Power is a major issue, and India has an acute shortage of it. In South India alone, the energy shortage is close to 2000 MW. According to CEA, as of August 2008, Karnataka’s total power requirement is 6230 MW and the availability is 5595 MW, the deficit being close to 600 MW.

In Tamil Nadu the requirement is 9439 MW and the availability is 9211 MW, so the deficit is close to 200 MW.

In Andhra Pradesh, the estimated shortfall is around 1100 MW and Kerala around 400 MW.

To a large extent, we are dependent on the rains for power. This leaves the country’s manufacturing industry in a crunch if the rains play truant.

All state governments are trying hard to increase generation capacity and reduce losses, which are the two main reasons for the acute shortages.

To meet the shortfall, most manufacturing and service industry players depend heavily on captive power. Diesel generators are common to augment the State’s supply.

“There are two problems with this. Firstly, the captive power is harmful for the environment as it consumes resources that are fast depleting.

We need clean and green sources that do not degrade the environment. Secondly, this is an expensive power generation option.

The cost of production increases drastically and tells on the cost of the end product. This robs us of an edge in the international marketplace,” laments Anil Lala, Director, All Green Energy, a biomass-based renewable energy company. It is therefore necessary to look for alternate and additional sources of power. As the India Inc story grows stronger, we need to support the industry with strong infrastructure.

And power is the backbone of most industries. A reliable and cost-efficient generation technology makes business houses competitive.

The total grid-interactive renewable energy capacity in India was 12900 MW, as of August last year. The renewable segment has a lot of potential with around 85 per cent of the estimated capacity still untapped. The goal is to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to 10 percent by 2012.

“The largest potential can be found in energy from biomass,” advises Anil Lala. In order to map and tap this potential, the government has designed a biomass atlas, using satellite data as inputs for geographical information systems. “According to the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the power generation potential has been assessed as about 16000 MW from agri- residues. However, as of September 2008, only about 656 MW of grid-connected bio-power based on agri-residues and plantations could be achieved,” apprises Lala.

In order to realise this potential, a major inter-ministerial initiative is underway. The production of a detailed atlas to accurately assess the nation-wide biomass resource base, including agricultural residues that are suitable for conversion into renewable energy sources is on.

India has approximately 141 million hectares of arable land and agricultural output is around 800 million tonnes, which in itself generates 750 million tonnes of waste. Even after deducting 450 million tonnes which is used as fodder, 300 million tonnes could be used for biomass generation.Crop residues which are not used as animal fodder like cane trash, paddy straw, coconut stalks, branches and mustard waste are estimated to total around 75 million tonnes per annum. Mill residues, such as bagasse, rice husk, groundnut husk, corn cobs, saw mill waste and de-oiled cake are estimated at around 150 million tonnes per annum. Horticultural waste would add another 75 million tonnes of waste per annum. Forest waste could be another major source of biomass waste.

“There are three processes for converting biomass into energy – combustion, gasification or thermo-chemical process and bio-methanation,” explains Lala. “In India, the thermo chemical route has been more successful. Combustion is more common. However, gasification is more efficient and holds promise for the future. In gasification, the waste collected is first put into a gasifier. The process of the gasification leads to the production of a producer gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This gas that is produced from the biomass collected is used to run the power generation plant.

This technology of power generation requires space and biomass. It is therefore more feasible to set up such facilities generating biomass power in a rural area where biomass procurement is easy. Setting up the plant in the city at the location where power is needed will entail transportation of biomass and therefore costs. The power generated at the site in the rural area can be evacuated to the site where it is needed using the State’s transmission /distribution system, under the open access regime set up by the Electricity Act, 2003. The Electricity Act and policies allow the use of its grid to transfer power generated from point of generation to the point of use through a provision called “Open Access”. This provision also called wheeling, makes biomass power generation and evacuation easy and feasible.The cost of biomass fuel is considerably lesser than other sources. The cost of power from a diesel generator will be upwards of Rs. 12 per unit. The cost of biomass power can be around a third that amount. The cost savings over a year will therefore be considerable.

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