Hydro-power sector needs major boost
Prof S C Srivastava, Head of Department Electrical Engineering, IIT kanpur has concluded a study on the use of fossil fuel in power generation and the emissions that result from it. The study suggested among other things, the need for a major boost to the hydro power generation in the country and a planned development approach in unconventional sources of energy like, wind energy.
The study was a part of the Asian Regional Research Programme in energy, environment and Climate (ARRPEEC). In the second phase of this programme, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and IIT kanpur were selected as the national research institute (NRI) from India.
The main objectives of the ARRPEEC phase II is to analyse the environmental implications of the various supply side and demand side options using generation expansion planning model. The project addressed many issues like identifying some clean development mechanism projects in the power sector and assessment of their Green House Gases (GHG) mitigating potential.
The study also aimed to address the environmental implications of Independent Power Producers (IPP) and decentralised power generation.
The study results indicate that putting an emission limit as constraint in the generation expansion planning model shifts optimal generation plan, which select more hydro power plants and combined cycle gas turbine power plants.
Hydro power plants are selected because of their lower capital cost, no operating cost and emissions.
Wind power is also a suitable option for mitigating GHG emissions as their capital cost is low but are limited to selected parts of the city.
The action plan suggested as an outcome of the project includes the introduction of clean gas technologies like PFBC, IGCC etc to the Indian power sector and an increase in hydropower in generation mix.
The study also suggested improvement in the existing power plants in the country and promotion of renewable energy sources for rural electrification.
On the Government's part the study has suggested that custom and excise duty be reduced on energy conservation devices and financing of power projects through soft loans.
Back to March News Archive