Second year master Burumbayev A.K.

The Republic of Kazakhstan

Kazakh National Technical University named after K.I.Satpaev

Institute "Geology and Petroleum"

Department «Development of Oil and Gas Wells»

RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

Humanity is not its existence, without oil and gas. Production and consumption of these resources, arrived in the early XX century to replace wood and coal, is growing every year. Oil plays a key role in the development of human civilization. It has enabled humanity to more quickly move through the world - driving, flying, swimming, using internal combustion engines, heating, develop agricultural complex, increasing the length and quality of life.

But 150 years ago on our planet used only renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources: water flow of rivers and tides - to turn the water wheels, wind - to drive the mills and sails, wood, peat, agricultural wastes - for heating. However, from the end of XIX century, more and more increasing pace of rapid industrial development have caused the need for intensive exploration and development of fuel first, and then the nuclear power industry. This has led to the rapid depletion of fossil carbon and the ever-increasing risk of radioactive pollution and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere.

Therefore, on the threshold of this XXI century, had to revert to a more secure and renewable energy sources: wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, biomass plant and animal life and on this basis to establish and successfully operate new non-traditional power plant. [1]

These sources of energy have both positive and negative. The positive are widespread prevalence of most of their species, ecological cleanliness. Operating costs for the use of alternative sources do not contain the amount of fuel consumption, since the energy of these sources is practically free.

Negative qualities - is a small flux density (power density) and the variability in time.

Delivers more trouble variability in time energy sources such as solar radiation, wind, tidal, small rivers, warm environment. If, for example, changes in tidal strictly cyclical, then the process of solar energy, but in general, and natural, contains, however, a significant element of chance associated with weather conditions. Even more volatile and unpredictable wind energy. But geothermal heating at a constant production rate of geothermal fluid in the well is guaranteed at the production of energy (electricity or heat).

As for the "free" of most types of renewable energy, this factor is offset by significant costs for the purchase of the equipment. The result is a paradox, which consists in the fact that the free energy can be used, mainly rich countries. At the same time the most interested in the use of such energy sources, developing countries without modern energy infrastructure that is developed network of centralized power supply. For them, the creation of independent power supply through the use of alternative sources could be the solution to the problem, but because of their poverty, they do not have the funds to purchase a sufficient number of the device. Richer countries do not have the energy hunger and are interested in alternative energy mainly for reasons of ecology, energy saving and diversification of energy sources.

In general, the use of renewable energy sources in the world has become tangible scale and steady growth. In some countries, the share of non-traditional sources in the energy mix is a few percent. According to various forecasts, in which there is currently no shortage of this share by 2010-2015 in many countries will reach or exceed 10%. Here you can discuss just about the rate of increase, but the price increase is not questioned.

Solar energy. The sun in one hour on Earth delivers more energy than the world consumes in a year. This fact alone explains why experts and ordinary people are convinced that solar energy as a renewable energy source is fraught with enormous potential. Many countries carry out a huge investment in realizing the potential of this source of energy to achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How many terawatts of solar energy reaching the Earth every day? About 165 thousand terawatts, much larger than the necessary for mankind 10 terawatts.

How soon solar energy will become a common type of energy will largely depend on how quickly the technologies will achieve grid parity - the time when the cost of electricity from renewable sources compared to the cost of electricity from more traditional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas or nuclear power. The time required to reach grid parity, depends among other things on the local climate, utility rates and government support.

Two studies by the International Energy Agency (IEA) - the prospects of plants to convert solar energy into electricity through the use of mirror systems (Concentrated Solar Power, CSP), as well as the use of photovoltaic cells - indicate that grid parity in some cases, quite reachable. Studies suggest that the technology installed photovoltaic cells on residential and commercial buildings in many regions could reach grid parity (with retail electricity prices) by 2020 and to become competitive in the economy the sunniest regions in 2030. Need to find a way to save solar energy for use in dark or gloomy time. [2]

Geothermal energy. The main advantages of geothermal energy is that it can be used in the form of geothermal water or a mixture of steam and water (depending on the temperature) for the needs of hot water supply to produce electricity or simultaneously for all three goals, its practical inexhaustible, complete independence from the environment, time of day and year. In the volcanic regions of the world high-temperature heat, geothermal heated water to values of temperatures exceeding 140-150 ° C, the most economically advantageous to use to generate electricity. Underground geothermal water with values of temperature not exceeding 100 ° C is generally cost effective to use for the needs of heating, domestic hot water and for other purposes. Developed in the present scheme of combined use of geothermal sources can be used for electricity production fluids with initial temperatures of 70-80 ° C.

The main disadvantage of geothermal energy - the need for re-injection of produced water into the underground aquifer. Another disadvantage of this energy is the high salinity of most deposits of thermal waters and the presence of toxic compounds in the water and metals, in most cases, eliminates the possibility of dumping of these waters are located on the surface of natural water systems. The above-mentioned disadvantages of geothermal energy lead to the fact that for the practical use of geothermal heat treatment require significant capital expenditures for drilling, re-injection of spent geothermal water, and to create corrosion-resistant heat equipment.

However, with the introduction of new, lower-cost, well-drilling technologies, the use of effective methods of water purification from toxic compounds and metals, the capital cost of a selection of heat from geothermal water is continuously declining. Geothermal resources are explored in 80 countries and 58 of them are actively used. The largest producer of geothermal power is the United States. [2]

Renewable energy opportunities are endless. The main problem is the instability of investment projects. Given the potential of these energy sources, environmental aspect, I can assume that the rate of non-conventional sources of energy will rise sharply in scale and in the near future.

Literature:

1) A.M. Magomedov

"Renewable energy sources"

2) J.A. Duffy

"Thermal processes using solar energy"