Alternatives for Nuclear Power

National Power Scenario at a Glance

The achievement of increasing installed power generation capacity from 1,362 MW in 1947 to the current level of 190,593 MW (as of Feb 2012) as per details given below, is impressive:

Thermal 124,731 MW 65.44%

Hydro 38,849 MW 20.38%

RES (MNRE) 22,233 MW 11.67%

Nuclear 4,780 MW 2.51%

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Total 190,593 MW 100.00 % (Captive Generation of 19,509 MW)

Note: The availability of energy from Hydro & RES will be low, depending on Load
Factor, when compared to that from Thermal & Nuclear

.But, In spite of this impressive addition to installed generation capacity, the country is facing both energy and demand peaking shortages more than 10% and 12 % respectively, partly attributable to inefficiencies in Generation, Transportation & End Use of Energy in Power Sector.

The projection of huge growth of power generating capacity to 800,000 MW by 2031-32 (about 4 times from the present level), to sustain annual growth rate of 8% to 10% .for the next 20 years, seems to be based on the “Supply Syndrome”, rather than the thrust to improve efficiencies in the Power Sector .

Energy Security & Nuclear Power

The hollowness of the argument that India needs Nuclear Power for ensuring Energy Security, can be seen from the fact that it hardly contributes to 2.51% of the present installed capacity, in spite of huge investments in Nuclear Power Sector during the last 4 decades or so.

Even assuming that the projected installed capacity of 60,000 MW of Nuclear Power will be achieved by 2031-32, (which, going by the past record, is most unlikely), at huge financial costs under the Myth of Nuclear Safety, it hardly contributes to 7.5% of the projected total installed capacity of 800,000 MW by then, which is no where near providing energy security.

The linking of energy consumption/supply with the growth rate embodied the Myth that economic vitality requires steadily increasing energy consumption. The Nation’s Energy Security depends on efficient use of Energy Services that maximize economic competitiveness and minimize resource depletion, environmental degradation / impacts.

Cheapest & Cleanest Alternative to Nuclear Power

Cautioning against the way development is being pursued in India, Prof.Elinor Ostram, Noble Laureate in Economics (2009) is reported to have said "If we feel that eliminating poverty is only accomplished by building Power Plants and all the rest, rather than enabling people to develop resources in ways that are less destructive of the environment, the problem will get worse”

The improvement of efficiencies of the Installed Generating Capacities, Reducing Losses in Transportation of Power and improving Efficiency by the End Users of Energy (Energy Conservation Measures) which have considerable potential, can do away with the need for meager Nuclear Power involving enormous cost and risks.

Inefficiencies in existing 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 Sub-critical technology boilers and the steam turbine-generator sets, the efficiency of Extraction and Conversion from Coal to Electrical energy is hardly 33% and it may go up to around 40% even by using Super-critical technology boilers.

Taking into account, auxiliary consumption of TPPs, AT&C Losses (30%) and the inefficient use of Electrical Energy by the end users (Potential Saving of 25%), 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 effective end use, may work out to be around 20 to 25%.

Stop Capacity Addition (Megawatt) Syndrome!

While about 80% of coal energy is being lost in the system, should the addition of Coal based TPPs be continued, unmindful of their socioeconomic & environmental impacts and with out giving priority, for improving the efficiencies in the Power Sector, which is more cost effective? It is suicidal, trying to add generation capacities and feeding into inefficient network to cater for energy inefficient end usage.

Priority needs to be given to improve the efficiency of the existing coal based Thermal Power Plants by adopting better technologies and integrating with Solar Thermal technology, so as to bring down the consumption of coal and the running costs.

SSM & DSM Measures (Negawatt)

.The Supply Side Management (SSM) Measures, for bringing down AT&C Losses, estimated to be around 30% and improvement of network Power Factor to International standards by the Power Utilities need to be given the highest priority. At present the metered and billed energy is estimated to be less than 50% of the energy handled by the power utilities. As a result the bulk of the energy generated by the Power Plants is not reaching the consumers / not being metered and billed.

Whatever the energy received by the consumers and billed, is being wasted, partly due to energy inefficient devices, appliances, equipment, process, technology, practices, life-styles etc. used / adopted by the consumers. It is estimated that there is energy saving potential to an extent of 25% by adopting suitable/appropriate Demand Side Management (DSM) Measures. (Agriculture 36%, Industry 25% and Commercial & Domestic 20%)

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) & Energy Security

In view of local Environmental & Global Warming impacts of fossil fuels, particularly Coal, it is the right time to lean towards Renewable Energy Sources (RES) such as Solar, Wind, Fuel Cell & other Renewables, based on small and decentralized units, rather than through centralized, large size units based on Coal & Nuclear. They can cater for local consumers, independent of the grid and feed excess power into the grid. The stand alone Solar-LED-Lithium Battery Lighting system may be a viable substitute for subsidized kerosene in remote rural areas. The grid interactive Roof-Top Solar PV systems with net-metering facility may be a viable option, as it does not place any pressure on already scarce land resource.

Taking into account the Economic Costs of Coal Based Power and Nuclear Power--A Very Expensive, Sophisticated and Dangerous Way to Boil Water-- which should include all benefits and costs incurred for the Society during their entire life cycle, the Solar Power may prove to be cheaper even today.

“Electricity is but the fleeting byproduct from Nuclear Power. The actual product is forever deadly radioactive waste.”—

-Michael Keegan, Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes

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