President APJ Abdul Kalam's Independance Day eve speech
was historic which combined the vision of a statesman with
that of sceintist. The defining theme of his speech was self-sufficiency
in the energy sector to achieve total "Energy Independance"
within next 25 years. The excerpts of his speech are being
reproduced by "Vayu".
Today on this 59th Independence
Day, I would like to discuss with all of you another important
area that is "Energy Security" as a transition to
total "Energy Independence". Energy is the lifeline
of modern societies. But today, India has 17% of the world's
population, and just 0.8% of the world's known oil and natural
gas resources. We might expand the use of our coal reserves
for some time and that too at a cost and with environmental
challenges. The climate of the globe as a whole is changing.
Our water resources are also diminishing at a faster rate.
As it is said, energy and water demand will soon surely be
a defining characteristic of our people's life in the 21st
Century.
Electric Power
Generation Sector: Electric power generation in India now
accesses four basic energy sources: Fossil fuels such as oil,
natural gas and coal; Hydroelectricity ; Nuclear power ; and
Renewable energy sources such as bio-fuels, solar, biomass,
wind and ocean.
Fortunately for us, 89% of energy used for power generation
today is indigenous, from coal (56%),
hydroelectricity (25%), nuclear power (3%) and Renewable
(5%). Solar energy segment contributes
just 0.2% of our energy production.
Energy Security rests on two principles. The first, to use the
least amount of energy to provide services and cut down energy
losses. The second, to secure access to all sources of energy
including coal, oil and gas supplies worldwide, till the end of
the fossil fuel era, which is fast approaching. Simultaneously
we should access technologies to provide a diverse supply of reliable,
affordable and environmentally sustainable
energy.
Energy Consumption Pattern in India in 2005: We have to critically
look at the need for Energy Independence in different ways in
its two major sectors: Electric power generation
and Transportation. At present, we have an installed
President of India Hon'ble Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
capacity
of about 121,000 MW of electricity, which is 3% of world capacity.
We also depend on oil to the extent of 114 million tones every
year, 75% of which is imported, and used almost entirely in
the Transportation Sector. Forecasts of our Energy requirements
by 2030, when our population may touch 1.4 billion people,
indicate that demand from power sector will increase from
the existing 120,000 MW to about 400,000 MW. This assumes
an energy growth rate of 5% per annum.
Changing Structure of Energy Sources
The strategic goals for Energy Independence by 2030 would thus call for a shift in the structure of energy sources. Firstly, fossil fuel imports need to be minimized and secure access to be ensured. Maximum hydro and nuclear power potential should be tapped. The most significant aspect, however would be that the power generated through renewable energy technologies may target 20 to 25% against the present 5%. It would be evident that for true Energy Independence, a major shift in the structure of energy sources from fossil to renewable energy sources is mandated.
Conclusion
By 2020 the nation should achieve comprehensive
energy security through enhancement of our oil and gas exploration
and production worldwide. By the year 2030, India should achieve
energy independence through solar power and other forms of
renewable energy; maximize the utilization of hydro and nuclear
power and enhance the bio-fuel production through large-scale
energy plantations like Jatropha. We need to evolve a comprehensive
renewable energy policy for energy independence within a year.
This should address all issues relating to generation of energy
through wind, solar, geothermal, bio-mass and ocean.
