Chapter 4

New and renewable sources of energy


Introduction

From times immemorial, non-conventional energy sources have been used for various applications such as for drying farm produce using solar energy and pumping out water using windmills. The general interest in non-conventional energy sources in India received an impetus following the oil shock of the 1970s, backed by political commitment on the government’s part. Today, India boasts perhaps the only Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources in the world. The Ministry manages one of the world's largest renewable energy programmes covering the whole spectrum of renewable energy technologies for a variety of grid and off-grid applications. The country has the largest decentralized solar energy programme, the second largest biogas and improved cookstoves programme, and the fifth largest wind power programme in the world. A substantial manufacturing base has been created in a variety of new and renewable sources of energy (NRSE), placing India not only in a position to export technology but also to offer technical expertise to other countries. These sources have begun to emerge as an attractive option sometimes the only one, to provide light and power to areas too remote for grid electrification. Promotion of renewable energy sources is an integral component of the country’s strategy for sustainable development.

NRSE are central to Agenda 21. This chapter examines the convergence between initiatives taken in India and the objectives set out in Agenda 21 towards the promotion of NRSE. The chapter begins with a brief overview of the sector in India highlighting the organizational structure of the sector. This is followed by a discussion of the various strategies proposed in Agenda 21, (and including the report of the IX session of the CSD) to promote the growth of NRSE. The next section evaluates policies, programmes and other initiatives taken by the government to highlight achievements and concerns in the sector, vis-a vis the goals set out in Agenda 21. Finally, directions and strategies are proposed that will go towards realizing the goals set out at the Earth Summit.

 

Overview of the sector in India

Organizational structure

Interest in RETs started form the early years of Independence. The first step towards a dedicated organizational framework was taken in 1981 when the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) was set up in the Department of Science and Technology. A year later, an independent Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES) was created in the Ministry of Energy, to focus attention on this sector. This indicated that the stage of commercialization of NRSE devices had been reached, requiring a range of conducive policy measures. To facilitate commercialization and market development, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) was established in 1987. The IREDA functions as the promotional and financing arm of the Ministry and has been able to tie up funds from domestic and international institutions for lending to end-users, manufacturers, financial intermediaries and entrepreneurs, predominantly in the private sector. In 1992, the DNES was elevated into a separate Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), reflecting the political commitment towards the promotion of NRSE. The Ministry is broadly organized into six groups dealing with rural energy, solar energy, power from renewables, energy from urban and industrial wastes, new technologies and administration and coordination.

The Ministry is implementing several programmes in these areas and has at the same time sought to promote the participation of the private sector through an encouraging policy environment. Programmes for dissemination of renewable energy technologies (RETs), are implemented through state nodal agencies (SNAs) and NGOs. The MNES has nine regional offices in different state capitals, besides a network of autonomous research organizations, NGOs, R&D and financial institutions and private entrepreneurs. These regional offices monitor, supervise and create awareness, liase with state agencies, NGOs and project promoters, and provide feedback from the field. The programmes of the Ministry have a strong R&D component. A number of research institutions are assigned specific R&D projects not only to develop new technologies but also to improve the cost-effectiveness of existing systems. Besides farming out R&D projects, the Ministry has also set up three specialized institutions, the Solar Energy Centre (SEC), Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) and the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy (SSSNIRE) to provide a range of services for testing upgradation and standardization of devices and their components. The Ministry is also actively involved in generating awareness and building capacity in the development and use of NRSE.

A women’s cell was been set up in 1997 to review progress and schemes with a view to ensuring, that empowerment of women is fostered through the Ministry’s programmes. Promotion of international co-operation remains high on the Ministry's priorities.

The MNES with increasing involvement of the private sector and NGOs has been successful in creating one of the most broad-based renewable energy programmes in the world today.

 

Renewable sources of energy and Agenda 21

Agenda 21 is founded on the principle that integration of environmental and developmental concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfilment of basic needs, and improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. To promote the growth of NRSE several strategies — to be jointly undertaken by governments, local institutions, NGOs, the private sector and the international community — were proposed in Agenda 21 and reiterated at the IX session of the CSD. These strategies include the following.

