08.31.11A. Shyam, Environmental Specialist, GMR Group

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Domestic energy consumption pattern varies from country to country depending upon their requirement for various activities. According to one estimate, per capita energy consumption ranges between 0.201 to 0.902 ToE (Tons of oil Equivalent)* respectively for India and USA (1 ToE = 42 GJ = 11 630 kWhr.). If China and India adopt Western Lifestyles, an extra 500 MToE/yr will be consumed. India, in particular would therefore need more and more power plants to match even the per capita of the world which stands at 0.348 ToE.

In view of the recent developments primarily focusing on 'Energy Efficiency', there has been a lot of awareness in India on the conservative approach by the end-users. An attempt therefore is made here to look at prospects of domestic sector focusing mainly on renewable options for households.

Background

Primary energy use of the household sector accounts for 15-25% in developed countries which could be higher in developing countries. Energy-based living standards and more efficient energy use are indeed opposing trends in developing countries that affect household energy consumption. Energy use in developing countries unlike western counterparts is primarily required for lighting, entertainment, water lifting and to a little extent air condition during peak summer months.

Work Program of the Commission on Sustainable Development on changing consumption and production patterns included "identifying the policy implications of projected trends in consumption and consumption patterns".

In fact, review of 1992 (Earth Summit) progress report in 1997 provided the basis for policy recommendations of the above commission. The progressive evaluation provided substantial annual / five year statistics contributing broadly on the trends in each sector - selected minerals, private transportation, land resources and agriculture and energy and transport. While the household energy consumption pattern at the global and regional levels are most indicative of movement towards or away from sustainability, the same at the national level examines the impact of policies on trends.

Global Household Energy Use

The average global per capita household energy use in developed countries is about nine times higher than developing countries. Non-commercial fuels provide a large share of household energy in developing countries. North America presented decline in per capita household energy consumption as a result of many factors including increased energy efficiency and saturation with domestic electrical appliances. In contrast, this was higher in Africa owing to a higher share of fuel wood and other biomass as energy source. Such differences are extremely apparent between rural and urban populations; high and low income groups not only within the country but even among countries.

While climatic and cultural differences are important, urbanization and economic development are factors which account for these differences. Traditionally, fuel wood, charcoal and agricultural wastes constitute major sources of household energy consumption. Efficiency of liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) however is almost 4 times of traditional fuel wood. Savings from efficient technologies for cooking, heating and lighting combined with building insulation provides substantial savings. However, diffusion of such options in developing countries is rather slow mainly because of the inability to afford initial high cost directly related to low income. Shortage of particular fuel, distribution network and failure of distribution system further add to immediate adoption.

What is the Alternate?

India, the 6^th largest energy consumer supplies 3.4% of global energy consumption to 17% of the global population. More than 50% of India's commercial energy demand is met through coal. While the investment in recent years on renewable has been substantial, a massive commitment towards various nuclear reactors has been made.

A report published by Citigroup Global Markets, India is expected to add 113 GW of installed capacity by 2017. Renewable share might increase to 36 GW.

The current installed capacity as on April, 2011 is 1, 74,361 MW -- 1, 13,559 MW Thermal; 37,567 MW Hydro; 4780 MW Nuclear; 18455 MW Renewable Energy Sources and 19509 MW Captive.

Power sector problems seem quite unique despite huge investment since independence and increase in generating capacity. Moreover, social, economic and environmental implications of late clubbed with huge extension of grid based electricity supply attract careful review from not only the point of sustainability but, more importantly global warming perspective as well.

Grid based centralized generation in India coupled with long transmission lines, complex distribution network associated with transformers, reduced reliability and increased capital & operational costs invite efficient huge organizational structure. Human induced error will however be inevitable. Such a system could be economical with large size power plants and concentrated loads which are unfortunately a mismatch with Indian villages spread apart.

Between 1996 and 2009 the peak power deficit has touched a maximum of 18% and annual energy deficit has gone up to 11.5%. The deficits experienced during the last two decades can be attributed to two main reasons. One reason is the huge growth in demand for electricity, mostly from industries and agriculture. Urban residential load also has seen considerable growth largely because of the penchant for energy guzzling gadgets like air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, computers and many types of entertainment tools. The other reason is the unbelievable level of inefficiencies at all stages between electricity generation and its end use.

