India needs to look at newer energy sources for the future

INDIA WILL have to increase its energy basket, work towards sufficient power generation, cut down on wastage and save the environment to cope with the increased energy demands in the near future, experts have warned. “ At last count, 40 per cent of the households were not connected to the grid or had any access to electricity,” noted Chandra Bhushan, deputy director of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. “ Energy affordability will be a big issue. We need to supply electricity at an affordable price, so we don’t have the option of forgoing any of the energy sources,” Bhushan said.

Coal, hydel and gas will make up the base as sources of energy as they are the cheapest. Next up are the more expensive wind, nuclear and solar energy sources, added Bhushan. “ We should be investing in off- shore and on- shore wind generators.” Himanshu Thakkar, director of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People based at New Delhi said: “ If providing electricity to those who do not have access to it is our objective, then big hydro projects are not useful.” There are better options like mini- hydel and off- grid hybrid systems involving renewables. Thakkar suggested optimising power generation from the capacities which have already been created. “ For instance, we are not even assessing the peaking power generation from hydro- electric projects,” he noted.

Prof. R. V. G. Menon, former head of the Agency for Non- Conventional Energy and Rural Technology based in Thiruvananthapuram offered another solution — pumping back the run- off water during non- peak hours to the dam reservoir to cater to the peak demand later. Solar power could also be used for this process, he said.

Prof. S Rajagopalan, a policyexpert at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, pointed out that the unit cost to deliver renewable energy is still high, and small producers cannot easily sell power. “ We need to have smart systems like the internet that can accommodate small and big players,” he pointed out.

40 per cent

of households in the country had no access to electricity at last count. Experts say that energy affordability will be a big issue in the future. We don’t have the option of forgoing any of the energy sources.