By Samir Nazareth
12 Oct 2010
Businesses can make a very positive intervention in the society by adding renewable energy projects to their CSR activities, which will help improve the socio-economic conditions of the marginalised.
Villagers can be trained to manage renewable energy projects
(photo courtesy: Panos)
According to the Government, India will need another 100,000 MW of power generation capacity by 2012. However the 2009 Budget document states ‘The growth in electricity generation by power utilities during 2008-09 at 2.7 per cent fell much short of the targeted 9.1 per cent.’
This is something routine as the demand for energy outstrips the efforts taken to meet it. Economic growth and development projects like the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), a scheme to provide electricity to rural India, increase the burden on the already impoverished central grid. The Budget document recognises this and writes ‘the energy shortage increased, because the growth in requirement (5.1 per cent) was greater than the availability (3.8 per cent).’
Further, electrification under RGGVY does not imply electrification of the entire village nor does it guarantee regular power supply. Thus villages are unable to reap the benefits of electricity though connected to the grid.
The lack of equitable distribution of electricity is a socio-economic problem. Villages and small towns, being socio-economically weaker, do not receive 24x7 power supply, and this only exacerbates their problems. Even as the government builds more fossil fuel based power plants, supply of electricity to the common man is not guaranteed as the power is meant for industrial growth. This top down approach ignores the socio-economic benefits of ensuring electricity is provided to the ‘Aam Admi’.
The fact that the top-down approach has failed is seen starkly in the areas around thermal power plants which suffer daily power outages. This is a slip between the cup and the lip which needs to be bridged. Decentralised renewable energy is a viable method to do so. However, the incentives given by the government for such schemes have not enthused many to get into the fray.
However, companies like North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) in Delhi who are engaged in electricity generation and supply are already planning to install solar panels on houses as part of their business strategy. Such a system reduces transmission losses, reduces demand load and provides extra electricity at almost no cost. The Punjab Energy Development Agency is also planning something similar in a township in Mohali in Chandigarh. Such initiatives have scope to be converted into CDM projects.
At present, most CSR activities revolve around education, health care, alternative employment or maintaining gardens. The innovative spirit that guides corporate India should also guide their CSR activities.
Decentralised electricity generation using renewables and its distribution can become the new frontiers for CSR activities. Such projects reduce load on the grid, bridge the growing electricity deficit, provide regular electricity supply and generate local employment.
As part of a CSR initiative a business can set up renewable energy systems in villages that will be maintained by villagers who have undergone training. Installing a mix of solar panels, wind mills and biogas plants can make a village energy self sufficient.
Cities can benefit too; take the case of Nagpur, in Central India. According to municipal data the city has 659 primary schools, 396 secondary schools, 140 higher secondary schools, 385 junior colleges, 12 medical colleges and 15 engineering colleges. Installing solar panels to meet some, if not all, of their power requirements would reduce the load on the central grid. As these institutions don’t operate 24x7 excess electricity could be fed back to the grid.
Though electricity is a basic requirement the government is clearly unable to provide it to all. Companies need to find ways to become socially relevant. Empowering people through decentralised renewable energy is one such way.
By adding renewable energy projects to their CSR activities, businesses will make a very positive intervention that will go a long way in improving the socio-economic lot of disempowered.
More @ http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1394
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Green power is the need of the hour
By Samir Nazareth
23 Jul 2010
India's policymakers have long been known for their short-sightedness. Now, instead of tapping the huge renewable energy resources, government is blueprinting fuel-based projects to meet power needs, overlooking their harmful consequences and the vast alternative energy resources the nation sits on.
Renewable energy is probably India's best bet to address the country's escalating power crises and the fact that various regions are delightfully abundant in such energy resources makes it the most sensible and viable path too. Unfortunately, despite sitting on a gold mine, India is suffering from acute power shortage in most of its regions, thanks to the customary lack of will and plenty of inefficiency.
There is a lot of potential in India to generate energy from renewable sources. The GWC's report Indian Wind Energy Outlook 2009 estimates that there is potential of around 90,000 MW for power generation from renewable energy sources. This includes 48,561 MW from wind, 14,294 MW from small hydro power and 26,367 MW from biomass. Added to this is the potential of generating 20 MW/sq km from solar energy. There is also a lot of scope to improve the efficiency of electricity usage. In fact according to a 2006 UNEP release, India's potential energy efficiency market is approximately $3.1 billion which in turn would save 54 terawatt hours annually.
