Why wind energy?

Why wind energy?

The project is environment friendly.

India has good wind potential to harness wind energy.

A permanent shield against ever increasing power prices. The cost per kwh reduces over a period of time as against rising cost for conventional power projects.

The cheapest source of electrical energy. (on a levelled cost over 20 years.)

Least equity participation required, as well as low cost debt is easily available to wind energy projects.

A project with the fastest payback period.

A real fast track power project, with the lowest gestation period; and a modular concept.

Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs are low.

No marketing risks, as the product is electrical energy.

A project with no investment in manpower.

A country like India or any region where energy production is based on imported coal or oil will become more self-sufficient by using alternatives such as wind power. Electricity produced from the wind produces no CO2 emissions and therefore does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Wind energy is relatively labour intensive and thus creates many jobs. In remote areas or areas with a weak grid, wind energy can be used for charging batteries or can be combined with a diesel engine to save fuel whenever wind is available. At windy sites the price of electricity, measured in Rs/kWh, is competitive with the production price from more conventional methods, for example coal fired power plants.

Limitations

Wind machines must be located where strong, dependable winds are available most of the time.

Because winds do not blow strongly enough to produce power all the time, energy from wind machines is considered "intermittent," that is, it comes and goes. Therefore, electricity from wind machines must have a back-up supply from another source.

As wind power is "intermittent," utility companies can use it for only part of their total energy needs.

Wind towers and turbine blades are subject to damage from high winds and lighting. Rotating parts, which are located high off the ground can be difficult and expensive to repair.

Electricity produced by wind power sometimes fluctuates in voltage and power factor, which can cause difficulties in linking its power to a utility system.

The noise made by rotating wind machine blades can be annoying to nearby neighbors.

People have complained about aesthetics of and avian mortality from wind machines.

Biofuels

Biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels primarily produced from biomass, and can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications. Crops used to make biofuels are generally either high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, coconut, sunflower).

Categories of biofuels

Biofuels are generally classified into three categories. They are

1. First generation biofuels - First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Common first-generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas.
2. Second generation biofuels - These are produced from non-food crops, such as cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass (stalks of wheat and corn, and wood). Examples include advanced biofuels like biohydrogen, biomethanol.
3. Third generation biofuels - These are produced from micro-organisms like algae.

Biodiesel and its benefits

Bio-diesel is an eco-friendly, alternative diesel fuel prepared from domestic renewable resources ie. vegetable oils (edible or non- edible oil) and animal fats. These natural oils and fats are primarily made up of triglycerides. These triglycerides when reacted chemically with lower alcohols in presence of a catalyst result in fatty acid esters. These esters show striking similarity to petroleum derived diesel and are called "Biodiesel". As India is deficient in edible oils, non-edible oil may be material of choice for producing biodiesel. Examples are Jatropha curcas, Pongamia, Karanja, etc.

The benefits of using biodiesel are as follows

• It reduce vehicle emission which makes it eco-friendly.
• It is made from renewable sources and can be prepared locally.
• Increases engine performance because it has higher cetane numbers as compared to petro diesel.
• It has excellent lubricity.
• Increased safety in storage and transport because the fuel is nontoxic and bio degradable (Storage, high flash pt)
• Production of bio diesel in India will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, thus helpful in price stability.
• Reduction of greenhouse gases at least by 3.3 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of biodiesel.

Source : National Biofuel Centre

Biofuels

Jatropha

Jatropha curcas is multi purpose non edible oil yielding perennial shrub. This is a hardy and drought tolerant crop can be raised in marginal lands with lesser input. The crop can be maintained for 30 years economically.

For more information click here(224KB)

Sugarbeet

Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris Var. Saccharifera L.) is a biennial sugar producing tuber crop, grown in temperate countries. Now tropical sugarbeet varieties are gaining momentum in tropical and sub tropical countries, as a promising alternative energy crop for the production of ethanol.