Identify NRSE suited to the particular circumstances in individual developing countries, develop and implement policies and address existing constraints to increasing their growth. Develop and implement measures to make renewable technologies more affordable.

Create conditions for the participation of the private sector in the development of NRSE.

Promote and strengthen research, development, demonstration and institutional capacities.

Encourage education and awareness raising programmes at the local national, sub-regional and regional levels and strengthen information networks, compilation and dissemination systems concerning NRSE.

Strengthen financial support to developing countries for the promotion of renewable energy as well as transfer of advanced NRSE technologies and practices. Coordinate energy plans regionally and sub-regionally, where applicable and study the feasibility of efficient distribution of environmentally-sound energy from NRSE.

The following section reviews how policies and other initiatives in the country have sought to address Agenda 21 concerns, in most cases even prior to 1992.

Review and analysis of policies and programmes

Since the emergence of a formal institutional set-up for the promotion of NRSE in the early 1980s, there have been concerted efforts towards identifying NRSE suitable for the country, intensifying R&D efforts to make RETs more user-responsive and affordable, setting up demonstration and pilot projects to establish the usefulness and commercial viability of RETs and improving support infrastructure for the financing and maintenance of applications based on these technologies. A large number of national programmes have evolved covering the entire spectrum of NRSE to meet a variety of energy requirements. In what follows, the major programmes and policies for the promotion of NRSE are discussed and analyzed to assess achievements and concerns vis-a-vis the objectives set out in Agenda 21.

 

Achievements

National programmes and policies

Agenda 21 emphasizes the need for a set of national programmes and policies to promote the use of NRSE. The growth of renewable energy in India has been possible due to a conscious and proactive government commitment towards its promotion that existed even prior to the adoption of Agenda 21.

The organizational structure for NRSE was significantly strengthened in the 1990s. At the apex level, the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources was upgraded to the level of a Ministry. At the same time, new institutions were created to cater to the new and growing challenges faced in expanding the role of this sector. These organizational changes have been simultaneously matched with a widening and deepening of programmes aimed at specific technologies.

The major programmes supported by the government include the following.

1. Rural energy

National Programme on Biogas Development

National Programme on Improved Cookstoves

Integrated Rural Energy Programme

Rural Energy Entrepreneurship and Institutional Development

Women and Renewable Energy Development

2. Solar energy

Solar thermal energy Programme

Solar water heating

Solar cooking

Solar air heating

Solar buildings

Solar Photovoltaic Programme

The programme envisages direct conversion of sunlight into electricity for such decentralized applications as fixed and portable lighting units, water pumping, small power plants, power for telecommunications, railway signalling, offshore oil platforms, and TV transmission. Noteworthy progress has been made in the following areas.

Solar lanterns

Solar home lighting systems

Solar street lighting systems

SPV power plants

SPV water pumping units

3. Power from renewables

The following technologies are making substantial contributions to the share of renewable sources, which makes up about 3% of the total grid capacity.

Wind

Small hydro

Biomass (including bagasse-based cogeneration)

Solar

4. Energy from urban and industrial wastes

5. New technologies

Since its inception, the MNES has been promoting RD&D to tap the potential of other forms of energy namely:

Chemical (fuel cells)

Hydrogen energy

Alternative fuel for surface transport (electric/battery-operated)

Geothermal energy

Ocean energy (tidal power, wave power and ocean thermal energy)

 

The details of these programmes and their achievements are discussed in Annexure 4.1. A snapshot picture of achievement under these programmes since 1992 is shown in Table 4.1.

 

Table 4.1 Renewable energy technologies: estimated potential and achievements

 

Technology

Potential

Cumulative installation up to

March 1993

December 2001

Family-size biogas plants (million)

12

1.76

3.27

Improved cookstoves

120

14.50

33.8

Solar

Solar thermal

Solar hot water systems (million m2)

140

0.25

0.60

Solar cookers (million)

0.29

0.48*

Solar photovoltaics

20 MW/km2

82.0 MWp**

Biomass

17000 MW

Biomass gasifier (MW)

-

42.8

Biomass power/Co-generation (MW)

19,500

-

358.00

Windfarms (MW)

45000

53.00

1507.00

Small hydro (MW)

15000

93.00***

1423.00

Waste to energy (MW)