The other limitations of the industry are: the unscientifically targeted subsidies which have become unsustainable; huge losses incurred by the electricity supply companies, which alone is reported to be about Rs. 25,000 crores a year; Urgent measures such as improving the generating plant performance; reducing the T&D losses; minimizing the wastage in end usage; optimize the demand side management (DSM); and maximizing energy conservation will be able not only to eliminate the existing deficits, but also will be able to meet a good portion of the future electricity demand.

A number of pilot projects across the country have indicated that decentralized supply systems based on renewable energy sources such as solar; wind, bio mass etc. are the best supply options to most of the rural areas of our country. Many of these renewable energy sources such as solar water heaters have already become established as good sources of renewable energy in urban areas like Bangalore, while solar photovoltaic panels are getting widely used in rural areas. Adequate support by the state and central government in the form of well-targeted subsidies and/or suitable tariff policies to encourage feed-in-tariff mechanism has the potential not only to drastically reduce the pressure on the existing grid but also to reduce the future load on the grid.

The decentralized supply systems based on renewable energy sources appear to be the only way of achieving 100% electrification in the near future.

Renewable Potential for Households

Recent publication -- 'BP Energy Outlook 2030' -- outlines forward-looking analysis of long-term energy trends with educated guesses about the course of economic growth, policy and technology. The report indeed is a distillation of what 'today's elite' expect in the next two decades which is unsurprisingly, disturbing.

How do we meet the growing power demand and with what kind? The report indicates that the renewables and natural gas are likely to grow faster while oil and coal to substantially slow. However, there will be more oil and coal burnt in 2030 than 2011. This fossil fuel growth will undoubtedly promote GHG build up thus complicating the task on their reduction. We of course know where we are in our current GHG issue, -- still struggling with solutions.

Let me quote from one of the recent publications, "According to the best judgment of our intellectual elites, our current path leads to catastrophe. Yet those elites cannot even envision a scenario in which that catastrophe is avoided. We're headed for suffering and we have no idea how to avoid it".

Resources constraints seeking technological breakthrough coupled with serious effort on global policy could perhaps be the solution.

However, it is indeed time that we as individuals start thinking hard on solutions on our own without being silent spectators on the developments in the electricity sector, WHICH may not happen at all considering the current priorities.

Looking at the global developments on the renewables and the recent findings, renewables could save us (households) from our current dependence on electricity boards for our meager power requirement. Everyone is of course aware the renewable's journey so far. Although they apparently seem cost-prohibitive at this juncture, the rapid efforts of the global scientific community seem to make it reasonably affordable and perhaps could make it more competitive with fossil fuel generation pretty soon.

Solar, wind and to a little extent hydro could be the solution to make the individual households independent in their power requirement. An attempt is made here to outline the 'action plan' on these options to enable those interested to incorporate them and set a model not only for themselves but to the community at large.

1. Solar:

   The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet in a year is so vast that it would be twice obtained from all non-renewable sources. Solar, wind or biomass could supply our energy needs. However, being intermittent resources, there are other limitations for these resources. Solar power is conversion of sunlight into electricity either using photovoltaic (PV) or Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).

   The intensity of sunshine has also been applied to generate clean 'Green Energy' from roof top panels. Clean path Ventures have in fact extended this benefit in the form of 'Solar Farms' and offering 'garden plots' to homeowners who own the electricity generated by their photovoltaic panels. Apartment dwellers and other residents (where, rooftop solar arrays are not suitable) are offered to own a piece of the power plant.

   Similar to solar farms, solar shares program provides customers the option of buying power from a half-kilowatt or one-kilowatt portion of the solar farms. A household using 2,158 kilowatt-hours annually, one-kilowatt solar system would account for 81% of their electricity consumption.

   In fact, rooftops are indeed an ideal solution to households in India consuming one kilowatt or less than one kilowatt. Since modern energy systems assume continuous power and to account for seasonal variations, energy storage is an important issue as solar energy is not available during cloudy days and at night.