For more information click here(324KB)

Sorghum

Sorghum (S. bicolor) is the most important millet crop occupying largest area among the cereals next to rice. It is mainly grown for its grain and fodder. Alternative uses of sorghum include commercial utilization of grain in food industry and utilization of stalk for the production of value-added products like ethanol, syrup and jaggery and bioenriched bagasse as a fodder and as a base material for cogeneration.

For more information click here(218)

Pongamia

There is several non edible oil yielding trees that can be grown to produce biofuel. Karanja (Pongamia) is one of the most suitable trees. It is widely grown in various parts of the country.

Salient features of Pongamia

• It is a Nitrogen fixing tree and hence enriches the soil fertility
• It is generally not grazed by animals
• It is tolerant to water logging, saline and alkaline soils,
• It can withstand harsh climates (medium to high rainfall).
• It can be planted on degraded, waste/fallow and cultivable lands
• Pongamiaseeds contain 30-40% oil.
• It helps in controlling soil erosion and binding sand dunes, because of its dense network of lateral roots.
• Its root, bark, leaves, sap, and flower have medicinal properties. Dried leaves are used as an insect repellent in stored grains.

Properties of Pongamia Oil

• Non edible oil is largely extracted from seeds.
• The collected seeds consist of 95% kernel
• The oil content varies between 27 - 40%.
• When mechanical expellers are used for recovery of oil from the kernels, the yield of oil is reported to be about 24 to 26.5%
• The crude oil is yellow orange to brown in color, which deepens on standing. It has a bitter taste, disagreeable odour, and it’s non-edible.
• Apart from use as a biofuel, the oil can be used for lighting lamps, lubricant, water-paint binder, pesticide, and in soap making and tanning industries
• The oil is known to be used for the treatment of rheumatism and human and animal skin diseases.
• The press cake (left over after oil extraction) is rich in Nitrogen and hence can be used for improving soil fertility. The press cake when applied to the soil, also has pesticidal value, particularly against nematodes.

Pongamia seed oil Vs standard petroleum/diesel

• Pongamia seed oil as a bio- fuel has physical properties very similar to conventional diesel.
• It is, however a clean fuel (eco friendly) than conventional diesel

Geo-Thermal

Geo-Thermal

Geo-Thermal Energy
Geothermal Energy is heat stored in earth crust and being used for electric generation and also for direct heat application worldwide since beginning of last century. USA, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Italy and Iceland are leading countries availing commercial exploitation with world production 12000 MW ^[1]. For harnessing Geothermal energy in the country the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been supporting R&D on exploration activities and Resource Assessment during last 25 years. This includes formation of expert groups, working group, core group and committees in addition to providing financial support for such projects and for resource assessment. MNRE is targeting for deployment of Geo-thermal capacity of 1000 MW_th in the initial phase till 2022. Resource Assessment is being planned in 2016-2017 for public domain.  
The objective of the programme is to assess the potential of geothermal resources in the country and to harness these resources in two distinct categories namely
(i) Power Production
Government of India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) contemplate major initiative in RDD&D of Geothermal technology for harnessing the geothermal energy in the country for the period 2015-17. Geothermal electricity generation is site and technology specific and India is in Low Geothermal Potential Region with low/medium heat enthalpy ^[12]. Government is planning to encourage the demonstration projects at the first stage to assess the technical viability of the project before going to the commercial models.
Various resource assessment carried out by GSI, UNDP and NGRI under aegis of CEA,UNDP & MNRE established the potential 10600 MW_th /1000MW_e spread over 340 hot springs across seven Geothermal provinces/11 states ^[2][14]. The average rough capital cost on not exceeding basis stands 30 Cr per MW (Rs 12 per KWhr) ^[18]. As per the international reports a 1 MW Geothermal Power Plant generates about 8.3 Millions Units (MU) per MW per annum ^[13] compared to Solar 1.6 MU per MW, Wind 1.9 MU per MW and Hydro 3.9 MU per MW

Ocean Energy 1. Introduction to Ocean Energy

Ocean Energy

1.    Introduction to Ocean Energy  

  

                 Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface and represent an enormous amount of energy in the form of wave, tidal, marine current and thermal gradient. The energy potential of our seas and oceans well exceeds our present energy needs. India has a long coastline with the estuaries and gulfs where tides are strong enough to move turbines for electrical power generation. A variety of different technologies are currently under development throughout the world to harness this energy in all its forms including waves (40,000 MW), tides (9000 MW) and thermal gradients (180,000 MW). Deployment is currently limited but the sector has the potential to grow, fuelling economic growth, reduction of carbon footprint and creating jobs not only along the coasts but also inland along its supply chains.  

