Power, Pollution and Ecological Restoration
Power, Pollution and Ecological Restoration
India is presently amongst the top ten power generating nations in the world and accounts to approximately 4% of the world’s total electricity generation. India has the per person energy requirement of 0.7 kW approximately. [1] The following kinds of power stations (based on means of production) are presently meeting Indian power requirements:
1. Thermal Power
2. Hydro Power
3. Nuclear Power
4. Renewable Power
Thermal based stations actually satisfy more than 60% of the entire country needs. Thermal power stations are based on coal, gas and oil. Since independence these coal based thermal power stations have been enduring the burden of energy requirement in India. Renewable Power is still unable to contribute effectively, but with the development of technology their contribution has increased substantially. Following kinds (based on means of production) of renewable plants are presently producing electricity within the country:
1. Biogas Plants 2. Biomass Power 3. Solar Photovoltaic 4. Wind Energy 5. Small Hydropower 6. Energy from wastes.
The following table gives the Installed Electricity Generation Capacity in India, 1997 – 2005 (in thousands of megawatts). The data is based on statistics collected by carbon sequestration leadership forum [3]
1997 2002 2003 2004 2005
Hydroelectric 21.65 26.26 26.76 29.50 30.94
Nuclear 2.22 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.77
Geothermal/ Solar/ Wind/ Biomass 1.27 1.51 1.74 1.87 3.81
Conventional Thermal 59.64 74.55 76.65 77.97 80.90
Total Capacity 85.79 105.05 107.88 112.06 118.42
Even though we are a developing country and our pressing needs has increased the use of fossil fuels still in terms of Carbon dioxide emission we are far below many of the developed nations. Carbon dioxide emission per capita in India is around 1 tonne against the world average of about 4 tonnes and of about 19 tonnes in case of some developed countries according to data by
India is presently amongst the top ten power generating nations in the world and accounts to approximately 4% of the world’s total electricity generation. India has the per person energy requirement of 0.7 kW approximately. [1] The following kinds of power stations (based on means of production) are presently meeting Indian power requirements:
1. Thermal Power
2. Hydro Power
3. Nuclear Power
4. Renewable Power
Thermal based stations actually satisfy more than 60% of the entire country needs. Thermal power stations are based on coal, gas and oil. Since independence these coal based thermal power stations have been enduring the burden of energy requirement in India. Renewable Power is still unable to contribute effectively, but with the development of technology their contribution has increased substantially. Following kinds (based on means of production) of renewable plants are presently producing electricity within the country:
1. Biogas Plants 2. Biomass Power 3. Solar Photovoltaic 4. Wind Energy 5. Small Hydropower 6. Energy from wastes.
The following table gives the Installed Electricity Generation Capacity in India, 1997 – 2005 (in thousands of megawatts). The data is based on statistics collected by carbon sequestration leadership forum [3]
1997 2002 2003 2004 2005
Hydroelectric 21.65 26.26 26.76 29.50 30.94
Nuclear 2.22 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.77
Geothermal/ Solar/ Wind/ Biomass 1.27 1.51 1.74 1.87 3.81
Conventional Thermal 59.64 74.55 76.65 77.97 80.90
Total Capacity 85.79 105.05 107.88 112.06 118.42
Even though we are a developing country and our pressing needs has increased the use of fossil fuels still in terms of Carbon dioxide emission we are far below many of the developed nations. Carbon dioxide emission per capita in India is around 1 tonne against the world average of about 4 tonnes and of about 19 tonnes in case of some developed countries according to data by