With a growing demand for energy and with conventional energy sources that deplete rapidly, such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc., unconventional sources of energy such as solar, wind, biomass, tidal energy, geothermal energy and even the energy of the waste material is gaining importance. This energy is abundant, renewable, free of pollution and ecological. It can be more conveniently supplied to urban, rural and even remote areas. Therefore, it is able to solve the twin problems of energy supply in a decentralized way and help maintain a cleaner environment. It is the energy of the future. No wonder, unconventional energy is quickly catching the imagination of people in India.
The importance of renewable energy was recognized in the country in the early seventies. The renewable energy program began with the establishment of the Department of Unconventional Energy Sources (DNES) in 1982. The Renewable Energy Development Agency of India (IREDA) was created in 1987. In 1992, DNES became the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) that has taken several measures to create an adequate atmosphere for the use of non-conventional energy sources. India today has one of the largest renewable energy programs.
The activities cover all the main sources of renewable energy, such as biogas, biomass, solar, wind, small hydropower and other emerging technologies. Several renewable energy systems and devices are commercially available. Renewable energy programs cover the full range of technologies, including improved wood stoves, biogas plant, biomass gasifier, solar and photovoltaic solar systems, windmills, power generation, small hydroelectric power plants, urban waste energy recovery / municipal and industrial, geothermal energy, hydrogen energy, electric vehicles and biofuels, etc. According to energy experts, India's unconventional energy potential is estimated at approximately 1.95,000 MW. It is estimated that 31% of this potential comes from the sun, 30% from thermal ocean energy, 26% from biofuel and 13% from wind.