 

            As Government of India steps up its effort to reach the objectives to contemplate its Renewable Energy and climate change objectives post 2022, it is opportune to explore all possible avenues to stimulate innovation, create economic growth and new jobs as well as to reduce our carbon footprint. Given the long-term energy need through this abundant source, action needs to be taken now on RDD&D front in order to ensure that the ocean energy sector can play a meaningful part in achieving our objectives in coming decades. MNRE looks over the horizon at a promising new technology and considers the various options available to support its development. Over 100 different ocean energy technologies are currently under development in more than 30 countries. Most types of technologies are currently at demonstration stage or the initial stage of commercialization.   

2.    Programme Objectives   
            The objective of the programme is to accelerate and enhance support for the research, development, resource assessment, testing and deployment of ocean energy in the country and to harness it for power generation and to overcome the barriers by encouraging collaboration between the technology developers, investors and other stakeholders so as to bridge the gap between research and the market. Resource Assessment is being planned in 2015-18 for public domain in association with IIT’s, NIOT and alike Government Research Institute to expedite the potential analysis and site identification in coordination with MNRE.  
3.    History    

• Total identified potential of Tidal Energy is about 9000 MW in West Coast Gulf of Cambay (7000 MW), Gulf of Kutch (1200 MW) and in East Coast the Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans in West Bengal for small scale tidal power development estimates the potential in this region to be about 100 MW.
• The total available potential of wave energy in India along the 6000 Km of India’s coast is estimated to be about 40,000 MW – these are preliminary estimates. This energy is however less intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes.
• In 2000 NIOT Goa, launched a programme to conduct study on technologies for producing high quality clean drinking water and energy from the ocean. The objective was to generate 2 - 3 lakh litres per day freshwater using the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination technology by 1 MW OTEC Power Plant. But it was dropped due to difficulties in installations.
• In 2010 Kalpasar Tidal Power Project at The Gulf of Khambhat was identified as a promising site for tidal power generation by UNDP Expert.
• In Jan 2011, the state of Gujarat announced plans to install Asia’s first commercial-scale tidal current power plant; the state government approved the construction of a 50 MW project in the Gulf of Kutch.
• None at the moment, but India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in Feb 2011 that it may provide financial incentives for as much as 50 percent of the cost for projects seeking to demonstrate tidal power.
• In 2014 Atlantis Energy proposed to install and develop 50-200 MW Tidal stream based power plant at Gulf of Chambey.

 4.    Technology             Although currently under-utilised, Ocean energy is mostly exploited by just a few technologies: Wave, Tidal, Current Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy.  
a)    Wave Energy   
            Wave energy is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor. Many different techniques for converting wave energy to electric power have been studied. Wave conversion devices that float on the surface have joints hinged together that bend with the waves. This kinetic energy pumps fluid through turbines and creates electric power. Stationary wave energy conversion devices use pressure fluctuations produced in long tubes from the waves swelling up and down. This bobbing motion drives a turbine when critical pressure is reached. Other stationary platforms capture water from waves on their platforms. This water is allowed to runoff through narrow pipes that flow through a typical hydraulic turbine. Wave energy is proving to be the most commercially advanced of the ocean energy technologies with a number of companies competing for the lead.  
b)    Tidal Energy   
           The tidal cycle occurs every 12 hours due to the gravitational force of the moon. The difference in water height from low tide and high tide is potential energy. Similar to traditional hydropower generated from dams, tidal water can be captured in a barrage across an estuary during high tide and forced through a hydro-turbine during low tide. To capture sufficient power from the tidal energy potential, the height of high tide must be at least five meters (16 feet) greater than low tide. There are only approximately 20 locations on earth with tides this high and India is one of them. The Gulf of Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat on the west coast have the maximum tidal range of 11m and 8m with average tidal range of 6.77m and 5.23m respectively.  
   
