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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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Monday, 30 November 09
INDIA UTILITIES MOVE TO COAL INDEX - PRICING
Indian state utilities are leading a switch to coal index-linked pricing from fixed prices to secure imports and to be visibly paying fair market pr ...
Monday, 30 November 09
RECAPITAL TO ACQUIRE BERAU COAL
Unlisted Indonesian coal producer Berau will redeem outstanding bonds before the acquisition by Recapital Advisers is completed by the end of this y ...
Friday, 27 November 09
IMPORTING LIGNITE INTO COAL RICH KOSOVO
Balkan Insight has discovered that one of Kosovo’s biggest firms is being forced to import lignite from Malaysia and Indonesia, despite estima ...
Friday, 27 November 09
SOUTH AFRICA STILL TOPS IN COAL EXPORT RANKINGS
Mining Weekly reported that, Despite significant coal-mining capacity recently discovered in the Southern African region, according to senior coal a ...
Friday, 27 November 09
BHP SEEKS VARIABLE COKING COAL PRICE IN JAPAN, NIKKEI SAYS
Bloomberg reproted that, BHP Billiton Ltd. has asked Japanese steelmakers to move to pricing of coking coal linked to spot rates rather than negotia ...
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- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- The University of Queensland
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Australian Coal Association
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Planning Commission, India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- White Energy Company Limited
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
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