Energy Security – Efficiency Vs Capacity Addition

   

 When we talk of Energy Security, it should cover the entire spectrum of fossil fuels, bio-fuels, renewables, power etc, rather than confining to power sector alone. India imports more than 70% of its oil requirements.

 

 Wise energy policy creates both healthier economy and healthier environment. But energy policy does not work in isolation. A coherent national approach combining energy, economic and environmental security, reduces the costs, and the risks of importing fossil fuels, and huge amounts of domestic capital.

 

Both energy and economic policy must share- a least cost, resource-efficient emphasis. The ultimate goal should be an "Industrial Ecosystem", which means an industrial process that minimizes both inputs of energy and materials and outputs of waste products and pollutants.

 

 The Capacity Addition embodied the myth that economic vitality requires steadily increasing energy consumption, which includes inefficiency and wastage, and particularly so  when Indian economy is three times more energy intensive per unit of output, than most other countries.

 

Energy Security

 

Energy Security is better defined as the Nation's ability to sustain adequate, reliable Energy Services, in ways that maximize economic competitiveness and minimize environmental degradation. For Energy Security, the Supply and Demand Side factors need to be tackled simultaneously.

 

  It appears that more emphasis seems to be given to capacity addition of power sector, Coal & Nuclear, rather than suppressing the demand by adopting more energy efficient equipment, devices, process, technology etc and by opting for stand alone equipment and devices based on renewable sources of energy.

 

Conclusion

     

There is an urgent need to put in more effort on suppression of Energy Demand, rather than on increase of supplies and capacity additions. The emphasis has to be on a) increased Research and Development in New Technologies, improved Manufacturing Processes to promote Efficiency in energy utilization and for adoption of cost effective Renewable Sources of Energy b) Allocation of adequate funds in the Five-Year Plan periods for R&D and c) Targeting 5% growth rate of Green Power (Renewable Sources ) in every 5-Year Plan Period for the next 25 years.