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Discuss the magnitude of energy security in India in reference both conventional and non conventional energy sources.
India is world’s number six energy consumer. It imports more than 60% of its annual oil needs or slightly more than 1.4 million barrels of oil per day. The advent of rising oil prices, country’s unprecedented growth levels, lack of energy efficient technologies and reliance on energy heavy industries for its development has made India realize that it needs to plan its energy security. As the commercial energy consumption per capita is low in the country and efficient end use devices are costly, the impact of energy conservation efforts is felt at a very low pace. A rapid increase in energy demand (industrial and service sectors) has created renewed awareness about economic advantages of energy conservation.
Power generation in India began more than a century back in 1897, with setting up of a small hydro power plant in Darjeeling. At the time of independence, the installed capacity in power sector was 1360 MW. While electricity was in the private hands till independence, government moved in with promulgation of Electricity Supplies Act (1948), paving way for greater role for state utility. The objective was to extend the reach of power to rural and semi urban areas. However, efficiency suffered on account of government patronage and assured financial support and led to the present state of decline, especially for last two decades. Several developments have occurred in the power sector, including entry of central utilities in 1970s, making 3% of return on assets in 1985 and opening up of sector for private generation projects in 1991 and the promulgation of the Electricity Act 2003 was the land mark event, the act delicensed generation expect hydro, liberalized captive power, recognized trading in power as separate activities and provided open access in transmission and distribution. On the production front, diversity of inputs facilitating production includes Coal, Natural gas, Hydel power and new non-conventional means. Coal satisfies more than ½ of India’s energy demand with power generation accounting to about 70% of the country’s total coal consumption (followed on by heavy industries). This causes total generation/year at about 100 million tons apart from adding to CO2 and other pollutions in the atmosphere. India’s consumption of natural gas has risen faster than any other fuel in recent years. A major development was the discovery of large amount of natural gas in Krishna-Godavari basin offshore from Andhra Pradesh along India’s South-east coast. Reliance, another find offshore from Orissa as well as Gujarat are also important. India is trying to expand electric power generation capacity as current generation is majorly below peak demand. Although about 80% of population has access to electricity, the unreliability of electricity supplies is severe. With the fossil fuels depleting the world over, focus is now shifting more and more towards renewable energy sources or green power. Significant effort has gone into the development of a variety of renewable energy technologies such as Hydro, wind, solar and biogas.
Hydel power is the most important renewable source of power. The variable costs of generation of power through hydel sources are negligible. Besides it is cheapest cleanest, with quick start up and shut down which makes it suitable for supplying peaking power. The estimates for hydel potential in India stand at 150,000 MW of installed capacity apart from other mini and micro plant. With initial growth, hydro sector has fallen steadily in its contribution. The generation capacity has grown 3.74% only against 5.59% and over-all growth of 5.12% growth. The major reason for the dip is its capital intensive nature, large gestation period, extensive feasibility requirements, geological uncertainties etc. Potential sources are located in hilly areas, negotiations are major challenge, but probably the greatest problem is the resettlements and rehabilitation and the cost and time overrun caused due to this. The project is also affected by lack of private sector participation Geographically untapped potential is highest (93%) in North Eastern, followed on by eastern (68%), northern (64%), southern (40%) and western (31%). The active engagement of union and state governments, like Preliminary Feasibility Report (PER) of 162 New Hydro electricity schemes. Another important development has been recognized by the government as managerial capabilities and commercial orientation of private sector.
Wind power harnessing has played a major role in Tamil Nadu which with 2036.9 MW is a leader in wind power installation in India. Karnataka has an installed capacity of 410 MW through wind power. In Tamil Nadu, almost all the major corporate houses have wind power installations. In Coimbatore - Tirupur belt, a large number of small textile mill have installed wind turbines. India has made substantial progress in harnessing wind power and is at present the fifth largest producer after Germany, Spain, the US and Denmark. The total wind power capacity is estimated at around 2985 MW. The other non-renewable energy resource that is popular is Biomass that is an organic material that has stored sunlight is the form of chemical energy. Biomass fuels include wood, wood waste, straw, manure sugarcane, and other by-products from agricultural processes. With 173 sugarcane cooperatives and private companies, Maharahtra has tremendous potential for bagasse based power generation as it gives higher returns compared to production of ethanol or sale of sugar. It is cost effective exercise of the total 4800 MW of renewable energy production in India wind energy (2483 MW) Hydropower (1603 MW) and biomass (613MW).
In order to promote energy conversation, Dec 14 is celebrated as National Energy conservation Day every year. In addition, initiatives like renovation, modernization of thermal power plants, rectification of agricultural pump-sets, and replacement of GLS bulbs with CLF bulb sets are being taken out. On consumption side, awareness, information dissemination, training, energy audits and other surveys to identify areas of wastage and assess the scope for further improvement are being done.
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