The Hon'ble Prime Minister is reported to have told the 17 member delegation from Power Sector Industrialists, that called on him on 18 th January "Your problems are a National Problem, they will be given priority, with coordination by Prime Minister's Office (PMO) ".
Some of the issues raised by the delegation are reported to be –Speedy Green Clearances to Projects, Delinking of Clearances with Coal Linkages, Compounding Offences under Environment Protection Act, Pricing of Land etc. The emphasis seems to be on increasing Power Generation (MW) capacities by increasing coal supplies..
If the focus is to resolve the above issues to the satisfaction of the Power Sector Industrialists, with Power Hunger seemed to have been fueled by Stock Markets, Bank Loans, Rerouting of Money from Foreign Sources etc., the Power Sector in India, will prove to be a "Global Problem" apart from being the "National Problem"
National Integrated Energy Policy
The Expert Committee Report of August 2006 on "Integrated Energy Policy" points out that lowering of energy intensity of GDP Growth through higher efficiency is important, as unit saved by user is greater than a unit produced. Thus a "NEGAWATT" produced by reduction of energy consumption, has more value than the "MEGAWATT" generated. It further points out that by aggressive pursuit of energy efficiencies & conservation, it is possible to reduce energy intensity up to 25% from current levels.
The report further states that most importantly India must pursue Technologies that maximize Energy Efficiency, Demand Side Management (DSM), and Conservation. The thrust areas for improved efficiency in electrical energy from coal based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are: Extraction (Mining), Conversion (TPPs) Transportation (Transmission & Distribution) and Consumption (DSM Measures)
Coal Extraction
The report emphasizes that as Coal remains most important source of energy till 2031-32 and possibly beyond and given the demand for coal, India must pursue new coal extraction technologies such as in-situ gasification, to tap its vast coal reserves that are difficult to extract economically using conventional technologies.
Inefficiencies in Thermal Power Sector
The fact is, "It takes energy to make energy". In the case of coal based TPPs, the energy is Extracted from Coal and Converted (Thermal-Mechanical-Electrical) to Electrical Energy. It is estimated that by using Subcritical technology boilers and the steam turbine-generator sets, the efficiency of Extraction and Conversion to Electrical energy from Coal is hardly 33% and it may go up to around 40% even by using Supercritical technology boilers.
Taking into account, auxiliary consumption of TPPs, T&D Losses and the inefficient use of Electrical Energy by the end users, the percentage of the actual energy effectively utilized comes down drastically. At present, the overall efficiency, of extraction and conversion of Coal Energy to Electrical Energy and its transportation & the end use, may work out to be around 15 to 20%.
While about 80% of coal energy is being lost in the system, should the addition of Coal based TPPs be continued, unmindful of their socio-economic &ecological impacts & costs and with out giving a thought and priority, for improving the efficiencies in transportation & the end use sectors of electrical energy which is more cost effective ?
Why this Rush for "Megawatt" instead of "Negawatt"?
The illogical addition of inefficient coal based TPPs (Megawatt) and pumping energy into equally inefficient network and trying to meet ever increasing wasteful demand of the end consumers, may be satisfying the Greed of the Power Sector Industrialists and certainly not the Energy-Security and Need of the Nation?
Why does not PMO coordinate the efforts to motivate the same Industrialists for producing "Negawatt" by investing for improvement of T&D Network, as highlighted by the Expert Committee?
Why does not PMO take initiative to expedite effective implementation of, National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Water Mission etc. as part of National Action Plan on Climate change ?
What is coming in the way of popularizing grid connected Roof-Top Solar Systems, having tremendous potential without additional land requirement, as part of National Solar Mission?
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