Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE)

The term renewable energy now has become a magical word in energy. The world is constantly changing and so is the power sector. Nowadays people talk about 'deviating' from the 'conventional' energy sources such as thermal, hydro, nuclear etc and magically spell wind, solar, biomass, wave, tidal, geothermal, and so on.
Are those viable and financially feasible? what about the technical feasibility - such as reliability, stability issues?

Wind energy:
Wind takes the first priority when it comes to non-conventioanl renewable energy source. Though it is unrelaible at times, may have stability issues, voltage problems, might need reactive power compensation. Still it is CLEAN, Not forgetting that it needs a very high initial investment in comparative terms. Remember that open cycle gas turbines are the opposite. Their capital cost is in the lower limits in any commercial scale power systems.

A Horizontal axis wind turbine generator: from Howstuffworks





















Solar Energy:

 Energy conversion in a Solar Photovoltaic Panel: from web

Solar PV
Solar energy is said to be abundant, though the fabrication of these photovoltaic semiconductors are not so easy. their Cost/Wattage is significantly high and the average payback period is well beyond 10 years.

A Grid-connected Solar PV system -with the concept of Net Metering

Solar thermal

A Solar Thermal Plant

Biomass Energy:

Wave/Tide Energy: