The future of power: tapping alternatives

The ongoing, and exponentially increasing, power crunch in the country can only be tackled by biofuels such as biodiesels and Wind Electricity Generators, and by examining other alternative methods of power generation. But all this needs radical policy initiatives.

By Yatish Yadav

If all goes well, many cars in India would run on hydrogen fuel by 2022 as, slowly but steadily, renewable energy is set redefine India's energy mix. The ministry of new and renewable energy has prepared a blueprint of how to harness India's vast solar, hydro and biomass resources to increase the share of new and renewable energy to the country's energy mix from the present five per cent to 10 per cent by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) in 2016-17.

To sustain a Gross Domestic Procut growth of 8-9 per cent during the next 25 years, India would require feed its quadrupled energy requirements with a six-fold increase in poer generation installed capacity and a four-fold increase in crude oil consumption. In this regard, renewable energy potential has been assessed at over 84,000 megawatts (MW), which includes wind, small hydro, biomass (crop residues) and bagasse co-generation. In addition, 40,000 MW of biopower and 22-25m MT (metric tonnes) of biofuel potential exists from energy plantations, particularly from jatropha curcas, raised for 40-45 m ha of waste/degraded lands.

Solar thermal systems in the medium term (2032) are capable of conserving electricity equivalent to that generated from a 5000 MW power plant operating at 70 per cent plant load factor (PLF). All this, and more, can be harnessed if the right policy initiatives are taken.

In a letter dated January 29, 2007, to the prime minister, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar outlined the priority areas of this evergreen sector. "The aim for renewable power capacity addition for the 11 th FYP (2007-2012) is 14,000 MW," the letter states. "By the end of the 11th Plan, renewable power capacity is likely to be 24,000 MW in the then total capacity estimated at 2,00,000 MW, corresponding to a share of 12 per cent and contributing around 5 per cent to the then electricity mix."

How will this be done? The ministry has a plan: Ten thousand additional villages/hamlets, not to be covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyukaran Yojana (RGGVY), are to be provided solar lighting systems. Ten million sq m of solar collector area will be established to meet thermal energy needs in urban, industrial and commercial sectors, capable of conserving electricity equivalent to that generated from a 500 MW power plant by 2022.

Work is in progress on the draft Biofuel Policy and is likely to be presented to the Cabinet shortly. Taking into account the state of preparedness and the gestation period for oil-bearing crops, the likely blending proportion for diesel and petrol is estimated at 2 per cent by 2011-2012, the terminal year of the 11th Plan. The corresponding requirements for biodiesel and bioethanol for 2011-2012 is estimated at 1.23-1.138 million MT and 0.30-0.33 million MT, respectively. A capacity addition of around 26,000 MW renewable power is envisaged during the 12 and 13th Plans (2012-2022).

"Renewable power by the end of the 13th Plan period (2022) is likely to reach 47,000 MW, with corresponding share of 5 per cent in the then electricity mix," the letter states. "By the end of the 15th Plan (2032), renewable power capacity islikely to reach 80,000 MW, with a corresponding share of 5 per cent in the then electricity mix."

The ministry hopes to explore the entire wind energy potential in the country, which includes mostly non-marginal sites and to exploit about 90 per cent of biopower potential and deploy largescale (50-250 MW) plants on wastelands developed preferably through corporate effort. Apart from renewable power generation, alternate fuels are expected to play an increasing role in the substitution of petroleum products, the minister said in his letter.

"The increased tempo of production of biofuels, namely biodiesel and ethanol, can supplement upto 5 per cent of HSD [Hybrid Synergy Drive] and MS requirements by 2017, in a phased manner," the minister said. "Taking blending proportions beyond 5 per cent level after 2017 would require covering 22-25 m ha of waste and degraded lands by 2027, ie, during the next 20 years."

From 2006-07, research, design and development activity has been oriented towards product development, generally with industry as the lead partner and with clear, well-defined outcomes. This will actively be given greater focus so that indigenous industry is in a position to provide cost-effective, state-of-the-art products and services, without excessive reliance on imports, the minister said. Further, new and renewable energy industry would need to export massively to pay for its imports, with the aim of becoming a net foreign exchange earner by 2022.

The major research, design and development thrust areas identified for support include MW-scale Wind Electricity Generators (WEGs) capable of generating power in a cost effective manner in class II sites; power/cost ratio of solar technologies for largescale power generation to be cost competitive by 2032; deployment of hydrogen vehicles by 2022 and making them cost-competitive by 2032; cost-competitive synthetic fuel by 2032, in a phased manner.

Among the policy measures required during the current year are production-based fiscal incentives in place of subsidy and accelerated depreciation; a set of fiscal and financial concessions for biofuels (vegetable oils and ethanol)—ethanol-blended petrol has already been exempted from levy of excise duty—state governments to strengthen implementation of electrifying remote villages; the need to include wody biomass for power generation and raising of low cost funds by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) Limited. In his letter, Muttemwar said during the 10th Plan, up to December 31, 2006, his ministry had made efforts to ensure that grid-interactive renewable power contributes 25 per cent to the power installed generation capacity.

"On account of its relatively lower plant load factor, the incremental share of renewable power in the electricity mix during this period is 12 per cent, which could be considered highly satisfactory," he said.