   Thermal mass systems can store solar energy at domestically useful temperatures for daily or seasonal variations. Well-designed systems can lower peak demand, shift time-use to off-peak hours and reduce overall heating and cooling requirements. Phase change materials - paraffin wax and Glauber's salt which are inexpensive and readily available are capable of delivering domestically useful temperatures, are other thermal storage media. Solar energy can be stored using molten salts - Solar Two is estimated to store 1.44 TJ in 68 m3storage tank with an efficiency of about 99%. Rechargeable batteries serve excess electricity storage for off-grid PV systems.

   The new constructions therefore, can plan such options right in the beginning as it is worth becoming electricity independent. In a few cases where the power generation is in excess of the requirement, it could either be stored or fed to the grid after appropriate follow up of guidelines.

   Despite huge potential, high installation cost and inability to produce energy at night were great limitations of solar power. However, these two seem to have been adequately addressed over the last few years which should encourage consumers to go for it with least reservations.

   • Keahole Solar Power's new Holaniku Solar Farm (2 MW) on Hawaii's Big Island has set up thousands of micro-scale solar power concentrators to generate energy efficiently even in the dark.

   • 17 MW Spanish solar project : The flagship project from Torresol Energy Investment uses molten heat systems to store heat during the day so that electricity can also be produced during the night.

   It is estimated that in a day, a well-located PV panel will typically generate between 2.5 and 5 times its rated power output. Therefore, a 1kWp (kilowatt peak) PV panel could produce between 2.5kWh (kilowatt hours) and 5kWh per day, or between 880kWh and 1750kWh per year.

   Continued decline in the cost of building solar plants is allowing developers to compete with fossil energies in certain markets.

   Here's another important statistic: When SunPower built the 14-megawatt Nellis Air Force Base system in 2007, it cost $7 per watt. Today, commercial and utility systems are getting installed at around $3 per watt. In 2010 alone, the average installed cost of installing solar PV dropped 20 percent. It would appear that solar PV is also cheaper than new nuclear:

2. Wind:

   Tropical country like India is also blessed with wind energy potential. Although the option was cost prohibitive a couple of years back, thanks to the recent scientific and technological improvisations which prompt them as one of the options, at lease for households requiring power in the range of 1 kilowatt hour. We can't however think of a wind farm on our roof tops. As hybrids are experimented even commercially, wind could supplement solar on roof tops.

   In addition, there is indeed a possibility of storage here. North Carolina power giant along with Xtreme Power propose world's largest wind battery storage project which could best guide storage of smaller capacities to meet household power requirement.

   Wind turbines generate DC current for battery charging. Wind turbines suitable for residential or village scale wind power range from 500 Watts to 50 kilowatts.

   Hybrid options aren't any more distant dreams. While combinations of renewable were experimented, GE has come up with a new hybrid plant soon to be commissioned in Turkey using Natural Gas, Solar Power and Wind energy to produce 530 MW, first of its kind to go live in 2015.

3. Hydro:

   Conventionally, the household daily water requirement is pumped into overhead tanks and used at convenient outlets in the house. They do experience adequate pressure through some of these outlets. Since the basic principle of hydro generation is through water falling from a height, there is scope to tap this option into electricity generation for the households. The amount of electricity that could be generated can be calculated by the simple formula: Q x H / 300 = kWh where Q is flow of water (m/sec) H is the height from the overhead tank.

   Water flow is measure in gallons per minute (gpm) cubic feet per second (cfs) or liters per second (l/s). More head uses less water and the equipment could be smaller and the turbine runs at higher speed. Since power is the product of head and flow, more flow is required at lower heads.

   While 20 ft at 100 gal/min generates 200 Watts, 100 feet head at 20 gal/min generates the same output. Micro turbines could facilitate this power generation. We need to identify suitable capacity and enhance the same depending upon the potential over a period of time. Micro portable hydel sets with no maintenance cost can provide electricity to small cluster of villages in hilly regions of India.