1700

-

17.10

 

* As in April 2000
** Of this, 29 MWp SPV Products have been exported
*** The MNES was handling projects up to 3 MW capacity initially, but recently projects up to 25 MW capacity have been transferred to its charge from the Ministry of Power.
Source.
MNES (2002)

 

While initially technologies were promoted through design and development support, and through establishment of large-scale demonstration projects, the government has placed much greater emphasis on developing market linkages and promoting commercialization since the 1990’s by involving the private sector and providing fiscal and tax incentives, rather than public investment. The main elements of the government policy include:

Budgetary support such as for financial assistance or demonstration projects

Institutional finance through IREDA and other financial institutions for commercially viable projects;

Promoting private investment through fiscal incentives, soft loans, capital subsidies, facilities for wheeling and banking of power for the grid and remunerative returns for power provided to the grid. These incentives differ across technologies, applications and regions

Institutional capacity building for a range of services ranging from research to marketing

Education and information dissemination

 

These incentives have led to a phenomenal growth of the private sector and have sought to make NRSE more affordable to the final consumer.

 

Private sector

The role of the private sector, as an agent of technological innovation and financial resources, has been stressed in Agenda 21. As discussed above, the MNES has catalyzed the creation of a policy regime conducive to private investment in development, manufacture, ownership and operation of NRSE projects. Another favourable feature has been the interest evinced by financial institutions to provide the required funds for such projects. As a result, a number of known domestic and international names are manufacturing and marketing NRSE systems on their own and with foreign collaboration. While the manufacture of solar cells, photovoltaic modules, wind and hydel turbines etc. is by and large in the large sector, there is a significant presence of units in the small and medium sectors, particularly catering to the requirements of rural energy devices such as biogas plants, biomass briquettes, solar cookers, etc. The country also exports several NRSE devices, such as gasifiers and wind turbine equipment to developing and developed countries. There has also been a growth of private foreign investment in the country, especially in the areas of solar photovoltaics, cogeneration, wind energy, waste-to-energy projects and battery-operated vehicles, encouraged by the liberalized policies of the government. Foreign investors are permitted to enter into a joint venture not only for the manufacture of renewable energy devices but also for setting up power generation projects based on RETs. For the entire non-conventional energy sector, 100% foreign direct investment is allowed under the automatic route without the prior approval of the government. The growth of the private sector is reflected in the fact that over 95% of the installed wind capacity is in the private sector.

 

Institutional finance

The IREDA is the promotional and financing arm of the Ministry and has emerged as one of the main instruments for promoting developing and financing technologies and projects related to NRSE. It has been able to tie up funds from leading multilateral agencies such as the UN organizations, the Asian Development Bank and the European Commission, bilateral organizations and domestic financial institutions for lending to end-users, manufacturers, financial intermediaries and entrepreneurs, predominantly in the private sector. Cumulative loan disbursements by IREDA have risen from around Rs 16 million in its first year (87-88) to Rs 25478 million in December 2001, while cumulative sanctions touched Rs 50447 million (Table 4.2). In addition, major national financial institutions such as the IDBI, ICICI, IFCI, and PFC have also been financing wind power projects.

 

Table 4. 2 Cumulative sectorwise loan sanctions by IREDA till December 31, 2001

Sectors

Rs million

Biomass briquetting

194.7

Biomass cogeneration

8736.1

Biomass gasification

104.2

Biomethanation from industrial effluents

724.7

Biomass power generation

4430.0

Energy efficiency & conservation

1693.7

Solar thermal

753.7

Solar photovoltaic

5497.6

Small hydro

10276.7

Waste to energy

449.2

Wind energy

17562.5

Miscellaneous

23.5

Total

50446.6

Source. MNES (2002)

 

Research and development

Promotional policies and programmes of the government are backed by a strong research and development base aimed at reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. This includes upgradation of existing NRSE and the development, demonstration and commercialization of new and emerging technologies. The Ministry engages leading research organizations in the country to undertake R&D projects. In addition, three specialized technical institutes — SDC, C-WET and the SSSNIRE have been set up. These provide a range of services for testing and standardization of devices, upgradation of production technology, improving operational efficiency of systems and organizing programmes for skill upgradation and human resource development. In recent years, the Ministry has provided a market-oriented thrust to R&D efforts and has evolved a policy of supporting R&D with the involvement of the industry. The Ministry proposes to take up goal-oriented, industry driven R&D activities with large-scale private sector participation in order to expedite the commercialization of NRSE. The Ministry has also established an R&D Advisory Committee consisting of eminent scholars drawn from industry, academia, national laboratories and so on. The Committee considers specific proposals for research and also recommends research priorities and strategies. Individual research efforts are promoted through scholarships for advanced education at leading institutes in the country. The MNES also facilitates the acquisition of patents in the area of renewable technology.