c)     Current Energy   
Marine current is ocean water moving in one direction. This ocean current is known as the Gulf Stream. Tides also create currents that flow in two directions. Kinetic energy can be captured from the Gulf Stream and other tidal currents with submerged turbines that are very similar in appearance to miniature wind turbines. As with wind turbines, the constant movement of the marine current moves the rotor blades to generate electric power.  
   
d)      Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)   
            Ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, to extract energy. A temperature difference of only 20°C can yield usable energy. Research focuses on two types of OTEC technologies to extract thermal energy and convert it to electric power: closed cycle and open cycle. In the closed cycle method, a working fluid, such as ammonia, is pumped through a heat exchanger and vaporized. This vaporized steam runs a turbine. The cold water found at the depths of the ocean condenses the vapor back to a fluid where it returns to the heat exchanger. In the open cycle system, the warm surface water is pressurized in a vacuum chamber and converted to steam to run the turbine. The steam is then condensed using cold ocean water from lower depths. OTEC has a potential installed capacity of 180,000 MW in India.  
    

BIOMASS POWER AND COGENERATION PROGRAMME

BIOMASS POWER AND COGENERATION PROGRAMME

1. INTRODUCTION

Biomass has always been an important energy source for the country considering the benefits it offers. It is renewable, widely available, carbon-neutral and has the potential to provide significant employment in the rural areas. Biomass is also capable of providing firm energy. About 32% of the total primary energy use in the country is still derived from biomass and more than 70% of the country’s population depends upon it for its energy needs. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has realised the potential and role of biomass energy in the Indian context and hence has initiated a number of programmes for promotion of efficient technologies for its use in various sectors of the economy to ensure derivation of maximum benefits Biomass power generation in India is an industry that attracts investments of over Rs.600 crores every year, generating more than 5000 million units of electricity and yearly employment of more than 10 million man-days in the rural areas. For efficient utilization of biomass, bagasse based cogeneration in sugar mills and biomass power generation have been taken up under biomass power and cogeneration programme.

Biomass power & cogeneration programme is implemented with the main objective of promoting technologies for optimum use of country’s biomass resources for grid power generation. Biomass materials used for power generation include bagasse, rice husk, straw, cotton stalk, coconut shells, soya husk, de-oiled cakes, coffee waste, jute wastes, groundnut shells, saw dust etc.

2. POTENTIAL

The current availability of biomass in India is estimated at about 500 millions metric tones per year. Studies sponsored by the Ministry has estimated surplus biomass availability at about 120 – 150 million metric tones per annum covering agricultural and forestry residues corresponding to a potential of about 18,000 MW. This apart, about 7000 MW additional power could be generated through bagasse based cogeneration in the country’s 550 Sugar mills, if these sugar mills were to adopt technically and economically optimal levels of cogeneration for extracting power from the bagasse produced by them

3. TECHNOLOGY

3.1 Combustion

The thermo chemical processes for conversion of biomass to useful products involve combustion, gasification or pyrolysis. The most commonly used route is combustion. The advantage is that the technology used is similar to that of a thermal plant based on coal, except for the boiler. The cycle used is the conventional ranking cycle with biomass being burnt in high pressure boiler to generate steam and operating a turbine with generated steam. The net power cycle efficiencies that can be achieved are about 23-25%. The exhaust of the steam turbine can either be fully condensed to produce power, or used partly or fully for another useful heating activity. The latter mode is called cogeneration. In India, cogeneration route finds application mainly in industries.\

Sugar industry has been traditionally practicing cogeneration by using bagasse as a fuel. With the advancement in the technology for generation and utilization of steam at high temperature and pressure, sugar industry can produce electricity and steam for their own requirements. It can also produce significant surplus electricity for sale to the grid using same quantity of bagasse. For example, if steam generation temperature/pressure is raised from 400oC/33 bar to 485oC/66 bar, more than 80 KWh of additional electricity can be produced for each ton of cane crushed. The sale of surplus power generated through optimum cogeneration would help a sugar mill to improve its viability, apart from adding to the power generation capacity of the country.

