ENERGY RESOURCES
PETROLEUM
It is an essential source of energy for all internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways and aircraft. Petroleum exploration in India was started in 1866 in Upper Assam Valley. Oil exploration and production was systematically taken up after the Oil and Natural Gas Commission was set up in 1956. Till then, the Digboi in Assam was the only oil producing region but the scenario has changed after 1956.
In Assam, Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran are important oil producing areas. The major oil fields of Gujarat are Ankaleshwar Kalol, Mehsana.
Mumbai High was discovered in 1973 and production commenced in 1976. Oil and natural gas have been found in exploratory wells in Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basin on the east coast.
NATURAL GAS
Natural gas is obtained along with oil in all the oil fields but exclusive reserves have been located along the eastern coast as well as (Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh), Tripura, Rajasthan and off-shore wells in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES
Energy generated by using wind, tides, solar, geothermal heat, and biomass including farm and animal waste as well as human excreta is known as non-conventional energy. All these sources are renewable or inexhaustible and do not cause environmental pollution.
NUCLEAR ENERGY RESOURCES
Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium.
Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and limonite in the beach along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
World’s richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Orissa.
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar thermal technology has some relative advantages over all other non-renewable energy sources. It is cost competitive, environment friendly and easy to construct.
Solar energy is 7 % more effective than coal or oil based plants and 10 per cent more effective than nuclear plants.
It is generally used more in appliances like heaters, crop dryers, cookers, etc. The western part of India has greater potential for the development of solar energy in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
WIND ENERGY
Wind energy is absolutely pollution free, inexhaustible source of energy. In Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra afraid, Karnataka, favorable conditions for wind energy exist.
Wind power plant is located at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
TIDAL AND WAVE ENERGY
Ocean currents are the store-house of infinite energy. Large tidal waves are known to occur along the west coast of India. Hence, India has great potential for the development of tidal energy along the coasts but so far these have not yet been utilized.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
When the magma from the interior of earth, comes out on the surface, tremendous heat is released. This heat energy can successfully be tapped and converted to electrical energy.
It is popularly known as Geothermal energy. In India, a geothermal energy plant has been commissioned at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.
