Technology is limited, not energy

By Ashok Kundapur

15 Jan 2010

As fossil fuels are fast depleting, efforts are on to find alternative and cleaner
methods of energy production. Nature has abundant sources of energy but
unfortunately, the technology to utilize these greener alternatives is still not fully
developed.

Energy has become the key requirement for development but at the same time over consumption
of energy poses grave threat to the precious ecosystem. Today, most of energy is produced from
fossil fuels. But do we have enough coal to last even 50 years? Then what about emission of
CO2, and related green house gases and their effects? Without giving serious thought to these
issues, planners world over are sanctioning more coal-based power plants.

According to Government estimates we are already producing about 1,35,000 MW power,

majority of which is through coal-based plants. In India, present generating efficiencies are
between 50 and 60%, while in other developed nations, it is nearly 85%. Simply put, merely
enhancing efficiency can yield nearly 33,000 MW of more power. And if we can minimize our
high Transmission and Distribution losses, we can save another 40,000 MW. The government
plans to generate 45,000 MW in the next two years and assuming that this increase is without
addressing the efficiency issue and T&D losses, we will be losing 65,000 MW! With such trends,
production of more energy will only mean more loss, and this is a loss to the public exchequer,
and so it concerns everyone.

Nevertheless, we now need to look beyond reducing losses and maximizing efficiency and think
beyond the fast depleting fossil fuels. Practically every river is dammed, thus exhausting the
hydroelectric option as well. The coal burning power plants are already facing acute fuel crunch
of various sorts and magnitudes and plant load capacities are also depressed.

Oblivious to this fact, our planners are 'dedicating' 4000 MW coal-based super Thermal Power
Plants (TPPs) to every state. And this despite the various reports of coal-based plants posing
health hazards to the locals. In USA alone, deaths associated with such power plant pollution are
estimated to be about 150,000 per year. Literature abounds with data establishing that crop yield
too is drastically affected by the pollution.

With reference to coastal power plants, it is a well documented fact that fish catch is reduced
near TPPs. One estimate indicates that around Tuticorin, fishermen lose nearly Rs 65 crore worth
of fish catch annually.

Fortunately for us all is still not lost. The world can turn to renewable sources and be rolling in
energy which is both pollution-free and sustainable.
 Table 1: Renewable Energy potential in India

Potential (Grid interactive power only)

Wind energy 45,000 MW
Small hydro 15,000 MW
Solar Over 5,000 trillion kWH/year potential
(estimated to be more than the total energy
needs of the country)
Biomass 17,000 MW
Ocean Wave With about 7,000 km of coastal line it is also
huge, estimated at 40,000 MW

Wind Energy

Off Shore wind farm at Blåvandhuk, Denmark.

It has 80 wind turbines and a total capacity of 160 MW

Wind Energy has made its presence felt in our country and even some of the bigwigs are
generating enough wind power to run their units. According to Indian Wind Energy Association
our installed wind power capacity is around 9587 MW, fourth largest in the world. While in
many foreign countries, off shore wind farms are being established. However, it could be a
problem if Governments do not lift wind power during monsoon, as has happened in Tamil
Nadu. The government would need to ensure that there are adequate planning and grid
interactions, if Wind energy potential is to be harnessed to full extent.
Small Hydro Electric Energy

Hydroelectric generation is still one of the most popular and 'cheapest' methods of electric
generation. But in India most of the rivers are dammed and many more are targeted for
construction of small as well as big dams.

However, in the recent past 'Run of the River' method of energy extraction is becoming
popular, and judicious use of this source can generate huge quantity of power even in remote
areas without construction of dams. In Karnataka alone, it is estimated that nearly 5533 MW of
power can be generated through mini hydro plants around Western Ghats, and total production
for the entire range of Western Ghats could be well over 35, 000 MW.

Sri Ratnaker, an ingenious grass root innovator of Chikkamagalore district, has established over
273 trouble-free small units by now. There are many other turnkey entrepreneurs as well in
Karnatak and other states. In many parts of Western Ghats such units can run for 10 months in a
year. This technique should be used to the maximum.

These units tap energy from small streams but actually run of the river units harness potential of
running water of large rivers, especially in the hilly areas where the flow rate is fast. In Western
Ghat region and also in the Himalayan range there is tremendous potential to harness the rapids
without grossly affecting the nature of rivers.

