Non Conventional Energy

Total Questions: 59

31. Which of the following smart cities has become the India's first city to run on 100% renewable energy during daytime? [63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

(a) Bengaluru
(b) Jaipur
(c) Indore
(d) Diu
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

Correct Answer: (d) Diu

Solution:Diu Smart City has become the first city in India, that runs on 100% renewable energy during daytime setting a new benchmark for other cities to become clean and green. Diu had been importing 73% of its power from Gujarat until last year. It has now adopted a two-pronged approach whereby a 9 MW solar park spread over 50 hectares rocky barren land has been developed besides installing solar panels on the roof tops on 79 government buildings thereby generating 1.3 MW annually. To further enhance its solar capacity, Diu offers its residents a subsidy of Rs 10, 000-50,000 for installing 1-5KW roof top solar panels. Diu is saving about 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. Due to low-cost solar energy, power tariffs have been cut in residential category by 10% last year and 15% this year.

This milestone was achieved by utilizing solar power during the day, effectively replacing traditional energy sources. This initiative sets a benchmark for other Indian cities to adopt similar renewable energy solutions.

32. Consider the following statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.

2. Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport.

3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:Bhadla Solar Park is the world's largest solar park located in India which is spread over a total area of 14,000 acres in Bhadla, Phalodi tehsil, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India. Kerala's Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is the first airport in the world that would be running fully on solar power. India's largest floating solar power project is at Ramagundam in Telangana. Energy conglomerate National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has set up the 100 megawatt (MW) plant through Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract.

33. At which of the following places is the Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (I.S.A.) located at present? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Paris
(b) New Delhi
(c) Gurugram
(d) New York

Correct Answer: (c) Gurugram

Solution:The Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (I.S.A.) is located in Gurugram, Haryana. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental organization that was launched in 2015, by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris. ISA is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.

The ISA is guided by its 'Towards 1000' strategy, which aims:
To mobilize USD 1000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030
To deliver energy access to 1000 million people using clean energy solutions
To install 1000 GW of solar energy capacity.
To mitigate global solar emissions to the tune of 1000 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

34. The Government of India has set a target of achieving how much solar power capacity by the year 2022? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]

(a) 20 Giga watt
(b) 40 Giga watt
(c) 80 Giga watt
(d) 100 Giga watt

Correct Answer: (d) 100 Giga watt

Solution:The Government has set a target of installing 100GW of solar capacity by 2022 in the country. A target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022 has been set, which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro power.

35. With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]

1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of Silicon Wafers used in photovoltaic units.

2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution:Silicon chip is not manufactured in India. Every solar panel which is made in India is only assembled here while all the material comes from China, Europe and some other countries. India is yet to develop semiconductor clusters. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) determines solar power tariffs and regulates the tariffs of generating companies owned or controlled by the central government. So 1st nd 2nd statements are wrong.

36. Which of the following statements about bio-fuel is not correct? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

(a) Bio-fuel is eco-friendly.
(b) Bio-fuel is cost-effective.
(c) Bio-fuel can contribute to remedy energy crisis.
(d) Bio-fuel is also made from corn.

Correct Answer: (b) Bio-fuel is cost-effective.

Solution:Even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive in the market. Hence, they are not cost- effective. Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an organic matter (living or once living material) in a short period of time (days, weeks, or even months) is considered a biofuel. Biofuels may be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature.

Solid: Wood, dried plant material, and manure
Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel
Gaseous: Biogas

These can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications. Also, they can be used to generate heat and electricity. Some of the main reasons for shifting to biofuels are the rising prices of oil, emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and the interest in obtaining fuel from agricultural crops for the benefit of farmers.

37. Which one of the following is a bio-diesel crop? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Cotton
(b) Sugarcane
(c) Jatropha
(d) Potato

Correct Answer: (c) Jatropha

Solution:Biofuel development in India centres mainly around the cultivation and processing of Jatropha plant seeds which are very rich in oil (40%). Jatropha oil can be used after extraction in diesel generators and engines. Jatropha oil has been used in India for several decades as biodiesel for the fuel requirements of the remote rural and forest communities.

38. Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Jatropha
(b) Maize
(c) Pongamia
(d) Sunflower

Correct Answer: (b) Maize

Solution:Maize is cultivated for ethanol while Jatropha, Pongamia and Sunflower are cultivated for biodiesel. Maize is a significant feedstock for ethanol production, a process that involves several key steps like milling, starch breakdown, fermentation, distillation, and dehydration. The starch in maize is converted into ethanol through a series of reactions, including fermentation by yeast. One tonne of maize can yield approximately 380 liters of ethanol.

39. Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

1. Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification.

2. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification consist of hydrogen and carbon dioxide only.

3. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification can be used for direct heat generation but not in internal combustion engines.

Select the correct answer using codes given below:

(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1

Solution:Biomass gasification means incomplete combustion of biomass resulting in the production of combustible gases consisting of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and traces of methane. Hence, statement (2) is not correct. The resulting gas from the gasification process is called producer gas which is itself a fuel and can be used in internal combustion engines. Hence, statement (3) is also incorrect. Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification. Hence statement (1) is correct.

40. Other than Jatropha curcas, why is Pongamia pinnata also considered a good option for the production of bio-diesel in India? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]

1. Pongamia pinnata grows naturally in most of the arid regions of India.

2. The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in lipid content of which nearly half is oleic acid.

Which of the statements given above are/is correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:Other than Jatropha, Pongamia plant is considered as a resource that can meet the growing demand of biodiesel in India due to their high productivity and less maturity cycle. Pongamia pinnata growes naturally in most of the arid regions in India. It can be grown in waterlogged, saline and alkaline soil and can withstand harsh agro-climates. The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in liquid content of which nearly half is oleic acid. Hence, both the statements are correct.

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