Energy saving

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy created from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, water, waste products and other sources that can be naturally replenished. India is fortunate to be blessed with an abundance of such sources. These sources of energy are available locally throughout the year and do not need elaborate arrangements for distribution. This makes them well suited to decentralized applications for use in remote areas. Other advantages of renewable energy sources are its environment friendliness and low operation costs.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy - External website that opens in a new window is responsible for putting into action comprehensive programmes for the development and utilization of renewable energy. It is promoting many new technologies and devices that are now commercially available. These include biogas plants, solar water heaters, solar cookers, street lights, pumps, wind electric generators, water-pumping wind mills, biomass gasifiers and small hydro-electric generators. Currently, renewable sources contribute around 9 per cent of the total power installed capacity in the country. Here are some details about the types of alternative sources of energy being produced.

Biogas (888KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - Biogas is derived from organic products, primarily cattle dung, kitchen waste and agro forestry wastes and is used mainly in rural areas. The Government promotes the use of biogas through the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme - External website that opens in a new window. Biogas can be used for cooking, heating, lighting, motive power in certain gas engines and generation of electricity through attached alternators. There is an estimated potential for the installation of 12 million family type biogas plants in the country. Currently, India ranks second in the world in biogas production.
Biomass (960KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - Biomass has been used by mankind ever since the beginning of civilization and includes wood, sugarcane residues, wheat chaff and other plant matter. It is carbon neutral and has the potential to provide significant employment in rural areas. The three main biomass technologies being promoted by the Government are bagasse-based cogeneration in sugar mills, biomass power generation, and biomass gasification for thermal and electrical applications. Of late, biomass power has become an industry attracting annual investments of over Rs.1000 crores while generating more than 9 billion units of electricity per year.
Solar Energy (1MB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - India is a sunny country with most parts receiving about 4 to 7 kilowatt hours of solar radiation per square metre per day with 250 - 300 sunny days in a year. This makes solar energy a very attractive option for generating both power and heat. The thermal route uses the heat from the sun for water heating, cooking, drying, water purification, power generation and much more. The photovoltaic route converts sunlight into electricity, which can then be used for lighting, pumping, communications and power supply in non electrified areas.
Energy from Wastes (804KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - Rapid industrialization, urbanization and changes in the lifestyles, which accompany the process of economic growth, give rise to generation of increasing quantities of wastes and the environmental problems of air & water pollution and climate change. In recent years, technologies have been developed that not only help in generating substantial decentralized energy from waste but also in reducing their quantity for safe disposal. There exists an estimated potential for recovery of over 3500 MW of energy from urban and industrial wastes. The government is implementing a Programme on Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes - External website that opens in a new window.
Wind Energy (952KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - India is currently the fifth largest producer of wind power in the world, after USA, Germany, Spain and China. Wind energy is used for water pumping, battery charging and large power generation. It works through a simple concept – the flowing wind rotates the blades of a turbine, which causes electricity to be produced in a generator. Up to March 2009, a total wind power capacity of 10,242 MW has been established. The Government has initiated the Wind Power Programme - External website that opens in a new window to assess wind resources, promote setting up projects and provide incentives to promote wind energy as an supplementary source of electricity in the country.
Small Hydro Power (852KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - Hydro power is the largest source of renewable energy for generating electricity. It is obtained from the energy of water flowing from a height, which is converted into electricity by using a turbine coupled to a generator. In India, hydro power projects with a station capacity of up to 25 megawatts (MW) are categorized as small hydro power projects. The estimated potential for power generation from such plants is about 15,000 MW, with the most prospects being seen in the Himalayan States. As Small Hydro Power Projects are economically viable, the private sector has also begun investing in them.
Hydrogen Energy (808KB) - PDF file that opens in a new window - Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, flammable gas which is high in energy content. When burnt, hydrogen produces water as a by-product. This makes it an efficient source of energy as well as an environmentally clean fuel. It can be used for power generation and transport applications as well as for spacecraft fuel.
The Government is also working to develop advanced technologies of renewable energy such as geothermal energy, ocean energy, fuel cells, bio fuels and tidal energy to satisfy future energy requirements.

The future of energy production is filled with challenges. As renewable energy is obtained from natural sources, adopting such technologies would protect our environment by reducing pollution and save the nation billions of rupees from oil imports. Thus, it is important to promote the benefits of conserving energy and adopting such 'clean' technologies through public awareness campaigns. As citizens learn and adopt energy saving behaviour and technologies in their homes and businesses, the nation will also progress.

We are fortunate enough to have inherited an India with beautiful mountains, lush green country landscape and thick forests to explore. It is vital that we pass on a clean, healthy and safe environment to future generations also. Tapping of renewable sources of energy and energy conservation are two steps in the direction of ensuring energy security and bequeathing a green planet to our children.