   Basic principle could be similar to Hydro Electric Power generation as Overhead tank would act as Forebay tank and gravitational flow of water will have enough pressure to turn the turbine or water motor to generate electricity.

   A recent communication hints at five of the top methods for integrating renewable energy into the grid -- proving that intermittency isn't the showstopper that critics make it out to be.

   The combinations of solar, wind and hydro as proposed above could free households from their dependence on electricity boards for their power requirement.

   Since the recent emphasis on 'Energy Efficiency' has provided quite many simple options to minimize our energy requirements, the net energy requirement could perhaps be much less than what could have been initially worked out. Some of the energy efficiency options are : Turn off lights, TV or other appliances when not in use; Replace incandescent with fluorescent bulbs; use low-watt bulbs where lighting is not critical; reduce hot water usage to the extent possible; sensors wherever possible to minimize water usage.

   There are in fact, other developments which could be add on to the above scheme at an appropriate time. Scientists have attempted electricity out of water more efficiently than conventional solar cells where one and half bottles of wastewater could power the entire house for a day. The estimate could be mind blowing -- " Nocera estimates that the world consumes 14 terrwatts (TW) of power today. By 2050, it will need 16 TW. If this solution works, said Nocera, it would need a swimming pool full of water every day to meet the world's electricity needs.

   Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created what may be the first practical artificial leaf -- a device about the size of a playing card capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen and storing the energy in a fuel cell. Placing the leaf it in a single gallon of water in sunlight could produce enough electricity to supply a house in developing countries with its daily electricity requirement, according to researchers.

More importantly, effective policy can work miracles.