Waste water flow in big cities is considerable, and this too could be used to generate
considerable amount of electricity. Author is in doubt as to why such a proposal presented to
Govt of Karnataka was not considered.

Solar Energy

Decades ago, author had envisaged that India would become a superpower by using solar
energy. But this has not been the case so far. With reference to solar energy, we have 5000
trillion kWH/year capacity.

Present options available for harnessing solar energy are a bit costly, at least initially, so the
whole world is awaiting a major technological breakthrough, especially with reference to Solar
Photovoltaic cells. Some of the important options are Solar Central Tower, Solar Troughs,
Parabolic Dish, Solar chimney and Solar Ponds.

Central Tower Solar Thermal Power Plant technology, present since 1988, has been running on a
very elementary technique. Focused Sunrays on a central tower through an array of mirrors,
generate steam at high temperature and pressure at 15000C and run turbines. The technology was
costly but recent advances made in Spain have resulted in considerable reduction in cost. This
patented technology involves each heliostat having independent tracking system using separate
small photovoltaic panels on each Heliostat (Reflector mirror).
 Solar Central Receiver

Another commercially popular technique is the Parabolic Trough Collector systems. The system
can even store heat for generating electricity at night. Here, arrays of long parabolic trough like
reflectors focus sunlight on a pipe at their center housed in a tube, containing heat transfer
medium. This medium heats up to about 4000C and is used to generate steam which runs turbine.
Here too, considerable cost reduction has been achieved by tracking systems.

Parabolic Trough Power Generator

Parabolic Dish system consists of fairly large parabolic dish type collectors with modified
Sterling Engine at the focal point, coupled to an Alternator to generate electricity. Generally it
comes in smaller capacity ranges of 5 to 10 kW. Cost of unit is rather high, but could be very
helpful in remote areas.

Parabolic Dish Generator

Solar Chimney is a very promising low cost solar power generating system. It works on the
simple principle that hot air moves up. Cost of installation is fairly low and comes in a variety of
capacities. In India efforts are on to install a plant capable of generating 200 MW in Rajasthan.
In China some villages are already getting electricity from such chimneys. Smaller units would
be ideal for Indian villages as well, and MNRE other granting agencies should concentrate on
this type of decentralized useful design.

Solar Chimney of Spain

Solar Pond is another interesting type of solar collector. A suitable sized pond is carefully filled
with layers of salt water of different densities. As a result heat trapped by higher density salt
layer at bottom is prevented from surfacing because density gradient obstructs convection
currents. Thus the lower areas of pond remain very hot at over 950C. Suitable engine is used to
extract this heat to generate electricity. In Israel, at Bet Ha-Arava, 5 MW of power was being
generated in a pond of about 250,000 sq.m area. In India too, smaller salt gradient ponds have
been experimented with, but problems arose in controlling algal growth in upper layers of water.

Solar Pond

BHEL has gained considerable expertise in Dish type solar devices. Survey indicates that various
types of Solar Thermal plants have so far been tried in India.

Establishing smaller power plants has another advantage - it helps tremendously in reducing
transmission losses. Many power engineers feel that one cannot control the vagaries of nature,
and hence solar technology cannot be relied on. Of course it is true, but no one is insisting that
the existing power plants be scrapped or replaced with solar. In fact, major advantages of solar
technology is that it is non polluting and decentralized, so that large number of villages can be
electrified, which is impossible if we go for only super thermal plants. Another important
advantage is that these power plants can easily meet the demand during peak hours. This is a
major benefit since the deficiency in power supply is calculated on the basis of peak demand.

But our government has been very conservative in sanctioning Alternate Power plants.
Statements issued by MNRE officials such as "Companies are coming up with offers of huge
capacity of 50 MW and more, but we cannot sanction them without verifying if they would be
able to deliver," leaves one surprised and confused. If the company is unable to 'deliver' the
amount of electricity it claims it can, it should be the problem of the company. Unless, of course,
our Government is offering fabulous subsidies even before installation, as is being done for
Small Hydro Electric entrepreneurs.

Cost of solar thermal power has been estimated to be between 12 to 60 cents/kWh as mentioned
in the Table 2.

