Non-conventional renewable energy sources

Assam Tribune , Friday, December 01, 2006
Correspondent : Jibitesh Narayan Goswami
In this modern age electricity is one of the basic inputs for achieving socio-economic development of a nation. Even now we are very much dependent on the conventional sources, like fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) for generation of electrical power. These fuels are not renewable and as such their reserves are getting depleted owing to largescale use and this causes environmental impacts leading to climate change, etc, disturbing the global ecosystem. India is a large country with a population of around one billion. As report indicates, population is expected to grow at a rate of about 1.6 per cent annually and accordingly the electricity demand is growing at the rate of 8 per cent annually in the country. At present per capital electricity consumption in India is little over 400 kwh, which is much lower than that of the developed countries. Further most of the consumption is concentrated in the urban areas. The consumption of coal and petroleum fuels are projected to be double by the year 2010. As such, attempts are being made to meet this growing demands in a self-reliant manner through renewable energy sources. Nearly two decades back India formed an exclusive Ministry for Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) which has been implementing the programmes on renewable energy like biogas, small hydro projects, wind, geothermal energy, solar photovoltaics, etc. Since electricity from the renewable sources can be produced in a decentralised manner, it can help to overcome the problems of distribution associated with conventional sources, especially in rural areas.

It is encouraging to note that the power generation from renewable sources of energy fluorescent contributes to about 4800 MW which reresents about 4.5 per cent of the total installed capacity from all sources. The potential from renewable sources is estimated to be around 80,000 MW in the country.

It is stated that as many as 93,347 villages in the country are unelectrified, out of these 25,000 villages are considered to be economically non-viable for grid connected power. It has been proposed to electrify all these 25000 remote villages and hamlets through locally available renewable energy options like solar photovoltaics (SPV), small hydro, biomass and hybrid systems within the year 2012. However, during the 10th Plan period 5000 of these villages are proposed to be electrified through non conventional energy sources.

It has also been stressed to generate power from small hydro potential wailable in untouched and untapped areas of tail-end flow of water of mega, major, thermal hydro projects, dem-toe sites of major/small dams in the country. This potential is expected to be around 100 MW and from canal based projects around 1600 MW. As such more efforts should be given to harness these sources. The total estimated potential from the small hydro projects (SHP) upto 25 MW capacity is 15000 MW. Of these 10,324 MW capacity sites have already been identified and 1603 MW have been exploited so far out of these sites. It is targeted to add additional 2000 MW capacity from SHP during the 10th and 11th Plan periods.

The gross potential for wind power generation is estimated to be of 45,000 MW considering 10 States and 2 Union Territories viz Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andaman Nicober Islands and Lakswadwip. Of this about 2500MW capacity has so far been achieved through the installation of grid interactive wind power projects. Further it has been targeted to install 5 per cent of the additional total power by such means during the 10th and 11th Plan periods.

It is assessed that about 540 million tonnes of bio-mass are available in the country. Out of this about 120-150 million tonnes (25 per cent to 30 per cent are available for biomass based power generation projects. Out of the target generation of 55 MW during the years 2002-04, the achievent is about 36 MW.

There is also good prospect based on bagasse co-generation. It all the 500 sugar mills in the country switchover to modern techniques of co-generation around 3,500 MW of power can be produced. However around 11 per cent of this capacity has been hurnessed so far.

Solar mergy is one of the renewable sources of energy. Solar energy can be used by converting it to electricity through the application of Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) or solar thermal energy generation converting it to heat energy. There is no moving parts in the system which ensures long life. The SPV system is storage type, as such the battaries require periodic replacement. Though the cost is higher than the conventional thermal plants yet SPV market is to grow depending on government policies, incentives and subsidies. It is proposed to electricity nearly 4000 villages using SPV technologies. Setting up of solar home lighting systems and small solar PV power plants have already been tried in many parts of the country, particularly, in West Bengal, Chattisgarah and parts of UP and now to some extend in Asom.

There is immense potential for development of non-conventional and renewable energy sector in Asom. There is ample scope for electrification of remote and unelectrified villages by decentralised solar photoboltaic systems, small and microhydel projects, biomass gasification etc. There are also prospects based on bagasse co-generation from the sugar factories in the State applying modern techniques.

It is stated that in Asom about 87 per cent of the State’s population live in rural areas, that is to say in 26,247 villages. Of these as on March 31, 2006, 21,586 villages have been electrified through conventional grid. However, only 16.54 per cent of the total households in these electrified village have electricity connections. Remaining 4661 villages are still to see the light of electricity. Again, 2145 un-electrified villages have been identified as remote where supply of electricity through conventional grid is neither possible nor feasible. To provide ‘Electricity to all’ by 2012, there is alternative than to go for non-conventional and renewable energy sources, applying modern technologies. It is encouraging to note that the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA), the State Nodal Agency of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has identified the potentiality of three renewable sources of energy, specifically for electrification of remote villages, with small hydro, biomass gasification and solar photovoltaic.

The hilly areas of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar districts have good small hydro potential of around 112 MW as small streams can be harnessed for decentralised power generation. Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) and Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) are taking steps for execution of small hydro projects.

The priority of harnessing non-conventional renewable sources of energy will continue for the years to come so as to carry out all the economic activities, especially, in rural areas ushering in an all round development of the society. Though the decentralised generation of power through renewable sources is in a nascent stage at present, in course of time it can be expected to contribute to major economic growth. It will also contribute to optimal utilisation of fossil fuels which in turn will reduce the atmospheric pollution and at the same time, ensure security. Moreover it should also be extended to harness all kinds of available hydro resources, which are also ecofriendly, resulting in optimal use of fossil fuels for generation of electricity inclusive of other allied benefits.

 
SOURCE : Assam Tribune, Friday, December 01, 2006
 


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