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Reader's Comments

Date	Comment
Len Gould 9.1.11	"According to the best judgment of our intellectual elites, our current path leads to catastrophe. Yet those elites cannot even envision a scenario in which that catastrophe is avoided. We're headed for suffering and we have no idea how to avoid it". - Excellent. Given worldwide shortages of petroleum rapidly approaching critical, and the "China solution" (coal) where in some cities residents may not see the sun for more than one day a year and features a block away may be obscured by the atmosphere, India would do well to do everything it can to rely on solar of every sort. Perhaps a real attempt at developing the Optical Rectenna?
A. Shyam 9.4.11	I am encouraged by your comments Dr. Gould as I regularly follow your comments on Grist as well. Thanks
bill payne 9.6.11	Beware of possible altenergy scams. Saturday September 2, 2011 07:16 mltatro@sandia.gov Hello Ms Tatro, I asked fusion progress question at Solar Fiesta 2011 on Saturday August 27, 2011 where you were the lead speaker. Fusion energy progress at Sandia Labs question asked by bill. Mr Rumsey is heard answering. Fellow to right to bill said that fusion generation of electricity is not going to happen. He said he is retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory. So did Los Alamos fusion energy physicist Dr Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni. Listen. Nuclear fusion generation of electricity Los Alamos physicist Dr P. L. Mascheroni and his wife Marjorie have disappeared. Mr Mark Rumsey told me he would phone. Mr Rumsey has not phoned. Ms Athena Christodoulou, who introduced you as lead speaker, reported that electricity meters run backward with home solar generation of electricity. Sandia National Laboratories engineer Dr Clifford Ho confirmed this in his speech which followed your's. Affordable Solar industrial solar generation of electricity engineer Mr Bill Felsher also confirmed that home solar generation of electricity of electricity meters run backward. Mr Felsher explained that New Mexico sun produces more than 1000 W/m2 at Solar Fiesta 2011. Listen to our conversation, One Sun The maximum value of natural solar insolation, approximately 1000W/m2. 1 Why has Mr Rumsey not phoned as he said he would? 2 When does Sandia National Laboratories expect nuclear fusion generation to work? 3 What should the penalty be if this does not happen, in your opinion? Please ack if you receive this email. http://www.prosefights.org/nmsea08232011/nmsea08232011.htm#tatro DRAFT Beware that GDP is apparently related to energy consumption. http://home.comcast.net/~bpayne37/davidson/davidson.pdf Beware of coal combustion pollution. http://www.prosefights.org/nmsea08232011/video/toltecpollution.wmv Beware if Iran nuclear site are bombed too. http://www.prosefights.org/deaton/deaton.htm#titomadrid
Ramanathan Menon 9.7.11	Dear Mr. Shyam: I read your well studied, in-depth and informative article. In India, once upon a time, to have a black & white television it was like buying an elephant. But today, even a beggar in India has a 12" color television to while away his free hours. How come all of a sudden he could amass more wealth to buy a color tv. Necessity is mother of invention. Until and unless the prices or availability of coal diminishes, necessity to harness the much-needed energy from natural sources like the SUN, the WIND, the SEA....will remain as a distant dream.... Ramanathan Menon
Ramanathan Menon 9.7.11	Recently I had the opportunity of knowing about Melvin Prueitt (Los Alamos, NM 505-672-2000 / www.Solterrah.com) and his invention - a new renewable energy technology. This new patent-pending technology, which he calls "AirWatt," can produce hydro power in a completely different manner than standard hydroelectric plants. It can produce much more power per cubic meter of water than current hydroelectric plants, and it does not require dams and lakes (although it can be placed beside dams and lakes). In fact, it can use brackish water from underground aquifers, water from streams, rivers, lakes, seawater, or even waste water. It was a winner in the NASA Tech Briefs' "Create the Future Contest, 2010," which had many entries from all over the world. AirWatt has been acclaimed by scientists and engineers. This technology is renewable energy, and it takes much less land area than solar, wind, wave, or hydro plants for generating the same amount of power. So it is environmentally friendly. It is a totally new method of producing power. It can not only produce electric power, but it can be used to pump irrigation water without requiring an electric grid nearby. It can be used for regular irrigation systems or the large circle (center-pivot) irrigation systems. The plight of the inventor: “We have tried to get Government grants, but since our technology is so new, it does not fit into any of the categories ("Topics") of the Solicitations. This is not solar, wind, geothermal, wave, or biofuel power. Although we may say it is hydro power, it is not for improving dams, turbines, kinetic flow, etc. Normally the Grant Solicitations are designed to present the grants for different categories of research. AirWatt does not fit into any of them. It is TOTALLY new. I sent an email to DOE and explained that our technology does not fit any of the "Topics" of their solicitations. Their response was that I should submit an Unsolicited Proposal. The problem is that when DOE receives an Unsolicited Proposal, they send it to one of the Program Offices. The Program Offices have their own specialties, and AirWatt does not fit into any of them. Take a look at pages 15 to 23 of http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/usp/USPGuide.pdf. The "Office of Science" has a number of categories, but AirWatt does not fit into any of them. I thought the "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" Office would be ideal, but when you read their categories, AirWatt fits into none of them. It does not fit into Fossil Energy or Nuclear Energy. I thought it should fit into ARPA-E. I sent in toARPA-E a brief description of AirWatt (not a full proposal). The description of ARPA-E's purpose is: "Specifically, ARPA-E aims to fund the development of transformational energy technologies that will: enhance the economic and energy security of the United States by reducing imports