Given the encouraging growth in renewable energy since 2003, there’s no doubt that solar and wind energy sources hold the answer to India’s energy woes. They will help the country move from a power deficit to surplus position
Coal-powered thermal power plants have been generating environmentally expensive energy, inspite of proven studies and evidence from around the world on the ecological damage they inflict. Currently, more than 70 per cent of India’s electricity is produced by coal-fired power plants that use outdated technology and low-grade coal, which are detrimental to the interests of the environment.
But inspite of the ecological costs, the thermal power plants continue to operate undeterred. In addition to the pollution caused by the usage of coal, thermal power plants have now become a serious cause of concern due to the generation of fly ash — a polluting by-product of thermal power generation.
Recently, the National Green Tribunal slammed the Bakreswar thermal power plant in West Bengal for causing intensive fly ash pollution. The tribunal’s eastern zone Bench issued a show cause notice to Bakreswar thermal power plant, asking why it should not be penalised for polluting the Chandrabhaga and Bakreswar rivers in West Bengal.
The 210-megawatt Bakreswar power plant, managed by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation limited, has been generating power since 2000. Earlier, the plant was rated as one of the worst in India by the green rating project, conducted by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment.
The overflow from the ash ponds has led to the surrounding villages being severely affected. Standing crops have been ruined and the villagers subjected to financial difficulties. Ironically, in it’s 2011-2012 environmental statement report the power plant claimed that it’s pond was large enough to store ash for the next 30 years.
Though the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change has been pushing for 100 per cent ash utilisation since 1999, the lack of concerted efforts and absence of monitoring authorities has meant that the goal is far from realisation and pollution from fly ash remains one of the challenges posed by the thermal power plants.
The problems of pollution associated with power generation are being compounded by the shortage of power in India. Due to the demand-supply gap, the thermal power plants are being pushed to generate more energy in a manner that is inefficient and polluting. India has rich energy resources and ambitious engineering and design talent.
But it’s management of the energy sector, and it’s undisciplined understanding of the limits of technology and ecology in the era of climate disruption, are important factors hampering energy production. Due to this, the energy supply to communities and businesses is inadequate and the gulf between available energy supplies, demand, and imports is growing wider and more expensive.
As of March 2014, India’s utilities had built 237 gigawatt of electrical generating capacity. Over the last five years, the average annual increase in generating capacity has been 14 gigawatt. That is sufficient to provide the average Indian household with 684 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Compared to this, the United States, with 1,050 gigawatt of electrical generating capacity, provides an average American household with 13,000 kilowatt-hours annually. On the other hand, China has a 1,150 gigawatt of generating capacity, which provides Chinese homeowners an average of 3,300 kilowatt hours annually. This shows that compared to world
standards, India has a lot of catching up to do.
Even though, India is generating more electricity each year, but at the current rate of annual growth, it will take at least six more decades for India to generate levels of electricity that are comparable to the US and China. According to the World Health Organisation, the population of India will reach 2.3 billion people by 2055; this will require India to create an additional power capacity of 2,000 gigawatt to cater to future demands.
The creation of this additional generating capacity will have to be environmentally friendly. According to the Central Electricity Authority, in 2003 renewable fuels and technology accounted for 1,628 megawatts of generating capacity and by 2014 the renewable generating capacity reached 30,178 megawatts. Given the encouraging growth in renewable energy since 2003, it is undoubtedly the correct path for India to proceed upon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the apt leader who can guide the country from the position of deficit power to surplus power.
During the 12+ years that Mr Modi served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his successes included drastically curtailing the number of hours that manufacturers in India’s premier industrial State went without electricity. The State’s transmission grid was strengthened and Mr Modi promoted the development of 900 megawatts of solar generating capacity. That’s equivalent to the power generated by a large nuclear plant. With able leaders at the helm and vast potential of renewable energy to tap, India cannot go wrong in replacing thermal energy with green energy to power India’s future.