Write a short note on - India's energy scenario

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 Q. Write a short note on "India's energy scenario". (R.GP.V., Feb. 2010, June 2012)

Ans. In India, a variety of sources of energy are in use. Firewood, agricultural waste, animal dung and human power are the traditional sources of energy which are still continued to meet the bulk of energy requirements in rural India. These traditional (non-commercial) fuels are gradually getting replaced by commercial fuels such as coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity. It has been estimated that 60% of total energy requirement in India is delivered by commercial fuels and non-commercial fuels contributes the rest 40%. Total energy produced in the form of electricity, is 60% from coal (thermal power), 25% from hydel power, 4% from diesel and gas, 2% from nuclear power and less than 1% from non- conventional sources like solar, wind, ocean, biomass, etc.

The availability of various energy resources in India is discussed below- In India, coal contributes about 60% of our total energy requirement. India with 68 billion tonnes of coal is the third largest coal producing country in the world. With our current rate of mining, 323 million tonnes per year our coal reserve will be sufficient for about 200 years. But out of 68 billions tonnes only 21 billion tonnes are in the form of proved reserves and about 80% of our proved reserves is with an ash content of more than 20%. Further 50% of our coal deposites are located in Bihar and Bengal and coal have to be transported over a long distance for its use. Oil with stock of 250000 million tonnes, would suffice only for 100 years. In India, potential oil bearing areas are Assam, Tripura, Manipur, West Bengal, Ganga valley, Punjab, Kutch, Eastern and Western coastal areas. Bombay high is the richest oil field of the country.

At the rate of 19380 million cubic metre, our reserves of natural gas about 700 billion cubic metres will suffice only for next 20 years.

According to CPWC report, the total hydroelectric potential of the country is about 41000 MW. Out of the total available hydel potential nearly 16% of it has been already exploited. Even if all the hydroelectric potential in India is developed, it will not be sufficient to meet the growing energy demands. Himachal pradesh has a hydel potential of 5000 to 6000 MW.

India has considerable resources of nuclear fuel. The indicated and inferred reserves of uranium are about 50000 tonnes and that of thorium are 450000 tonnes.

The demand for power is increasing in India due to development in industries and agricultural activities. In 1975-76, the power demand was 14 million kW, which rises to 26.5 million kW in 1978-79. At the end of last century the demand was about 125 to 150 million kW. With the growth in power system, higher and higher voltage levels have become necessary for transmission. After 15 to 20 years, it might become necessary to use 750 kV or even 1000 kV lines. Fortunately in India the required resources like thermal, nuclear and hydel are sufficient.

To meet such ever increasing demands, there is a need to use non- conventional sources also in addition to conventional sources.

The future planning for power development should aim at optimum exploitation of the abundant resources potential available so that a proper mix of hydro, thermal and nuclear capacity is achieved. The power planning in India includes the setting up of super thermal projects in the control sector. These stations would be located at or near the pitheads and would have capacity ranging between 500 to 2000 MW. Presently attention is properly being focused on the full utilization of fossil and nuclear fuels for the production of electricity.