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MAJOR DECISIONS AND INITIATIVES
NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has given a new direction to the existing priorities, policies and programmes of the Ministry, aligning them with the objectives of the Common Minimum Programme regarding rural electrification, energy security and world class infrastructure.
District Advisory Committee on Renewable Energy
A District Advisory Committee (DAC) on Renewable Energy headed by the District Collector is being constituted in every district to oversee the implementation of renewable energy programmes in the district, integrate these with other rural development programmes and address barriers to the accelerated switch over to renewable energy. So far, around 409 DACs have been set up across the country and in the remaining districts the DACs will be formed shortly. Each has 16-20 members from heads of various departments, Bar Council, Rotary Club, Nehru Yuva Kendra and two representatives of Members of Parliament. Besides 6 women members are mandatory in each DAC.
Electrification of Remote Villages
Under the remote village electrification programme, a target of electrifying 5000 remote villages has been set for X Plan against which about 1944 remote villages and 594 remote hamlets have been electrified as on 31.03.05 since the inception of this Programme in 2001-02. A total of 403 remote villages/hamlets in 11 States have been electrified under this Programme during 2004-05 alone.
Test Projects for Creating ‘Energy Security’ in Villages
The Ministry formulated a concept of providing “energy security” in villages through biomass and other renewable energy sources. 24 test projects on Village Energy Security have been sanctioned during the year. Employment opportunities for about 25 persons per village are envisaged. On the basis of the outcome of the test projects, a full-fledged programme covering remote villages/hamlets may be formulated.
Rajiv Gandhi Akshya Urja Diwas
Ministry has decided to observe 20th August - the birthday of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi as ‘Rajiv Gandhi Akshya Urja Diwas’ every year as an annual feature in order to focus attention on the deployment of renewable energy systems and devices in rural and urban areas and in industrial and commercial establishments. On 20th August, 2004, over one million school children held rallies and spread the message of renewable energy in districts. Essay, quiz, debate and painting competitions on renewable energy were also held. A commemorative stamp was issued on this day by the Department of Posts to mark this occasion.
Grid-Interactive Renewable Power
The Ministry has set an aim of installing 10 per cent of the additional power generation capacity in the country through grid interactive renewable power by 2012. A target of 3075 MW capacity addition has been planned during X Plan period. Over 1200 MW capacity has been added through wind, small hydro and biomass power in the country in the last one year. This has been achieved by encouraging major investment from the market.
Wind Power Programme
The annual wind power capacity addition touched a new height of 1000 MW as compared to an achievement of 615 MW during the last year. The cumulative installed wind power capacity has reached about 3500 MW. As a result, India now ranks at 4th position in the world, after Germany, USA and Spain in wind power generation, thus overtaking Denmark. The first 2 MW wind turbine was installed at Chettikulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, which is the largest unit size installation in Asia.
Standalone Renewable Energy Systems
About 1,00,000 biogas plants and around 16,530 solar photovoltaic lighting systems and 59.4 kWp solar photovoltaic power plants were installed during 2004-05. Biomass power projects aggregating to 140 MW capacity were installed, which have created large number of employment and income generation opportunities specially in rural areas. In addition, 100 per cent producer gas operated engine was developed and deployed in several villages for rural electrification.
Solar Thermal Energy
Over 1,50,000 m2 of collector area has been installed in the country for solar water heating in domestic, industrial and commercial sectors making the cumulative installed collector area over one million m2. A solar steam cooking system consisting of 20 dishes of 12.6 m2 area each has been commissioned at Global Hospital and Research Centre, Mount Abu. The system produces around 1200 Kg. Of steam every day which is being used for the purpose of cooking, sterilization and laundry.
Energy Recovery from Urban and Industrial Wastes
A 1 MW power plant from cattle dung has been commissioned in Ludhiana. Another plant for generating 3 MW power from palm oil industry waste has been commissioned in Andhra Pradesh. Both the plants are the first of its kind in India and will lead for installation of more such plants and waste utilization.
New Initiatives
Major thrust is being given towards – research, development, demonstration, commercialization and deployment of new and renewable energy systems/devices for transportation, portable and stationary applications for rural, urban, industrial and commercial areas. Alternate Fuels for surface transportation including electric/hydrogen/hybrid vehicles. Bio-fuel is being developed for motive power for stationary/portable applications. A Steering Group, set up by the National Hydrogen Energy Board, under Shri Ratan Tata, is about to prepare final action plan for public private partnership and the road map for hydrogen energy. A new component of cow dung based power plants have been introduced in the biogas programme.
RK/LV/VN
SF- 17/11.05.2005
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