'Non-convention energy sources must be tapped'

India is not utilising even ten per cent of its non-conventional energy potential, according to an estimate by the ministry of non-conventional energy resources.

India has less than 2,500 mw installed capacity of wind energy against the potential of about 45,000 mw.

At the same time, against the potential of producing about 15,000 mw power from small hydro projects, India has an installed capacity of only 1,603 mw.

"India's wind energy programme has made good progress in the last 3-4 years. The total installed capacity now exceeds 2,400 mw. However, in most cases, capacity utilisation remains between 10 to 20 per cent. Stand alone small wind mills are excellent for lifting ground water for above-ground storage. The water can be used for irrigation and domestic purposes without needing further pumping," said B S Pathak, director of Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI) recently.

Small hydro projects have the potential to meet the energy needs of rural communities in the hilly regions. These can enable farmers to upgrade their agriculture processes with adequate power supply, he felt.

Electrification has so far been extended to about 85 per cent of about 5,82,000 Indian villages.

Biomass energy is too severely underutilised in the country. Against the availability of crop residue enough to generate over 19,000 MW, the installed capacity is only three per cent.

In India, mere 613 MW power is produced from biomass as reported by the ministry as on March 31, 2004.

"Biomass is possibly the most promising renewable energy resource. Unlike wind and micro hydro it is widely distributed. Biomass is also a means of energy storage. Crop residue are the most promising source of biomass for energy generation in India," stated Pathak.

The report also states that, with over 300 days of sunshine in almost all states, there is a huge potential to generate energy through thermal or photo-voltaic routes.