 

Information dissemination and publicity

The Ministry's programme of dissemination of information and generation of public awareness plays an important role in popularizing the use of NRSE systems in the country. Under the programme, mass awareness is created of the multiple benefits, design features, product availability etc. of renewable energy products and devices. Target groups in all sections of the society are influenced through electronic (radio and television) and print media, postal stationary, outdoor media including static and mobile exhibitions and folk arts, song and drama. A recent initiative by the government is the concept of energy parks usually organized in educational institutions, consumer fora and large public places to demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy systems and devices amongst students and teachers, rural and urban people.

Information on technological development and the promotional efforts of the government is also widely disseminated to attract investors. Much of this information has also been made available on the Internet. A Renewable Energy Network has been set up to facilitate electronic flow of information between the Ministry and the SNAs, state governments, R&D and technology institutions, consultants, NGOs etc. The MNES also organizes regular seminars and symposia to bring together stakeholders perception on the aspects of NRSE development.

 

International cooperation

India realizes the vital need for international cooperation and interaction with other countries and international agencies at bilateral and multilateral levels for sharing experience and technical expertise. The country has strengthened international cooperation by:

Mobilizing financial resources from multilateral and bilateral agencies

Facilitating foreign direct investment and acquisition of state-of-the-art technologies.

Promoting export of renewable energy products and technologies.

Offering technical assistance to other countries and assisting in human resource development. India has provided technical assistance and consultancy services to many countries such as Cuba, Morocco, Tunisia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mali, Nepal, Myanmar, Senegal, Namibia and Uganda.

The country has actively sought to strengthen South-South cooperation. A recent initiative to promote cooperation in the region is the BIMST-EC (Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).

 

Concerns

Despite the impressive growth of the renewables sector, there are concerns and barriers to further growth. Some of the major ones are:

High initial costs

Low product responsiveness to user needs

Weak markets and market-support infrastructure including networks of suppliers, dealers, credit facilitators, maintenance and spares supply organizations etc.

Weak linkage between R&D on the one hand and market requirements for product development, deployment and technological upgradation on the other

Absence of attractive and consistent policies in certain states with respect to grid-based renewable energy, inadequate evacuation networks in some resource-rich regions and the current power tariff structure that subsidizes the use of conventional fuels

Lack of confidence amongst developers and final users in the merits of NRSE due to biased perceptions

 

NRSE already occupy an important role in the energy sector of the country especially in rural areas. Their future growth would depend on how effectively such concerns are addressed.

 

Strategies for promoting new and renewable sources of energy

Agenda 21 recognizes the great potential in renewable sources of energy in meeting the energy needs of people in a socially and environmentally sound manner. It calls for concerted efforts by governments, local institutions, NGOs, the private sector and the international community towards the promotion of NRSE. The Government of India was taking a conscious and keen interest in harnessing the country’s abundant potential of NRSE in partnership with stakeholders, long before the conceptualization of Agenda 21. Significant growth has taken place in the 1990’s because of policy initiatives by the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources.

The relevance of NRSE as decentralized sources of energy for the poor has received special attention in the country. The Approach Paper to the Tenth Plan (2002-07) explicitly recognizes the role of NRSE in meeting the energy needs of people in remote areas, using local resources and cutting out expensive delivery mechanisms associated with conventional energy sources. The GOI has recently announced a scheme for using NRSE in energizing villages that have no access to electricity. It is necessary that such villages be identified and energy options — NRSE as well as conventional sources — evaluated so that cost effective options are selected and scarce resources available for NRSE are judiciously used.