Table 2: Summary of Solar power generation alternatives

Type Generating Capacity Range CO2 emission kg/kWh Cost of power cents/kWh
Parabolic Trough 5 to>150 MW 44.3 11.38
Central Receiver 1 to 20 MW 33 14.77
Parabolic Dish 7 to 25 kW Nil 60.90
Solar Chimney 10 to 200 MW Nil 16.44
Solar Pond 15 to 1000 MW Nil 14.11
Photovoltaic 1kW-1000 MW Nil 66.80

(Based mainly on Dr Nazish Qureshi's paper)

Solar Photovoltaic is not new, and a lot of small and large photovoltaic systems are now in use.
Extensive use of these panels for remote area lighting and even pumping water should be
recommended. Right now the cost is on the higher side, but nanotechnology is sure to reduce the
cost further. Inventors world over, including the author, are dreaming of evolving solar vehicles
and availability of low cost solar cells will make this dream a reality. Most of the Indian states
now have provisions for feedback of excess power produced by private enterprises to the grid
and get paid. So, solar photovoltaic installations can get early payback. In fact Central Electric
Authority has taken initiative to install grid interactive photovoltaic system on the roof of one of
their buildings.

We should also encourage use of Solar Cookers to cut down green house gases and indoor
pollution. Significantly, use of even one solar cooker would cut down emission of one ton of
Green house gases per year. There are many simple and low cost Solar cookers, some of the
designs can be made at village homes(5).

Biomass Energy

Generating power using waste Biomass, on a large scale is not attractive, and would be another
source of pollution. But on a smaller scale at village level, it could be viable.

Bio fuels

Biodiesel and Bio alcohols are the highly hyped alternative fuels but lot of impracticality remains
attached with them. To start with, it requires large area to grow bio fuel plants.

Wave Energy

Wave Energy, i.e. extraction of electricity from ocean waves, is still in its infancy, though
scientists have been trying to harness wave power since 16th century. One of the largest Wave
energy system commissioned recently is in Portugal, and they have preferred to use PELAMIS
system. The two units of PELAMIS generate about 2.5 MW at the cost of 4.5 million Euros. But
many a new type of low cost systems are emerging. A system dubbed as 'Anaconda' is
considered as next best low cost Wave Harnessing system. Wave power generation too is subject
to some vagaries, so a couple of inventors, including the author of this article, are contemplating
on storing wave energy in such a manner that electricity can be generated perpetually day in and
day out. Author too is working on a model of Wave Energy Harnessing called ‘Bhagiratha’, a
prototype of which getting ready. The unit is specially designed for Tropical seas where the
Wave Energy levels are low. So the system envisages storing Wave power in the form of water
stored in a reservoir on a cliff, so as to enable production of gradable Electricity on a continuous
basis.
 PELAMIS Wave energy harnessing system

Technology to harness energy from tides has progressed much. A strong barrage has to be
constructed at places where river meets ocean, and as tides rise and fall, water passing through
barrages turns generator both ways to produce power. In our country not much interest has been
shown on account of cost considerations as well as environmental constraints.

Sources like Geothermal, trapping energy from high speed wind flow at very high altitude
through generators tied to huge kites, are exotic and formidably costly.

Whatever may the source for power production, one should never forget that the energy sources
are not unlimited. For a sustainable future we have to impose limits on growth of both population
and industrial pollution.

References
1. Dr Nazish Qureshi http://www.geocities.com/pemnq/home.html
2. Shankar Sharma 2008, 'Impact of power sector on social and environmental issues:
remedies' in "Lake 2008", 22 Dec - 24 Dec. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
3. Internet sources on Central Power receivers, Solar Trough, Parabolic Dish, Solar
chimney, Solar Pond Wind mills and solar cookers.
4. Energy (r)evolution, EREC, Greenpeace 2006
5. Ashok Kundapur, http://www.solcooker.net

 
Ashok Kundapur  |  arkundapur@yahoo.com

Dr Ashok Kundapur is a proactive environmentalist, an active advocate of Alternate Energy and

a solar cooker expert. He is presently based at Udupi in Karnataka.

The article first appeared in http://www.d-sector.org in Feb 2010.