Question

Mention any two sources of conventional energy.

Hint:

In short-answer exams, simply writing Coal and Petroleum earns full marks. If space permits, add one line: "Conventional = established, large-scale sources like coal, petroleum, natural gas and large hydropower."

Answer 1

Coal
Petroleum (crude oil)
What "conventional energy" means
Conventional energy refers to established, large–scale, commercial sources that have powered industry and households since the industrial revolution—primarily fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and often large hydropower. They are typically central-station, fuel-based systems with well-developed mining, refining and transport chains.
Why coal is conventional
Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock rich in carbon. It is mined (opencast/underground), sized, and burnt in boilers to produce high-pressure steam that drives turbines and generators. Besides electricity, coal is used in metallurgy (coke for blast furnaces), cement, brick kilns and as a reductant/heat source in many industries. India has abundant reserves in the Gondwana basins (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh). Key characteristics: high energy density, ease of storage/transport, and compatibility with base-load generation—but high CO\(_2\), SO\(_2\), NO\(_x\), fly ash and particulate emissions, plus land and water impacts from mining and ash disposal.
Why petroleum is conventional
Petroleum (crude oil) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons extracted from wells and transported by pipelines/tankers to refineries. Fractional distillation and cracking yield LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene/ATF, furnace oil and petrochemical feedstocks. It dominates transport (internal combustion engines) because of very high energy density and ease of handling. Drawbacks include import dependence for many countries, price volatility, greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants (e.g., PM, SO\(_2\) from high-sulphur fuels).
Other conventional sources often cited
Natural gas (power, cooking, fertiliser feedstock) and large hydroelectricity (dams with sizable storage, firm capacity) are commonly grouped with conventional energy in school geography/economics texts.
Conventional vs non-conventional (contrast for answers)
Conventional: depletable fuels, centralised generation, mature technology, large environmental footprints, historically cheap per unit when externalities are excluded.
Non-conventional/renewable: solar, wind, small hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal—diffuse resources, variable/seasonal outputs (except biomass/geothermal), but low operational emissions and improving costs.