Energy needs of the country are growing in tune with the needs of the liberalised economy and the annual fossil oil import bill now stands at $76.9 billion. But unfortunately very little has been done to reduce the country?s dependence on fossil oil by developing alternative sources of energy that can be eco-friendly and sustainable.
Leaving aside all other viable options for promoting eco-friendly and sustainable power generation, the Union ministries of new and renewable energy and rural development are aggressively promoting the bio-fuel programme, which has already caused food scarcity and environment problems across the globe.
According to the government?s estimate, the potential for grid-interactive renewable power generation from commonly known sources other than bio-fuels is about 84,776 mw. The government has launched the programme for promoting power generation from renewable sources since last 25 years, but unfortunately the cumulative power generation from these sources is only around 11,272.13 mw.
India boasts to be the fourth largest producer of wind power in the world, but the cumulative achievement of wind power generation is only 7,844.52 mw against a potential 45,195 mw. There are about 1,284 wind pumps in use in the country. Aero-generator/hybrid systems have generated 675.27 kW power on a cumulative basis.
It is not the fact that the technology for wind power generation is in a nascent stage I the country. In 2006-07 indigenously produced wind turbines valued at $ 250 million have been exported to US, China , Brazil , Australia and European countries. Wind turbine blades vaued at $ 25 million have been exported to Germany , China , Spain and US.
The wind power programme was initiated towards the end of the 6 th Plan in 1983-84. A market-oriented strategy was adopted since its inception, supported with fiscal incentives. But despite this the progress has been very slow. Wind is a nature’s resource and scientists have estimated its speed in different parts of the country, optimal for setting up of wind power plant. At places there may be barriers like forest cover which cannot be removed in the interest of the ecology. But there are ample areas in dessert areas and high altitude suitable for wind power generation
Sun is an inexhaustible source of energy to mankind and India is ideally located for utilisation of the solar radiant energy. Optimal solar energy is received in most parts of country throughout the year, expect at times of cloud cover in the rainy season and in the times of extreme winter. The daily average incident of solar energy varies between 4 kWh and 7 kWh per sq km, depending upon the location. Solar energy can be used through thermal as well as photovoltaic route. The potential for solar photovoltaic programme in the country is estimated at 20 mw per sq km and that of solar water heating systems at 140 million sq m collector area. But the cumulative solar power generation by installed plants is only about 2.12 mw. The achievements in solar photovoltaic programme is miserably low and that of solar water heating system is limited to only 2.15 million sq m collector area.
A wide variety of technologies have been developed to harness solar energy. Efforts were made in 1980s and 1990s aiming at research & development, demonstration and large-scale promotion of these technologies. Some of these solar technologies were found to be user-friendly and suitable for decentralised applications and having no negative impact on the environment. However, the applications in public life has been quite low with 1.4 million solar PV systems, 7,068 solar PV pumps and 6,17,000 solar cookers. There are 61,549 solar street lighting systems, 3,63,399 home solar lighting system, 5,85,001 solar lanterns.
India is quite advanced in solar technology and solar photovoltaic production and exports have been rising. Solar photovoltaic production has reached 100 mw per year and about 85% of it is being exported to developed countries.
Small hydro-power projects generating up to 25 mw power are also categorised as renewable sources of energy. The country has an estimated potential of about 15,000 mw power generation through small hydro-power projects, but the cumulative power generation from these projects have been only 2,045.61 mw. However there are socio-economic problems associated with small hydro-projects at place where it has caused blockade or diversion in drown stream water affecting farming operations and causing drinking water availability problems in villages.
India is also lagging behind in power generation from biomass, bagasse and waste despite its high potential. According to government estimates, cumulative power generation from biomass is only 605.80 mw against its potential for 16,881 mw. The cumulative power generation from bagasse has been only 710.83 mw as against its potential for 5,000 mw. Cumulative generation of energy from waste has been only 55.25 mw as against its estimated potential of 2,700 mw.