4. DEPLOYMENT

The Ministry has been implementing biomass power/co-generation programme since mid nineties. A total of approximately 500 biomass power and cogeneration projects aggregating to 4760 MW capacity have been installed in the country for feeding power to the grid. In addition, around 30 biomass power projects aggregating to about 350 MW are under various stages of implementation. Around 70 Cogeneration projects are under implementation with surplus capacity aggregating to 800 MW. States which have taken leadership position in implementation of bagasse cogeneration projects are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The leading States for biomass power projects are Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

Transforming 115 backward districts across the country

Transforming 115 backward districts across the country

First Meeting of Prabhari Officers on 24th November

In keeping with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India by 2022, Government has embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the country. Senior Government officials in the rank of the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have been designated as Prabhari Officers or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing the specific developmental needs of the districts.

The First meeting of the Prabhari Officers entrusted with the responsibility to co-ordinate the efforts of the Centre and the States towards rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the country will be held tomorrow on Friday, the 24th November. Cabinet Secretary, PKSinha will chair the meeting with the CEO of the NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant. Secretaries of key Ministries would also attend this session. Home Secretary will also brief the Prabhari Officers. Among the 115 backward districts, 35 are affected by Left Wing Violence. Shortly after this event, meeting of representatives of the State Governments and Prabhari officers is being organised to ensure that transformation of backward district in India is carried out by a dedicated team of Central and State governments.

Background:

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given a Vision for a new and vibrant India by 2022, the year when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence. Inclusive development and improving the liveability of all are integral part of this vision. One of the initiatives in this regard is to make a dramatic improvement in overall socio-economic development of backward districts. The strategy envisaged is to adopt a focussed approach, ensure convergence of efforts of the Central, State and local Government and establish a real time monitoring mechanism to focus on outcomes that matter to common people in these districts beside giving rise to a virtuous cycle of economic development.

A total of 115 districts have been identified for this purpose on the basis of objective criteria. Such criteria include education, health, nutrition basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, rural household electrification, access to potable water and individual toilets etc. These districts include 35 districts which are affected by violence by Left Wing Extremists. Besides, while selecting these districts, it has been ensured that Ministries of Government of India, implementing social sector Scheme would select at least one most backward districts in every State for extending the reach of the programme in different part of the country. Improvement in one district is likely to spur similar growth in neighbouring districts through demonstration effect.

Under this initiative, for all these 115 districts, senior level Government officers (Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary) have been nominated as Prabhari officers. It has been envisaged that using their experience, these officers would form a team with representatives of the State Governments and would also act as a bridge between Centre and the State. States have been accordingly requested to nominate senior level functionary for each district. States are the main drivers of this program.

12th Standing Committee of Inter-State Council meeting

12th Standing Committee of Inter-State Council meeting tomorrow

Recommendations of the Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations to be discussed

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to chair the 12th Standing Committee meeting of the Inter-State Council (ISC), here tomorrow.

The Standing Committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and has the Union Ministers of External Affairs Smt Sushma Swaraj, Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley, Road, Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari and Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Chief Ministers of States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh as members.

The meeting will discuss the recommendations of the Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations.

The 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of ISC was held on April 09 this year after a gap of 11 years. The convening of the Standing Committee meetings twice in the same year reflects the importance attached to the promotion of harmonious Centre-State relations. Representatives of 30 Union Ministries/Departments and 7 State Governments have also been invited to assist the Committee in its deliberations. At the meeting, the views of the State Governments and the Union Ministries/Departments will be considered along with the recommendations made by the Punchhi Commission and then the Standing Committee will finalise its recommendations.