ENERGY CONSERVATION NEED OF THE HOUR I entirely agree with you Piyush Goyalji. I have had been advocating energy conservation since long. Apart from Energy generation from Renewables, Energy Saving is the need of the hour in India. A Novel Scheme to replace Old and inefficient agricultural pump sets: Out of the 26 Million Agricultural pumpsets in the country many are old and inefficient. The power tariff for farmers is minimal. Electricity is a high grade energy which is needed in industries, domestic purposes, computers etc. A scheme can be chalked out to replace the inefficient motors by efficient ones. The cost of a 5 HP Electric motor because is about Rs 20,000.A subsidy of Rs 15,000 can be provided to replace these inefficient motors. This yields quick results and “Energy conservation is better than energy generation”. Each Kwh saved is each Kwh generated (1 US$= Rs 60). There must be some contribution from the beneficiary otherwise he won’t take care of the system. Giving free leads to misuse. In 80s the then Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources(Now MNRE) under Demonstration Programme installed over 4000 Water Pumping Mills free of cost. In Andhra Pradesh about 500 were installed. At that time a windmill was costing Rs 20,000. A reliable windmill costs around Rs 80,000 at that time. Infact in our Filelds in Muthukur, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh 2 Wind mills were installed. None of the windmills worked and vanished in no time. Based on several studies carried out on agricultural pumpset efficiency, it has been found that the pump efficiency varies from 25-35% due to various factors. By adopting BEE star lebelled agricultural pumpsets, the efficiency can be enhanced upto 50-52%. It is estimated that, by replacement of existing pumps with the BEE star labelled pumps, the achievable saving potential is 30-40% and sectoral saving potential works out to be 4.34 BU per year. Instead of huge investment on New Power projects, The Government of India and different state Governments can jointly plan a scheme to replace the existing old and inefficient agricultural pumpsets with efficient ones. This yields quick results. Energy conservation refers to reducing energy consumption through using less of an energy service. Energy conservation differs from efficient energy use, which refers to using less energy for a constant service. For example, driving less is an example of energy conservation. Driving the same amount with a higher mileage vehicle is an example of energy efficiency. Energy conservation and efficiency are both energy reduction techniques. Even though energy conservation reduces energy services, it can result in increased, environmental quality, national security, and personal financial security. It is at the top of the sustainable energy hierarchy. One of the primary ways to improve energy conservation in buildings is to use an energy audit. An energy audit is an inspection and analysis of energy use and flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s). This is normally accomplished by trained professionals and can be part of some of the national programs discussed above. In addition, recent development of smartphone apps enable homeowners to complete relatively sophisticated energy audits themselves. Building technologies and smart meters can allow energy users, business and residential, to see graphically the impact their energy use can have in their workplace or homes. Advanced real-time energy metering is able to help people save energy by their actions. Elements of passive solar design, shown in a direct gain application. In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design because, unlike active solar heating systems, it doesnt involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices. The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal mass, and shading. Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be retrofitted. Energy Saving in Lighting. One innovation that saves enormous power in light is READING SOLAR LIGHT dual powered. Normally in India students read under a 40 Watt Fluorescent bulb. In school and college hostels one Fluorescent bulb for 4 to 6 people. A Fluorescent bulb consumes 40 Watts. Its life time is short. In voltage fluctuations (common in some cases in rural India), it wont glow. There are Reading Solar lights with LED (Best LED from a Company like Nichia corporation, Japan) which can be charged by sunlight or electric including USB. This lasts 8 hours. It costs around Rs 400(about 7 US$) in India. It consumes 0.2 Watts. Moreover by this light one can concentrate on the material reading (especially students) we used to have Reading lights in the past (Table Lights electric). In suggest Schools, NGOs, Government can promote these on a massive scale. Each Kwh saved is each Kwh generated. TODAY’S WASTAGE IS TOMORROW’S SHORTAGE. Please save the power for the next hour! Save power, energize the future. Enormous energy can be saved in Lighting. Replace incandescent lamps fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps • Clean your light bulb frequently. Layers of dust can absorb up to 30% of the light from the lamps. Hold the base and use a dry soft cloth or brush to clean the lamp. • Switch off lights in room, toilets, bath rooms when not in use. • Use lower wattage bulbs in area that do not need bright lights e.g. storage rooms and bath rooms • Never use clusters of incandescent lamps for decorations • For offices with low occupancy rates, install simple electronics controls such as passive infer red sensors. They ensure that lights are automatically switched off when rooms are not occupied for more than a pre – determined period • Too many outside lights do not necessarily provide security. Infra-red sensors or motion detectors are a more energy efficient solution. • When you remove a ’dead fluorescent lamp which you don’t intend to replace immediately, remember also to remove the starter, or else the choke will consume electricity at the rate of 12 watts. • Always choose T.5 linear fluorescent lamps with electronics ballast. They consume 40% less energy than conventional