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Monday, 07 December 09
HOW INDIA CAN CUT ITS ENERGY NEEDS BY 20%!
 Using energy more efficiently can reduce our energy needs by one fifth; it is a strategy we must pursue even as we promote renewables, says Kirit Parikh.
India needs to grow at 8-10 per cent for the next two decades if the country is to eliminate poverty. This will require our energy consumption to grow four- to five-fold.
Our power capacity has to increase from around 170,000 Mw, including captive plants, to 800,000 Mw or 1,000,000 Mw by 2030.
With the full development of hydropower, an optimistic nuclear development scenario and improved availability of natural gas, we will need around 500 million tonnes (mt) of oil products, 200 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas and around 2,000 mt of coal by 2030.
This compares with an oil consumption of 133 mt, gas consumption of 37 bcm and coal consumption of about 525 mt (Indian coal equivalent) in 2008. Even with the nuclear agreement, the nuclear capacity is not likely to reach more than 100,000 Mw by 2030.
Our import dependence may grow as high as 90 per cent for oil, 30 per cent for gas and 30 per cent for coal. We can reduce this by promoting energy efficiency and renewable resources.
Coal will remain our main energy source. It is generally believed that we have very little oil and gas, but large coal reserves. However, the currently known extractable coal reserves will run out in 45 years if our coal consumption keeps growing at 5 per cent per year, as it has in the past 25 years.
Thus, it is important to promote energy efficiency, including in coal use. The growing threat of climate change also requires this.
The first task in saving energy is to increase the efficiency of electricity use. A unit saved at the consumer end saves 1.25 units of generation and saves further energy, as coal does not have to be transported.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has taken a number of steps. An efficient lighting programme to replace incandescent bulbs by compact florescent lamps (CFLs), labelling of electrical equipment, a pilot programme to promote energy-efficient pumps for farmers, the launching of an energy conservation building code, standards and benchmarks for designated industries, etc, have been initiated. These will reduce energy, particularly electricity, consumption.
To get the full benefit from the labelling programme, public sector procurement officers should be enabled to purchase equipment based on life cycle cost instead of initial cost, without inviting Vigilance Commission investigation.
The government should issue an order specifying the price preference that may be given to equipment with a higher star rating. Thus, for example, an air conditioner with a three-star rating that saves Rs 1,500 per year in electricity bills over a two-star-rated air conditioner, may be given a price preference of Rs 3,600, which is the present discounted value of savings over three years at a 12 per cent discount rate.
While economic incentives are important, setting energy efficiency standards for equipment can play a very important role. By periodically tightening standards, the average annual energy consumption of refrigerators in the United States was brought down from 1,825 kwhr in 1974 to 476 kwhr by 2001.
Such efficiency gains are even more important for us, as with an 8 per cent growth rate, we will nearly double our capital stock in nine years. Energy-using equipment and appliances will also spread rapidly.
Thus, the manufacturers of equipment and appliances should be targeted to force the pace of improvement in energy efficiency.
Major opportunities also exist in cutting energy use in other areas.
Increasing the efficiency of coal-based power plants: The fuel conversion efficiency of the existing population of thermal power stations is on average around 30 per cent.
Super-critical boilers can provide an efficiency of 38-40 per cent. No new thermal power plant should be allowed without a certified fuel conversion efficiency of at least 38 per cent. The pace of efficiency improvement needs to be forced.
Shifting freight traffic to railways: Improve railway service to win back the long-distance freight traffic carried by trucks today that consume five times as much diesel per net tonne kilometre of freight carried.
The construction of dedicated freight corridors should be completed as soon as possible. Carrying 3,000 billion tonne kilometres (bt-km) of freight (half of the projected freight traffic in 2030) by rail instead of trucks can save approximately 50 mt of diesel per year.
Promoting urban mass transport: Promote urban mass transport by providing quality services which may be partially financed by imposing congestion, pollution and parking charges on those who use personalised motor transport.
Plan for future mass transport corridors in smaller cities and acquire right-of-way. As the city grows, the permissible built-up area may be gradually increased. However, the additional right to build should remain with the local government, which it can auction to finance mass transport and other urban infrastructure.
Increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles: By promoting hybrid vehicles that are already available commercially internationally and flexi-fuel vehicles that can burn varying proportions of ethanol-blended fuels, we can improve efficiency by 20 per cent or more.
Fuel efficiency standards should be imposed on vehicle manufacturers to force the pace.
Promoting renewable energy such as solar is critical for our long-term energy security. Presently commercially available solar photovoltaic cells of 15 per cent efficiency covering 10 million hectares can more than meet all our energy needs projected for 2030.
The cost of solar electricity today is about Rs 20 per kwhr, compared to around Rs 4 at the consumer end from coal power. The solar mission to be launched has the target to make solar cost-competitive to coal power by 2020.
There are, however, applications that use solar energy that are economical today that can reduce the need for energy from conventional sources. Solar water heaters are a case in point.
With 50 million home water heaters we can save 95 billion units of electricity generation, which means a saving of 65 mt of coal.
We are short on fossil fuels. Energy efficiency can reduce our energy needs by 20 per cent and is a major resource that we must use even as we promote renewables.
The author, a former member of the Planning Commission, is Chairman of Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe).
Source: Business.Rediff
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Wednesday, 09 December 09
INDONESIA'S RECAPITAL TO PAY $1.48 BLN FOR BERAU
Recapital Advisors, an Indonesian investment firm, will pay $1.48 billion in cash and notes to buy coal miner PT Berau Coal, $300 million of which i ...
Wednesday, 09 December 09
COAL INDIA YET TO IMPLEMENT IMPORT LINKED PRICES
Coal India Ltd is adopting a conservative approach in pricing despite being allowed to charge import-linked price for the country's minuscule reser ...
Wednesday, 09 December 09
INDIA NEEDS TO IMPORT 29 MILLION TONNE STEAM COAL IN 2009 - 10
Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal Indian minister of state (Independent Charge) for coal informed the Rajya Sabha that Central Electricity Authority has estimat ...
Tuesday, 08 December 09
VOLATILE COAL PRICES SPUR ASIAN HEDGING
Volatile coal prices are forcing staid Asian power firms to change the way they buy fuel, setting the scene for a hedging boom as a growing array of ...
Tuesday, 08 December 09
MEC TO SHIP 2M T INDONESIA COAL TO INDIA IN 2010 - REUTER'S INTERVIEW
The UAE's Middle East Coal plans to start operation of coal mines in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province next year with initial production of 2 m ...
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- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- The University of Queensland
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Planning Commission, India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- White Energy Company Limited
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
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