N.S. Venkataraman explores the eco-friendly options of power generation available to India, and the roadblocks to them successfully replacing conventional fuel sources. India aims to achieve zero emission of noxious gases by 2070, which means that the use of crude oil, natural gas and coal has to be completely stopped. In the present conditions, it is difficult to visualise such a scenario developing in the next few decades, he says
The level of energy consumption is believed to be an indication of the industrial, economic and social conditions of a society, as energy is essential for the growth of the industrial, agricultural, services, transport, power and other sectors which affect a country’s economic and social development. With the Indian economy growing at an impressive rate, particularly in the last ten years, energy consumption has been steadily increasing in the country. To generate energy, fuel is required. The major sources of fuel are crude oil, natural gas or coal.
India is heavily dependent on imported crude oil and natural gas for its energy needs. The country’s present requirement of crude oil is around 250 million tonnes per annum while domestic production is only around 30 million tonnes per annum. The rest is being imported. Similarly, India currently needs around 75 billion cubic metres of natural gas per annum and domestic production is only around 35 billion cubic metres. Domestic production of crude oil and natural gas has been virtually stagnant during the last several years and is likely to increase only marginally in the coming years, despite government’s proactive policies in this regard.
Concerns surrounding traditional fuel sources
The consumption of crude oil and natural gas has been steadily increasing by 7 per cent per annum and, consequently, import has also had to increase. The global prices of crude oil and natural gas have been fluctuating due to geo-political factors, and any increase in the global price causes serious problems for India due to heavy outflow of foreign exchange.
Around 60 per cent of power generation in India is done using coal as fuel. The country has large deposits of coal. During the last few years, domestic production of coal has increased significantly, and it is likely to reach 1000 million tonnes per annum shortly, due to several measures and policies initiated by the government.
Toxic fallout
Crude oil and natural gas are used as feedstock for production of derivative products and also for the production of fuels such as diesel, furnace oil and petrol. Use of these fossil fuels for transportation, as fuel in industrial operations and for power generation leads to emission of noxious gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.
Using coal as fuel for generation of power and for other purposes also results in emission of such noxious gases. These gases adversely impact climatic conditions and cause global warming which has disastrous consequences. India has promised to achieve zero emission of these noxious gases by 2070, which means that the use of crude oil, natural gas and coal has to be completely stopped. In the present conditions, it is difficult to visualise such a scenario developing in the next few decades.
Eco-friendly options
While the challenges are daunting, there are some ways by which the impending energy crisis can be overcome. The Government of India has taken several measures to develop and install capacity for generation of energy without the use of fossil fuels. However, it is doubtful whether these alternate energy sources can completely eliminate use of fossil fuel, especially because of some negative factors. Let’s take a look at some of these alternative sources, and their prospects:
Renewable energy (solar, wind and hydro power)
During the last ten years, renewable energy capacity has substantially increased, and solar power and wind power stand at around 185 GW. India aims to increase this to 500 GW by 2030. In the 2024 financial year, capacity generation for renewable power has increased by 4 per cent. However, generation of renewable energy such as solar power, wind power and hydro power is seasonal and depends on weather conditions. Further, the capacity utilisation of the renewable power industry is only 20 per cent or less as against 60 per cent for power based on coal.
Nuclear power
India is also aiming to increase nuclear power generation in a big way, particularly since it does not cause emissions and needs no conventional fuels like petroleum or coal. However, environmentalists are protesting against this, citing safety issues including disposal of nuclear waste. Such protests have often resulted in delaying the choice of sites and construction of projects.
Green hydrogen projects
Green hydrogen projects are also on the government’s agenda. Green hydrogen is produced from water by electrolysis. It is an eco-friendly source of power generation. While green hydrogen would eliminate the use of traditional feedstock such as crude oil and natural gas or coal, the cost of production of green hydrogen is several times more than that of producing hydrogen using the conventional methods. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the production cost of green hydrogen is brought down, but this appears to be a very difficult task a present.
Biofuels
There are excellent prospects for production of biofuel from various natural sources. Algae is one such source. Algae can be cultivated using only waste water and good sunlight. India’s climatic conditions are suitable for this, and it can be grown on wasteland, thereby not taking up land needed for food crops. However, the country has not taken adequate steps taken to produce algae biofuel.
Ethanol
The government has taken measures to blend ethanol with petrol to reduce the consumption of the latter. However, observers have expressed doubts over this step, since ethanol can be used to make several derivative products presently produced from coal or natural gas. Further, in its eagerness to boost ethanol production, the government is permitting ethanol to be produced from food crops such as rice and maize, raising questions of advisability, in view of the continuing rise in the country’s population.
Ethanol can be produced from sugarcane molasses or beet molasses, made from beet sugar. Cultivation of beet requires much less water and only half the time of sugarcane. However, no appropriate steps have been initiated in India so far to cultivate beets in the desired quantities.
(The writer is trustee, Nandini Voice for the Deprived, Chennai. He is a chemical engineer.)
from Webdoux