linear fluorescent lamps. AS per Energy Generation through Renewables Biogas power c and Biofuel from care-free growth,regenerative CAM plants like Agave and Opuntia have great potential in the country. Here is a Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Action plan for India and in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular: I have had been advocating offshore wind energy in India since decade. Today Offshore wind farms operate in Europe, UK topping. In India Onshore Wind farms started in 1985 and today the Wind installations in the country are(Compared to other countries): Installed wind power capacity (MW) up to 2013 end European Union 117,289 China 91,424 United States 61,091 Germany 34,250 Spain 22,959 India 20,150 United Kingdom 10,531 Italy 8,552 France 8,254 Canada 7,803 Denmark 4,772 Portugal 4,724 Sweden 4,470 Offshore Wind Farm installed Capacity(MW) Offshore wind power refers to the construction of wind farms in bodies of water to generate electricity from wind. Better wind speeds are available offshore compared to on land, so offshore wind power’s contribution in terms of electricity supplied is higher,and NIMBY opposition to construction is usually much weaker. However, offshore wind farms are relatively expensive. At the end of June 2013 total European combined offshore wind energy capacity was 6,040 MW. As of 2010 Siemens and Vestas were turbine suppliers for 90% of offshore wind power, while Dong Energy, Vattenfall and E.on were the leading offshore operators. As of October 2010, 3.16 GW of offshore wind power capacity was operational, mainly in Northern Europe. According to BTM Consult, more than 16 GW of additional capacity will be installed before the end of 2014 and the United Kingdom and Germany will become the two leading markets. Offshore wind power capacity is expected to reach a total of 75 GW worldwide by 2020, with significant contributions from China and the United States. As of 2013, the 630 MW London Array is the largest offshore wind farm in the world, with the 504 MW Greater Gabbard wind farm as the second largest, followed by the 367 MW Walney Wind Farm. All are off the coast of the UK. These projects will be dwarfed by subsequent wind farms that are in the pipeline, including Dogger Bank at 9,000 MW, Norfolk Bank (7,200 MW), and Irish Sea (4,200 MW). In the end of June 2013 total European combined offshore wind energy capacity was 6,040 MW. UK installed 513.5 MW offshore wind power in the first half year of 2013. It can be easily seen While UK tops the world in Offshore Wind farms, India has double the capacity of onshore wind farms compared to UK and no offshore wind installations at all. Why? The reasons are not far to seek. There is a strong notion among Indian wind turbine manufacturers, Renewable Energy planners, Government etc. that offshore wind farms cost double to triple the cost of onshore wind farms. How this figure of double or triple arrived at is a billion dollar question. The main charm of offshore wind farms is that the roughness of the sea is zero(no obstacles like onshore) and since power is cube of velocity of wind other factors being linear, higher velocities mean the power shoots up very much. This factor is often overlooked. Moreover instead of going in for onshore wind farms, it will be worthwhile to go offshore nearby to harness more wind power. No doubt the cost of the offshore wind farms will be high compared to onshore because of foundation and cable costs. But these costs are offset by the higher power from offshore wind farms. I wonder how this figure of double or triple arrived at between offshore and onshore wind farms. Has any systematic life cycle study of onshore and offshore wind farms in a region has been carried out? Why not Research Institutes, Wind Industries in UK carry out such a study which will help to dispel the misconceptions on cost of offshore wind farms in India. On 6th February 2014 there was a UK-India Offshore Wind Energy Workshop in Chennai (INDIA) organized by UK Science & Innovation Network , which I attended. I suggested the need for above study and the need for offshore wind farms in India. India has long coast. At least a pilot project can be initiated by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) so that Private Wind farm developers follow suit. Countries like US, China, Taiwan, Korea, France. etc have ambitious plans to go for offshore wind farms. It is sad that India though occupies fifth position in wind in the world is yet to have a offshore wind farm? Also most of the Wind installations in India are from Industrial houses and businessmen. In countries like Denmark,Germany etc. there are Wind Farm Co-operatives. A wind turbine cooperative, also known as a wind energy cooperative, is a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise that follows the cooperative model, investing in wind turbines or wind farms. The cooperative model was developed in Denmark. The model has also spread to Germany, the Netherlands and Australia, with isolated examples elsewhere. The key feature is that local community members have a significant, direct financial stake in the project beyond land lease payments and tax revenue. Projects may be used for on-site power or to generate wholesale power for sale, usually on a commercial-scale greater than 100 kW.In India also Wind Farm Co-operatives can be set up with people’s participation. The Government can consider to give tax exemption under Section 80C so that the amount can be invested in Wind Farms with People as share holders. Another area which yields immediate results and gainful employment is to grow care-free growth plants like Agave and Opuntia in waste lands. There are millions of hectares of waste lands. In the debate Food Vs Fuel the alternative is to grow plants with multiple uses which have care-free growth. Yet another option is Biofuel from Agave and Biogas from Opuntia and power generation. Agave is a care – free growth plant which can be grown in millions of hectares of waste land and which produces Biofuel. Already Mexico is using it. Another Care free growth plant is Opuntia which generates Biogas. Biogas can be input to generate power through Biogas Generators. Biogas generators of MW size are available from China. Yet another option is Water Hyacinth for biogas. Water Hyacinth along with animal dung can produce biogas on a large scale and then power. In Kolleru lake in Godavari and Krishna Delta in Andhra Pradesh in India it is available in 308 Sq. Km for nearly 8 months in a year. Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions In a plant using full CAM, the stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 is stored as the four-carbon acidmalate, and then used during photosynthesis during the day. The pre-collected CO2 is concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO, increasing photosynthetic efficiency. Agave and Opuntia are the best CAM Plants. Researchers find that the agave plant will serve as a biofuel crop to produce ethanol. Agave has a huge advantage, as it can grow in marginal or desert land, not on arable land, and therefore would not displace food crops, says Oliver Inderwildi, at the University of Oxford.The majority of ethanol produced in the world is still derived from food crops such as corn and sugarcane. Speculators have argued for years now that using such crops for fuel can drive up the price of food. Agave, however, can grow on hot dry land with a high-yield and low environmental impact. The researchers proposing the plant’s use have modeled a facility in Jalisco, Mexico, which converts the high sugar content of the plant into ethanol. Another plant of great use is OPUNTIA for biogas production. The cultivation of nopal((OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA), a type of cactus, is one of the most important in Mexico. According to Rodrigo Morales, Chilean engineer, Wayland biomass, installed on Mexican soil, “allows you to generate inexhaustible clean energy.” Through the production of biogas, it can serve as a raw material more efficiently, by example and by comparison with jatropha. Wayland Morales, head of Elqui Global Energy argues that “an acre of cactus produces 43 200 m3 of biogas or the equivalent in energy terms to 25,000 liters of diesel.” With the same land planted with jatropha, he says, it will produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel. Another of the peculiarities of the nopal is biogas which is the same molecule of natural gas, but its production does not require machines or devices of high complexity. Also, unlike natural gas, contains primarily methane (75%), carbon dioxide (24%) and other minor gases (1%), “so it has advantages from the technical point of view since it has the same capacity heat but is cleaner, “he says, and as sum datum its calorific value is 7,000 kcal/m3. In the fields where Jatropha is being grown,Agave and Opuntia can be grown as Inter cropping. Also Energy conservation yields quick results than energy generation. In India Agricultural pumpsets consume power next only to Industry. There are about 26 Million Agricultural Electric Motors. Many of them are quite old and inefficient. For Agricultural pumpsets the power tariff is nominal or nil in some states. A scheme can be chalked out By both Central and State Governments to replace the old and inefficient agricultural pumpsets with efficient ones by giving a subsidy. Electricity is a high grade energy which finds use in Industry,lighting etc. As such it must be judiciously used especially in the agricultural sector. Often energy studies aim at benefitting the rich but rarely concentrate on poor. A simple example is Box Type Solar Cooker. Box Type Solar Cooker is almost 60 years old. Why it has not taken off especially in a populous country like India? Only 0.6 million Box Type Solar Cookers sold but not used. Technology is culture specific while science is universal. There is no provision for frying in box type solar cooker ,only boiling. One cannot have two cooking systems one for boiling and another for frying. In Innovation theory there are two approaches,Technology Push Vs Demand pull. The Box type solar cookers belong to Technology Push category. There are small wind mills for water pumping developed by Centro La Gaviotas,Bagota,Colombia. I wonder still why such a fine water pumping windmill has not spread to other countries. I have had been involved in the research and development of Renewables for over 3 decades. Our basic approach is 3D: Design,Demonstrate and Disseminate. We have over 20 Innovative Renewable Energy Gadgets. I have an action plan for India on Renewables to bring in Rural Prosperity: 1. Promote Offshore Wind Farms. 2. Promote small wind generators as decentralised systems 3. Roof Top PV Solar 4. Creating Renewable Energy Fund. Investment by Income Tax Payers to be exempted under Section 80C. 5. Wind Farm Co-operatives on the lines of those in Germany,Denmark etc. 6. Solar Co-operatives on the lines of those in US. 7. Energy Conservation by replacing most of the inefficient 2.6 million irrigation electric pump sets(About 30% power can be saved). Agriculture consumes much power next only to Industry 8. Reading lights with reliable and quality dual powered(Solar/Electricity/USB) to save enormous energy. 9. Biofuel/Biogas for power generation and cooking from Agave/opuntia care-free growth,regenerative and CAM plants. In China Biogas for cooking is supplied trough pipes. In the vast vacant land in India Agave and Opuntia can be grown and power generation established as decentralised locally. 10. Simple Box Type Solar Cooker with frying facility( 3D approach,Design,Demonstrate and Disseminate) 11.Cost effective vertical and cylindrical,mobile solar water heater design. 12. Low head Micro hydro device to generate power from the head of falling water from the delivery pipe of Electric/diesel pumpsets. 13. KW size Biogas power/cooking plant for villages. 14. Simple solar drier 15. Growing CAM Plants in Waste and Vacant lands which act as Carbon Sink. Energy Conservation https://scribd/doc/250077351/Energy-Conservation Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP), India
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:37:45 +0000
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