Open Forum
New Delhi, 28 June 2017
Power For All
RIGHT RESOLVE, BUT TOUGH
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
The government’s
resolve to provide electricity to every household in the country by May next
year is well meaning but achieving the target seems rather tough. There are
still 300 million people in the country who are starved of electricity, as
stated by President Mukherjee recently in Kolkata. And even though the work is
moving in the right direction at a steady pace, it may take another year or at
least nine more months to accomplish the target.
At the same time, even
this would be a big achievement for the Modi government and the country can
claim to enter a new era. However, to receive sustained power supply for at
least four hours a day for every household will take longer at least in some
regions. Indeed, sustained supply of power is essential as education spreads
and so also micro entrepreneurial units which get set up in residential places
in the villages.
The emphasis on non-conventional
uses of power is well known and the country has moved ahead in generation of
solar power. However, there is an ongoing debate whether we should opt for
nuclear or solar power. The former was envisaged about a decade back when it
was less costly than solar power, but now the situation has changed. With
induction of latest technology, solar power is now less costly than N-power.
During the UPA era,
it was stated that nuclear power would cost no more than Rs 2.50 per unit but
presently the negotiated tariff at the two new Russian reactors at Kudankulam 3
and 4 is Rs 6.30 per unit. The cost of power of the new reactors of Areva would
not be less than Rs 7 per unit.
These rates are much
higher than the present pricing of solar power which is a maximum of Rs 3 to Rs
3.50 per unit and, according to experts, may further come down to around Rs
2.50 per unit by the early next year. One may mention here that the 500 MW
Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan saw prices drop to Rs 2.44 per unit, well below
thermal tariffs or even the average Rs 3.20 per unit rate of the National
Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
A point that needs to
be mentioned here is that as solar is dependent on the sun, which is available
for say 12 hours or so, intermittency will be a problem when solar generation
starts accounting for 15 to 20 per cent of overall supply of power. Thus, we
may be some distance away from that. However, many low-cost smart policies and
technological improvements can be initiated to improve the grid for
tomorrow.
A report by the Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy stated that the country increased its capacity for
solar energy production by about 5.5 GW between April 2016 and March 2017
against a target of 12 GW. Thus achieving the target of 100 GW by 2022 appears
to be too over ambitious.
The solar revolution
has yet to take place, notwithstanding the Metro in Kerala, and predictions
reveal that after a decade, the situation is expected to improve. Thus, the
target for generation of 100 gigawatt of solar power by 2022 may not be
achieved. The entire scientific community has been galvanised to accept the
challenge and more sincere action by the States is necessary. Moreover,
implementation of roof-top solar is taking place at a much slower place and it
seems unlikely that the government would achieve its 40 GW target by 2022, as
per a report by the PGD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Meanwhile, there are
reports of the government having approved Rs 70,000 crore nuclear energy
generation on capacity and a new transparent policy for fuel supply for thermal
power plants. It is understood that India will set up 7000 MW of nuclear
capacity with 10 units of indigenous pressurised heavy water reactor
technology, according to Power Minister Piyush Goyal. This marks India’s
biggest expansion in nuclear power. Currently 6780 MW will be a flagship ‘Make
in India’ project. However, as indigenous sources would be marshalled without
any foreign tie-up, the results may be encouraging as there are expectations of
achieving economies of scale and generation of over 33,000 direct and indirect
jobs.
One has to admit that
the development on renewable sources of power has been on the right track and
Indian scientists and engineers deserve credit. On the other hand, the
technology for coal-based power generation has to be improved so as to cut down
costs and use local coal after washing them. Low emission technology of such
power plants is needed as we cannot increase our carbon emission any further.
The renewable era has
begun and electricity generation in the villages would be from medium level
solar plants that would be cost effective and long lasting. In fact, roof tops
over apartments have to be used for solar power generation in a big way that could
meet at least 40 to 50 per cent of their power needs.
The government is in
the process of restarting the stalled hydro power projects and increase the
wind energy production target to 60 GW by 2022 from the current 20 GW. One
cannot deny the fact that the country needs considerable investment to build a
reliable and adequate energy supply chain. Resources currently allocated to
energy supply may not be sufficient for narrowing the between energy needs and
energy availability.
With demand for energy
growing at the rate of 8 to 9 per cent against production increasing at around
3 per cent, reaching electricity to the common man at affordable costs is the
biggest challenge before the government. India had assured that it would be in
a position to meet its non-fossil fuel-based energy target if it got adequate
financial and technological support, the chances of which appear somewhat
remote with the US exiting from the Paris accord.
Though foreign aid in
this direction has been rather insignificant, there has to be constant
endeavour to ensure that experimentation has to be carried out in all areas of
renewable energy -- not just solar but also nuclear, wind and hydro power -- to
ensure economies of scale. Moreover, modernisation of thermal power plants and
using indigenous coal without importing it has to be ensured in the
not-too-distant future.
A nation develops
when power is available to all of its citizens. As education spreads far and
wide and as entrepreneurship develops at the grass-root level, there is need
for electricity in all households. It is indeed distressing that though we have
completed 70 years of independence, the generation has only picked up only in
the last few years.
Power can empower the
nation and thus the endeavour of the government is noteworthy. But the
selection of sources needs to be drawn, keeping in view the cost factor. India
is a nation where around 55 per cent of the population belong to the poor and
the economically weaker sections and they have to be provided electricity at
subsidised rates. Nothing short will suffice. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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