of energy from foreign sources, decrease energy-related emissions (e.g., greenhouse gases), and improve energy efficiency of all economic sectors, and ensure that the United States establishes or maintains a technological lead in key energy sectors." That is exactly what AirWatt does. I received an email back from ARPA-E in which it said, "Your proposal does not fall within the parameters of ARPA-E's statutory mission." You can look down through the other Program Offices and see that AirWatt does not fit. SBIR might be a possibility, but it provides only $100,000 for the first phase. We need about $350,000 for the first phase of engineering and prototype development.” The US Southwest is an excellent area for AirWatt. Other desert areas of the world, such as the Middle East, parts of Africa, India, Australia, South America, etc., can produce enormous amounts of power with AirWatt. As you know, heat engines require a heat source and a heat sink. The temperature differential between AirWatt's heat source and heat sink is small, but it is much larger than OTEC's temperature differential, and OTEC has been running for years in Hawaii” says Mel. As ‘EnergyPulse’ provides a wide canvas to energy experts, inventors and scientists to learn, to discuss, to analyse and to propagate, I would be pleased if some of you take a serious interest in this benevolent invention to help the inventor in finding the financial resource for his invention so this new technology brings some solace to our global climate change problems. Ramanathan Menon, India
Anumakonda Jagadeesh 9.7.11	Your article gives gives a general picture of urban energy in India Mr. A. Shyam. There is a “Development of Solar Cities” programme during 11th Plan period including 2010-11. Government of India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has drawn a plan for implementation of the programme on “Development of Solar Cities” during the 11th Plan period including 2010-11. 2. Goals and Objectives The Goal of the program is to promote the use of Renewable Energy in Urban Areas by providing support to the Municipal Corporations for preparation and implementation of a Road Map to develop their cities as Solar Cities. The objectives of the programme are given below: ??to enable/empower Urban Local Governments to address energy challenges at City - level. ??to provide a framework and support to prepare a Master Plan including assessment of current energy situation, future demand and action plans ??to build capacity in the Urban Local Bodies and create awareness among all sections of civil society. ??to involve various stakeholders in the planning process ??to oversee the implementation of sustainable energy options through public - private partnerships. 3. Physical Targets An indicative target of 60 cities/towns/Unban Agglomerations (Class I – III) duly notified by the Municipal Authorities/Local Governments with at least one in each State has been set for the 11th Plan period including 2010-11. The targets will be achieved by providing support for preparation of a Master Plan for their city; setting up of a ‘Solar City Cell’ in the Council/Administration, organizing training programmes/ workshops/ business meets for various stakeholders such as elected representatives of the municipal bodies, municipal officials, architects/engineers, builders and developers, financial institutions, NGOs, technical institutions, manufactures and suppliers, RWAs etc. and on creation of public information and awareness. The 10 cities within the above target are proposed to be developed as ‘Pilot Solar Cities’. Out of above target of 60 cities, four cities are also proposed to be developed as ‘Model Solar Cities’ with part financial support for installation of renewable energy and energy conservation projects/devices/systems in the city. Apart from 60 Solar cities, about 50 new small townships/campuses duly notified/permitted by the concerned Authorities being developed by the promoters/builders, SEZs/ industrial towns, Institutional campus etc. for preparation of Master Plan/DPR including the action plan for renewable energy installations, green campus development, awareness generation and trainings etc. will be covered. 4. Implementation Arrangements The programme will be implemented through State Nodal Agencies/Urban Local Bodies or other corporate houses for respective cities. For townships and Institutional Campuses the respective organizations may also be involved. 5 Monitoring Mechanism The State Nodal Agencies/the Implementing Agencies will set up arrangements to closely the monitor the implementation of their projects covered under the scheme. The agencies will furnish progress reports and other information to MNRE and SNAs on a regular basis. The Ministry will also monitor the progress of the scheme independently, including third party inspection and reporting. 6. Expenditure An expenditure of Rs.98.50 crore is expected to be incurred under the Programme on “Development of Solar Cities” during the 11th Plan Period. Funds to the tune of Rs.50 crore have been earmarked for expenditure during 2011-12. Though this will help Solar Energy Utilisation in Urban areas in India, there has to be wider private sector participation in this direction. There is good progress in Wind. As of 31 March 2011 the installed capacity of wind power in India was 14550 MW. What is needed in India is Community Solar Projects( like in UK) and Wind farm co-operatives on the lines of the ones in Denmark. A ‘Renewable Energy Fund’ can be created and those individuals investing money under section 80C can be exempted from Income Tax. Hitherto only Big Industries are given 80% depreciation. The way Renewables are promoted in countries like US, Germany, China, UK, Spain etc., should spur for expansion of Renewables in India as India is one of the major SUN-BELT countries. Another area where we are yet to start is offshore wind farms. Offshore wind farms are one of the major activity in UK,Germany,Denmark etc., and countries like US,China,Taiwan,South Korea,France have drawn major plans to harness offshore wind energy. Put the RENEWABLES to WORK: To get inexhaustible, pollution – free energy which cannot be misused. Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore (AP), India Wind Energy Expert E-mail: Anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com

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