The government, however, seems quite unaware of these facts and also of the irreparable environmental damage done by fossil fuels. Case in point is Vidarbha region of Maharashtra where 43 new coal-fired thermal power plants have been proposed and the government is promising uninterrupted power supply in the region. The absurdity of this plan stems from the fact that Vidarbha endures daily power outages despite being power surplus and its thermal power plants contribute almost 60% of State's power company Mahagenco's total energy generation.
However, a report on the renewable energy potential in Vidarbha by Dr Sanjay Khadakkar points out various renewable hybrid systems put up by the government in various institutions of Vidarbha.
One such 10 KW wind-solar hybrid is set up in the Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sanstha. The irony is that though this institution is situated between two thermal power stations, it faces 5-6 hours of power cuts. Institution's manager Mr Rajniti Gupta says that hybrid is the answer to their power cuts. Though enough electricity can be generated to power the entire campus, a problem with the batteries has reduced its efficacy, but storing enough electricity to see them through the power outages. The system was set up in 20 days at a cost of Rs 28,80,000.
Another example is the Bhodisatva Nagarajun Anusandhan Kendra in Mansar, 37 kilometres from Nagpur. The 5 KW wind-solar hybrid is used during the frequent power outages and even powers electric tools used for carving stone statues.
The report states that solar-wind hybrid systems of 62.8 KW have either been installed or are being installed and proposals for another 6 projects of 10 KW each have been sent to the government.
Dr Sanjay Khadakkar states that because of load shedding, 'alternative sources of energy are a must to fulfil the need of energy'.
To read more follow the link: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1321
23 Jul 2010
India's policymakers have long been known for their short-sightedness. Now, instead of tapping the huge renewable energy resources, government is blueprinting fuel-based projects to meet power needs, overlooking their harmful consequences and the vast alternative energy resources the nation sits on.
Renewable energy is probably India's best bet to address the country's escalating power crises and the fact that various regions are delightfully abundant in such energy resources makes it the most sensible and viable path too. Unfortunately, despite sitting on a gold mine, India is suffering from acute power shortage in most of its regions, thanks to the customary lack of will and plenty of inefficiency.
There is a lot of potential in India to generate energy from renewable sources. The GWC's report Indian Wind Energy Outlook 2009 estimates that there is potential of around 90,000 MW for power generation from renewable energy sources. This includes 48,561 MW from wind, 14,294 MW from small hydro power and 26,367 MW from biomass. Added to this is the potential of generating 20 MW/sq km from solar energy. There is also a lot of scope to improve the efficiency of electricity usage. In fact according to a 2006 UNEP release, India's potential energy efficiency market is approximately $3.1 billion which in turn would save 54 terawatt hours annually.
The government, however, seems quite unaware of these facts and also of the irreparable environmental damage done by fossil fuels. Case in point is Vidarbha region of Maharashtra where 43 new coal-fired thermal power plants have been proposed and the government is promising uninterrupted power supply in the region. The absurdity of this plan stems from the fact that Vidarbha endures daily power outages despite being power surplus and its thermal power plants contribute almost 60% of State's power company Mahagenco's total energy generation.
However, a report on the renewable energy potential in Vidarbha by Dr Sanjay Khadakkar points out various renewable hybrid systems put up by the government in various institutions of Vidarbha.
One such 10 KW wind-solar hybrid is set up in the Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sanstha. The irony is that though this institution is situated between two thermal power stations, it faces 5-6 hours of power cuts. Institution's manager Mr Rajniti Gupta says that hybrid is the answer to their power cuts. Though enough electricity can be generated to power the entire campus, a problem with the batteries has reduced its efficacy, but storing enough electricity to see them through the power outages. The system was set up in 20 days at a cost of Rs 28,80,000.
Another example is the Bhodisatva Nagarajun Anusandhan Kendra in Mansar, 37 kilometres from Nagpur. The 5 KW wind-solar hybrid is used during the frequent power outages and even powers electric tools used for carving stone statues.
The report states that solar-wind hybrid systems of 62.8 KW have either been installed or are being installed and proposals for another 6 projects of 10 KW each have been sent to the government.
Dr Sanjay Khadakkar states that because of load shedding, 'alternative sources of energy are a must to fulfil the need of energy'.
To read more follow the link: http://www.d-sector.org/article-det.asp?id=1321
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