More power needed for pushing renewable energy

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More power needed for pushing renewable energy
Renewables can solve our energy woes, if tapped in time
Atul Sethi | TNN


It’s been a summer of discontent throughout the country, with the same old story being repeated everywhere — power cuts extending upto 10-12 hours, frayed tempers and blame games. Many would consider this nothing new, but experts in the power sector say that we’re suffering needlessly. For, the country has the potential to meet its energy needs through renewable sources like wind, biomass, hydropower, ocean and solar energies, all of which are available in abundance.
It’s not as if this potential hasn’t been recognized — India remains the only nation with a full-fledged ministry for new and renewable energy (MNRE). Yet, renewables contribute only about 4% of power generation in the country today. Although India has set a target of generating 10 % electricity from renewable sources by 2012, most experts believe that this doesn’t seem achievable, since a lot of issues are yet to be resolved.
“Today, a number of bottlenecks are hampering the better use of our renewable potential,” says Kameswara Rao, leader-power practice, Pricewaterhouse Coopers. “The renewable market in India is limited by state regulations. For instance, if Tamil Nadu has a surplus, it cannot sell to Delhi which is in deficit. We need a nation-wide target and a trading platform.”
A lot of hope currently rests on renewable energy certificates that are expected to overcome geographical constraints and provide flexibility. These certificates would be issued to renewable energy generators, who can sell power to the required states, individuals or other trading companies.
However, the absence of a national trading platform is not the only thing that is hampering growth of renewables. There is also the question of delivery. “Most power grids were not built to access renewables, but to deliver bulk power from coal and hydro stations,” says Peter Meisen, president of the Global Energy Network Institute (GENI), which focuses on the interconnection of electric power networks, with an emphasis on tapping renewable energy resources. “New high-voltage AC and DC lines will be required to be built fast,” he adds.
Many consider this a typical chicken and egg situation. Amit Kumar, director and senior fellow of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), points out, “Till there is enough demand, there would be no dealer/service network. Paradoxically, in the absence of the first, the second would not happen. ”
Another roadblock is high costs, especially in the case of solar energy. “The initial high capital cost of solar energy systems is the biggest bottleneck hampering its wider use,” says TC Tripathi, advisor, solar energy group, ministry of new and renewable energy.
A long-term solution to the problem would be to take into account the two different Indias, says Meisen. “It must be a government priority to provide either a wind or solar power system plus a drilled well for clean water in every village as well as upgrade transmission lines and bottlenecks between regional grids, since they lead to way too much economic loss,” he says.
Everyone agrees that removing these bottlenecks will see substantial benefits rolling in very soon. “Renewables can help us meet a part of the persistent energy shortage, which is around 14%,” says Rao. “Then, they can mitigate some of our energy security concerns, considering we import 75% of our oil and 5% of our coal. Lastly, we all have an obligation to contribute to minimizing carbon emissions.”
Incidentally, the National Action Plan on Climate Change stresses that India’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions should at no point exceed that of developed countries. As Kumar points out, “If the country has to fulfill its commitments, this would necessitate a multi-fold increase in deployment of renewables.” POWER FROM RENEWABLES
BIOMASS
Derived from wood, waste and alcohol fuels Can be converted to other usable forms of energy like methane gas or ethanol
WIND POWER
Technical potential believed to be five times total current global energy production Produces no greenhouse gases
SOLAR POWER
Believed to be the planet’s most abundant energy source Easily capable of providing many times the total current energy demand
SMALL HYDRO POWER
Involves minimal reservoirs and civil construction work Has low ecological impact compared to large projects
COGENERATION-BAGASSE
Uses fibrous sugarcane waste — bagasse — to cogenerate heat and electricity Has potential for employment of local population
WASTE TO ENERGY
Creates energy from the incineration of waste Produces electricity directly through combustion, or by producing a combustible fuel commodity such as methanol