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Using wind to tide over energy crisis

R. Ramabhadran Pillai

`State has potential to generate 800 MW of wind power'

G. Madhusoodanan Pillai

KOCHI: India is sitting on a huge reservoir of renewable energy while it is groping in the dark to find a way out of the energy crisis. Wind energy can be harnessed at many places in a country like India where sites having enough velocity of wind, suitable for setting up wind farms, are available. But the Government is yet to realise the potential and initiate concrete measures to tap it. This is an assessment of the current energy scenario by G. Madhusoodanan Pillai, an expert in energy management.

Mr.Pillai, an IAS officer, was a member of the expert panel that drafted the wind energy policy for Kerala Government in 2004 while he was the Director General of Maharashtra Energy Development Agency. He is currently the Director General of the Pune-based World Institute of Sustainable Energy.

Kerala has the potential to generate 800 MW of power from wind. The mandatory period for examination of the draft policy on wind energy prior to its approval by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission is coming to a close by the end of May, 2006. Mr. Pillai hopes that once the Commission gives its approval, wind energy farms will come up in the State. A wind farm in Idukki is ready to take off.

"Harnessing renewable energy is the ideal way to tackle the energy crisis that looms large over this developing country," he says. The success of energy management lies in the right mix of energy from various sources. There is lack of awareness on sustainable energy in general. There are a number of ideal locations in different States where wind energy farms can be set up. The country is simply wasting a huge energy resource by neglecting it. He attributes this state of affairs to the ignorance of the public in general and the decision-makers in particular.

He is a hard critic of the liquefied natural gas project to be set up in Kerala. The decision to spend huge sums will not be wise because gas prices are shooting up world over. "No country is ready to guarantee a steady supply of natural gas," he observes. The international pricing mechanism is such that it will go up eventually and the consumers will not get the supply at the prices being offered now.

He vehemently advocates a `secure energy' set-up for Kerala. "I don't know why people look at big things only. Wind power is being developed globally and Kerala sites are among the best in the world," he says.

The World Institute of Sustainable Energy was conceptualised by him with a view to giving a facelift to the sector from its present state of neglect. The institute has ambitious plans. It aims at a time-bound technology mission, which will be able to carry out research and spread awareness among the masses while driving home the point among the top executives and politicians.

"We need a renewable energy law. China has already introduced such a law," Mr. Pillai says. He is keen on formulating a comprehensive law. It will encompass aspects related to energy generation, grid connectivity, supply, et al. A group of 30-35 MPs who are keen on the renewable energy mission are supporting the process.

The institute is submitting a proposal for setting up a Renewable Energy Council to the Union Government next month. If the proposal gets the green signal, the Council would come up with suggestions to guide the Government in the sector.

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