The high relative cost of RETs remains the single largest problem. This needs to be tackled from both the demand and supply ends. On the one hand, R&D and market development will help in bringing down costs as technologies mature and gain acceptance; this phenomenon needs to be accelerated. Rural co-operative banks, micro-credit schemes and ESCOs (energy service companies) will play an important role in strengthening market support infrastructure and building confidence in NRSE. On the other hand, NRSE would need to be provided a level playing-ground either by bringing down subsidies on conventional energy or by giving preferential treatment to NRSE. The new electricity regulatory structure that is slowly spreading throughout the country can be used to further the growth of renewables. In giving preferential treatment, incentives should be linked with performance so that there are built-in incentives for improving efficiency and bringing down costs.

The GOI has proposed to come out with a new policy statement on NRSE. It is expected that the above challenges and concerns will be effectively addressed in this new initiative. In addressing these concerns, the state governments, regulators and other stakeholders will have to be taken along so that efforts at the national level are effectively implemented.

Finally, the international community will need to play its role by providing greater financial and technical support to complement domestic efforts and to make up for the limited resources available to developing countries often subject to competing and more pressing claims. The responsibility of the international community comes into focus in the light of grave inequities in energy consumption patterns worldwide that have also affected the global environment adversely. Only an international partnership can help ensure that the energy needs of all are met in an economically efficient, socially equitable and environmentally accountable manner.

 

Annexure 4.1

 

Programmes supported by the Ministry of Non- conventional Energy Sources for the promotion of NRSE in India

 

Renewable Energy Technologies are increasingly being viewed as an equitable and environmentally sound way of addressing the energy concerns in the country- low per capita energy consumption, inequalities in access, supply constraints, growing dependence on imports, and high environmental costs. Rural energy demand still to a large extent is met by non-commercial energy sources such as firewood, cattle dung and crop residues. The real cost of using these fuels- in terms of the time spent in collection, storage and preparation; the health implications of indoor air pollution caused by the use of these fuels; and potential environmental damage caused by deforestation and desertification- is extremely high.

Over the last few years, the technical, operational and economic viability of RETs (renewable energy technologies) has led to a surge of interest in their applications. RETs can contribute substantively towards meeting grid and off-grid energy needs. Several technologies for grid connected power generation such as using wind, small hydro and biomass are proven technologies which are in large scale application in the country. In addition, RETs offer possibilities of distributed generation in sparsely populated or far-flung areas where extension of the grid may be unviable. A niche area for RETs is a range of thermal applications both in rural and urban centres. Applications such as solar air and water heating systems, solar cookers, solar buildings, as well as energy recovery from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes are becoming popular in urban, semi-urban and rural centres. Perhaps the most wide spread application potential of RETs is in rural areas for purposes of cooking, lighting, water pumping, agro and rural industries, where the growth of RETs also creates significant employment opportunities.

This section discusses the objectives and achievements of various programmes launched by the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources [1].

 

Rural Energy

National Programme on Biogas Development (NPBD)

The NPBD, one of the earliest programmes to be taken up by the Ministry, was especially designed in view of the large-scale dependence on traditional fuels in rural areas.

 

It aims to:

Provide clean and affordable source of energy in rural areas

Improve sanitation and hygiene by linking toilets with biogas plants

Reduce the drudgery of women and girl children in walking long distances to collect fuel wood

Provide enriched manure for supplementing the use of chemical fertilisers

Conserve on the use of fuelwood

 

A multi-agency approach has been followed in implementing the programme involving SNAs, various village organisations and NGOs, which provide construction, maintenance, and training services and also a number of promotional and awareness generation campaigns. Over 25% of the total potential of family size biogas plants has been achieved. Such households have been meeting their cooking fuel requirements largely and lighting fuel needs partially with biogas. With the current level of achievement, the programme is estimated to have resulted in a saving of 3.9 million tonnes of firewood and 0.9 million tonnes of urea per year as well as providing 5 million person-days of employment.

 

National programme on Improved Cookstoves

Started in 1986, the NPIC aims at propagating the use of more efficient cookstoves that consume less fuel and emit less smoke thereby reducing the incidence of lung and eye ailments amongst rural women. The programme is being implemented through a multi-agency approach with the help of a number of grass roots institutions to ensure extensive coverage. It is estimated that around 32.9 million improved cookstoves are in use in the country resulting in a saving of 12 million tonnes of bio-fuels and 98 million litres of kerosene per year during the five year life span of the cookstoves.

