--- title: "Conventional vs renewable energy for generation" subject: "Power System Analysis I" chapter: 1 key: "semester_4/power_system_analysis_i:conventional-vs-renewable-generation" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/power_system_analysis_i/conventional-vs-renewable-generation site: BCT Engineering --- # Conventional vs renewable energy for generation Power System Analysis I · Chapter 1: General Background - Asked in: 2080 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2068 Magh, 5 marks (asked 2 times) - Video: [Energy Resources - Conventional and Non-Conventional](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgp86PVXXuQ) — Amit Sengupta - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/power_system_analysis_i/conventional-vs-renewable-generation - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/power_system_analysis_i/chapter-1 ## Question Compare conventional energy resources and renewable energy resources from the perspective of electricity generation. ## Short answer Conventional resources (coal, oil, gas, nuclear) are finite, have high fuel cost and pollute; renewable resources (hydro, solar, wind) are naturally replenished, have no fuel cost, and low pollution. Nepal’s grid is dominated by hydro, a renewable source. ## Answer **Conventional resources** are fossil and nuclear fuels (coal, oil, natural gas, uranium) that are finite and are used mainly in large thermal/nuclear plants. **Renewable resources** are naturally replenished (water, sun, wind, biomass, geothermal) and do not run out. | Basis | Conventional | Renewable | |---|---|---| | Availability | Limited, will deplete | Unlimited, replenished by nature | | Fuel cost | High and recurring, price fluctuates | Nil (except biomass) | | Initial cost | Moderate per kW | Often high per kW (hydro civil works, solar panels) | | Pollution | CO₂, SO₂, NOx, ash, radioactive waste | Little or no emission during operation | | Output control | Dispatchable, steady, easy to control | Solar/wind intermittent; hydro varies with season | | Plant size | Large, centralised (hundreds of MW) | From kW (micro-hydro, rooftop solar) to large hydro | | Location | Near fuel source or load | Fixed by resource (river, windy site) | | Efficiency | Thermal 30–40 % | Hydro 85–90 %, solar PV 15–22 % | | Gestation | Shorter for gas/diesel | Long for big hydro, short for solar | | Examples | Coal plant, diesel plant, nuclear | Hydro, solar PV, wind, biomass | #### Nepal context Nepal has no significant fossil fuel, so almost all its grid electricity comes from **hydropower** (a renewable source), with growing solar. Diesel plants are only used for backup. Conventional sources would mean importing fuel, so renewable generation is both cheaper in the long run and more secure for Nepal. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the key difference in availability between conventional and renewable resources? A. Conventional sources are replenished by nature; renewables deplete B. Both are unlimited C. Conventional fuels are finite and deplete; renewables are naturally replenished D. Renewables are finite but cheaper Answer: C. Coal, oil, gas and uranium are finite, while water, sun and wind are replenished. (Key point: Availability) 2. Which statement about output control is correct? A. Solar and wind are fully dispatchable; thermal is intermittent B. All renewables give steady output C. Hydro is never seasonal D. Conventional plants are dispatchable; solar and wind are intermittent Answer: D. Thermal plants can be controlled at will, while solar/wind depend on weather and hydro on season. (Key point: Output control) 3. Which cost pattern fits renewable generation? A. High initial cost per kW but little or no fuel cost B. Low initial cost and high fuel cost C. High initial and high fuel cost D. No initial cost Answer: A. Renewables often need costly civil works or panels but have nil fuel cost (except biomass). (Key point: Cost structure) 4. Why is renewable generation especially suitable for Nepal? A. Nepal has large coal reserves B. Nepal has no significant fossil fuel but has huge hydro resources C. Diesel plants are the main grid supply D. Nuclear fuel is locally mined Answer: B. Nepal's grid is almost all hydropower; conventional fuel would have to be imported. (Key point: Nepal context) ## Related in Power System Analysis I - [Types of renewable energy sources](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Arenewable-energy-types) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Conventional vs non-conventional sources with schematic](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Aconventional-vs-nonconventional-sources-schematic) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Renewable sources and least suitable for Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Arenewable-sources-least-suitable-nepal) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Conventional sources and features of a station](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Aconventional-sources-features) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Hydropower generation with block diagram](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Ahydropower-generation-block-diagram) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Short note: Renewable and non-renewable resources](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Arenewable-nonrenewable-resources) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4 - [World renewable trends and impact on Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aworld-renewable-trend-nepal) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 - [Climate change and renewable energy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-renewable-energy) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Isolated induction generator and renewable energy role](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Felectrical_machines_i%3Ainduction-generator-isolated-renewable) — Electrical Machines I, chapter 5