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Subject: Renewable Energy Technology

  • Consider the following

    Consider the following:
    1. Battery storage
    2. Biomass generators
    3. Fuel cells
    4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic units
    How many of the above are considered “Distributed Energy Resources”?

  • Catalyst that Transforms to Perform

    Why in the news?

    Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences and collaborating institutions discovered how a catalyst changes its structure during water electrolysis for green hydrogen production. The study was published in Materials Horizons.

    Key Highlights

    • Researchers studied:
      • Molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C), an earth-abundant catalyst used in hydrogen production.
    • Molybdenum Carbide is a compound made of molybdenum and carbon that acts as an efficient catalyst in hydrogen production and other industrial chemical reactions
    • Key Features
      • Considered an earth-abundant catalyst because molybdenum is more available and cheaper than precious metals like platinum.
      • Exhibits platinum-like catalytic properties in some reactions.
      • Has high thermal stability and good electrical conductivity.
    • Role in Hydrogen Production
      • Mo₂C is widely studied for: Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) in water splitting.
      • Electrochemical production of green hydrogen.
      • Improving efficiency while reducing dependence on expensive noble-metal catalysts.

    About Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)

    • HER is the electrochemical reaction where hydrogen gas is produced from water during electrolysis.
    • It occurs at the cathode. (The cathode is the electrode where reduction occurs and hydrogen gas is produced.)
      • Note: Anode: The anode is the electrode where oxidation occurs. In water electrolysis, oxygen is produced at the anode through the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).
    • Efficient catalysts are required to reduce energy consumption and improve hydrogen production efficiency.

    About Green Hydrogen

    • Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources through electrolysis of water.
    • It is considered a clean fuel because it emits no carbon dioxide during use.

    [2023] With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements:
    1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
    2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.
    3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    [A] Only one

    [B] Only two

    [C] All three

    [D] None

  • Which of the following pairs in respect of power generation in India is/are correctly matched

    Which of the following pairs in respect of power generation in India is/are correctly matched?
    1. Installed electricity generation capacity: 100000 MW
    2. Electricity generation: 660 billion kWh.

  • Recently, “oilzapper’’ was in the news. What is it

    Recently, “oilzapper’’ was in the news. What is it?

  • Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.

    Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.
    2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.
    3. They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity.

  • With reference to technology for solar power production, consider the following statements

    With reference to technology for solar power production, consider the following statements:
    1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.
    2. Photovoltaics-generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
    3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for photovoltaics.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements

    With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements :
    (1) The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.
    (2) Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements

    With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements:
    1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible Pumps.
    2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with piston.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • Consider the following heavy industries

    Consider the following heavy industries:
    1. Fertilizer plants
    2. Oil refineries
    3. Steel plants
    Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?

  • With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements

    With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements:
    1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
    2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation .
    3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
    How may of the abvoe statements are correct?