 

Integrated Rural Energy Programme

The IREP aims at developing planning and institutional capabilities to formulate and implement micro level energy plans and projects for promoting the most cost-effective mix of energy options for use in rural areas. The objectives of the programme are to

Provide for minimum domestic energy needs

Provide the most cost effective mix of energy sources for meeting the requirements of sustainable agriculture and rural development with due environmental considerations

Ensure people's participation in the planning and implementation of IREP plans and projects through various micro-level institutions

Develop and strengthen mechanisms and co-ordination arrangements for linking micro-level planning for rural energy with state and national level for energy and economic development

 

The centre and state provide financial, technical and training support for the IREP programme, which is being implemented in 724 blocks in the country against the 860 blocks sanctioned.

 

Rural Energy Entrepreneurship and Institutional Development

This programme was initiated in 2000-01 for building capacity for installation and maintenance servicing of energy systems. The programme seeks to create and strengthen entrepreneurship in the rural energy sector at the local level to promote micro-enterprises for manufacturing, marketing, and servicing. The programme also aims to strengthen entrepreneurship development centres in various states for providing training, management skills, support for project formulation, maintenance services and export management and consultancy. The programme would be implemented through the involvement of NGOs, and educational institutions and by strengthening linkages amongst rural energy entrepreneur, renewable energy industries, financing institution including IREDA and SNAs.

 

Women and Renewable Energy Development

This programme, introduced in 2000-01, aims at empowering women by involving them in the promotion and management of renewable energy systems and devices and through encouraging the widespread use of renewable energy technologies in rural areas. The SNA along with educational institutions, NGOs and other village institutions are implementing the scheme in select areas.

 

Solar Energy

Solar thermal energy Programme

The programme seeks to tap solar energy for thermal applications such as water heating, cooking, drying, space heating, distillation, power generation and solar passive architecture. The solar water heating, cooking and air heating concepts are being used extensively in the country while the concept of solar buildings is becoming increasingly popular. The measures initiated by the Ministry towards the promotion of solar thermal energy programme include technology development, standardisation and quality control, financing, special area demonstration, publicity and awareness generation, training, amendments to the building bye-laws, establishment of sales and service networks etc. In terms of policy initiatives, there has been a general shift away from central subsidy towards soft loans, tax incentives and promotional support. The technology that is available in the country today is largely indigenously developed. The achievements under some of the solar thermal programmes are highlighted below.

 

Solar water heating: Can be used to meet the energy needs for heating water in homes, factories, and other commercial and institutional establishments. The collector area installed so far in India for water heating is around 5, 50, 000 sq. m. Solar water heaters are now being manufactured on a commercial scale with an annual production of over 50,000 sq. m. of collector area.

 

Solar Cooking: One of the oldest programmes of the Ministry being promoted in homes, commercial establishments, religious places, schools etc. Around 0.5 million solar cookers have been sold in the country since the inception of the programme.

 

Solar air heating: Can be used to meet energy requirements for space heating during winter months and to meet process heat requirements in industries and agriculture. So far, around 4500 sq. m collector area has been installed in the country for space heating

 

Solar buildings: The objective of this programme is to promote energy efficient-building designs with optimum use of available solar energy and other forms of ambient energy in the management of energy needs of buildings. The Ministry has provided partial financial assistance to several government and semi-government organisations for designing and constructing solar-efficient buildings. In addition, there are ongoing efforts to develop a detailed climatic database for the country to evolve suitable design guidelines for energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings in different parts of the country.

 

Solar Photovoltaic Programme

The programme envisages direct conversion of sunlight into electricity for such decentralised applications as fixed and portable lighting units, water pumping, small power plants, power for telecommunications, railway signalling, offshore oil platforms, and TV transmission. These are being increasingly used for meeting the electrical energy needs in remote villages, hamlets, hospitals and households in the hilly areas, forest region, deserts and islands. The programme is supported through intensive R&D, standardisation and testing, demonstration programmes, and various financing incentives. The programme has resulted in significant technology developments, besides widespread field demonstrations and utilisation of SPV technology for various applications. A strong research base, as well as indigenous production capability has been created in the entire SPV area starting from silicon material to solar cells, photovoltaic modules, complete systems and power plants. So far a total of 65 MWp aggregate capacity SPV systems have been deployed for various applications, including export of about 18MWp capacity of SPV products. The sector wise deployment of PV

modules is shown in Figure 1.

