Open Forum
New Delhi, 6 January
2021
Changing Energy Mix
USE OF ALTERNATE FUELS VITAL
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
Energy efficiency has
been in sharp focus for quite a few years and there have been global pressures on
countries to adopt new technologies. Several measures have been taken by India
but considering the challenges before the country additional efforts are
certainly required. Also to ensure that pollution levels are effectively
tackled, strict monitoring by government agencies as also awareness generation
at all levels need to be expedited at a faster rate.
On the one hand while
experts have repeatedly opined that renewable targets are quite laudable, on
the other the area of concern is that fossil fuel generation has been
increasing. Some plants are yet to be modernised in tune with technological
developments. The lack of control by environmental agencies and/or municipal
authorities leads to such plants emitting more fumes and polluting the
environment, thereby affecting large sections of population.
The scenario in the
transport sector may appear encouraging theoretically with Bharat-VI vehicles
being sold presently and sufficient awareness in metros and big cities. But the
case is completely different if one travels to small cities through highways.
The highly polluting trucks are amply evident, emitting fumes, obviously
because these vehicles have not passed pollution checks in a fair and honest manner.
On the Indian roads, these vehicles are not penalised by the police as these
should be, perhaps of sheer laxity and proper instructions from higher
authorities.
Though in recent
times, the manufacture of electric vehicles have increased at a rapid pace,
promotional campaigns and benefits of
use of such vehicles are not taken up effectively, either by the
manufacturer or the government. Even in the metros and big cities, most
educated people are not well versed about these e-vehicles and why these need
to be used extensively, both for personal benefit as also for the community.
Recently at the
launch of electric two-wheelers at Kolkata of a well-known company at its
manufacturing facility in Pune, the business head observed that it has inducted
state-of-the-art techniques which have made the price of each product cost
effective as also safe, lightweight and sturdy. However, he admitted that
keeping in view the potential of such vehicles, there is need to make people
aware and conscious of the benefits of its use. Meanwhile, the Union Road Transport
and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed at a recent meeting that the US
electric vehicle major Tesla will start operations in India this year, while
Mercedes-Benz was also keen to launch its electric truck in the country.
Thus, along with
increasing use of electric vehicles, use of electric furnaces in industry, use
of electric conduction cooktops instead of fuel-based stoves and obviously use
of renewables to provide clean power is the need of the day. The need for
all-round energy efficiency through the above measures as also usage of LED
light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs helps to a greater extent. Besides, we
need new consumer incentives such as demand response interventions by utilities
distributing electricity.
Experts believe that
such transition does not require huge technological breakthroughs; it needs
that there is use of energy efficient appliances and mix the renewable power we
have. The transition to renewables would obviously save lives and protect us
from the looming environmental crisis that is becoming severe with every
passing year.
Meanwhile, while
renewable targets may be exceeded in the coming two years, there are other
encouraging developments that the government has taken. Recently, the Union Petroleum
and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan planned a $60 billion investment
for creating gas infrastructure in the country till 2024 and the share of gas
in the energy mix is expected to rise to 15 per cent by 2030 or even earlier.
“We are ushering a gas-based economy by increasing the share of natural gas in
India’s primary energy mix”, he stated.
In this connection,
it may be mentioned there is good news emanating from Asokenagar-1 well in the
Bengal basin in 24 Paragana district in West Bengal, 47 km from Kolkata. Oil
and gas has been found there which some experts believe is of better quality
than the Bombay High. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had been exploring
the State for the past six years, pouring in Rs 3358 crore in the process, and
the field appears to have more natural gas reserves than oil. It is understood
that three more wells would be drilled here by January 2022. And other than
cleaning up environment, it should help increase prosperity and local
employment in the State.
Another significant development
has been the government’s decision to substitute Rs 8 lakh crore of petroleum
products with ethanol made from surplus sugar, rice and corn. According to
Union MSME Minister Ntin Gadkari, the Centre is mulling over a policy that can
diversify surplus agricultural produce towards the energy and power sector.
Such a policy would help reduce imports though production of ethanol on such a
large scale would need specialised industrial units which the Centre would have
to formulate.
The changing energy
mix that has been envisaged in the coming years has to be taken seriously and
action plans, encompassing all sectors evolved for the coming five years, say
till the year 2025. Whether in industry or in agriculture, whether it is water,
air or soil pollution, the approach has to be different. For example, there is
need to change from industrial farming to regenerative agriculture and this is
being advocated by experts, not just in our country but across the globe.
The looming environmental
crisis with increasing emissions, whose reports from various studies are
frequently being aired in India and elsewhere, can only be tackled if energy
usage is effectively managed. Moreover, the need to bring about a drastic
change through a green outlook is imperative at this stage for achieving a
sustainable developmental outlook.
Finally, one may
refer to the UN Climate Disaster Report, where global fossil fuel production
needs to decline 6 per cent every year for the next decade for a 1.5°C rise in
temperatures. Even for a 2°C rise, it needs to keep decreasing 2 per cent
year-on-year. An important recommendation has been that the rich countries are
expected to support developing countries so that these can leapfrog the fossil
fuelled development path taken by developed nations and enter the green path,
which is sustainable and ever-lasting. A sustained reality check would aid
climate change watch.----INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
|