renewable energy technologies now operate on large scale deployment, innovative thinking is paving the way for emerging energy technologies that can be game-changers in attaining the sustainable energy target crucial for global welfare. Continued advancements in technology and market controls will accelerate the high penetration of renewable energy into the existing energy market, further enhancing energy accessibility, security, and sustainability [2].
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