 

Figure 1 Sector-wise use of PV modules

(Aggregate capacity: 65MW; 800,000 Systems)

 

Power from renewables

The government has actively sought to increase the share of renewable sources of energy in the grid capacity. By the end of December 2000, about 3000 MW, representing around 3% of the total grid capacity in the country was based on renewable energy sources, mainly wind, small hydro, biomass (including bagasse-based cogeneration) and solar as indicated in Table 7.1. This has been possible through intensive R&D, survey and assessment of the potential of various sources, demonstration projects, development of capacity for manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance, institutional and infrastructural development, training programmes, awareness creation etc. In the 1990s, there has been a general policy shift towards large-scale commercialisation of RETs for power generation and participation of the private sector through various financial and fiscal incentives.

 

Energy from wastes

The national programme on energy recovery from wastes offers the multiple benefits of reduction of urban and industrial waste, abatement of environmental pollution and production of energy. The Ministry is currently implementing two programmes in this area. One is the national programme on recovery of energy from urban and industrial wastes and the other, with UNDP/GEF assistance, on development of high rate biomethanation processes to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. The national programme on energy recovery aims at promoting efficient and proven technologies for treatment, processing and disposal of wastes, as means of improving the waste management practices in the country, besides augmenting decentralised power generation. Various fiscal and financial incentives are being provided under this programme to Municipal Corporations, State Nodal Agencies, promoters, entrepreneurs and financial institutions for setting up waste-energy projects. More than 26 MWe of capacity has been installed through such projects since 1996-97. The project on the development of high rate biomethanation processes, assisted by UNDP/GEF, seeks to build expertise and capabilities in national and state level institutes, R&D organisations and universities to assimilate develop and adapt technologies; to generate awareness; to set up demonstration projects; and to develop a master plan at the national level and a shelf of investment proposals.

 

New technologies

Since its inception, the MNES has been promoting the development of other forms of energy namely chemical, geothermal, ocean and hydrogen. The Ministry has been supporting a number of RD&D projects sanctioned to various scientific institutions, universities, CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) laboratories, and industries. In particular, progress has been made in the promotion of the following technologies.

Fuel cells

Hydrogen energy

Alternative fuel for surface transport (electric/battery operated)

Geothermal energy

Ocean energy (tidal power, wave power and ocean thermal energy)

 

References

http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev

 

Report of the Committee on Power

New Delhi: Ministry of Energy. 205 pp.

 

Report of the Fuel Policy Committee

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 139 pp.

 

Annual Report 2000/2001

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, Government of India. 72 pp.

 

Renewable Energy Sources - Key Issues for commercialisation, Energy for Growth and Sustainability

Kalpakkam: INAE. pp. 131-152

 

Annual Report 2000-2001

New Delhi: Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. 110 pp.

 

Renewable Energy in India – Business Opportunities

New Delhi: Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources. 163 pp.

 

Annual Report 2001-2002

New Delhi: Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources. 140 pp.

 

Report of the Working Group on Energy Policy

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 121pp.

 

Approach Paper to the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002-07)

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 49 pp.

 

Renewable energy sector in the country: Draft status paper

New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute

(Report number 2000RT41)

 

TEDDY 2000/2001 (TERI Energy Data, Director, and Yearbook)

New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute. 452 pp.

 

  • Seventh Five Year Plan: 1985–1990

Vol. 2: pp. 50-70, 125-166

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 421 pp.

 

  • Eighth Five Year Plan: 1992–1997

Vol. 2: pp 197-202

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 480 pp.

 

  • Ninth Five Year Plan: 1997-2002

Vol. 2: Thematic Issues and Sectoral Programmes

New Delhi: Planning Commission. 1059 pp.

 

Notes:

 

[1] The section draws largely from Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Annual Report 2000/2001.