Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Experts for decentralised system of generation

CHENNAI: The country’s energy needs can be better secured by investing in a decentralised system of power generation, with contribution from bio-energy sources, than by heavy investment in centralised nuclear and thermal stations, alternative energy experts said on Tuesday.

The JRD Tata Ecotech Centre conducted the seminar on ‘Enhancing the focus of bio-energy options’ at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation here on the occasion of JRD Tata’s birthday.

Director of the centre Sudha Nair said the seminar formed part of the centre’s efforts at clinching a consensus on the debate on viable options for rural electrification.

V.V.N. Kishore, Professor, Centre for Energy and Environment, TERI University, said India’s total bio-resource potential amounted to 260 million tonnes oil equivalent (MTOE) which, he reckoned, could replace a significant portion of the captive power generated with diesel engines.

Using the available bio-fuel could bring electricity to rural areas, which are rich in these resources. But this would require a decentralised system of power generation. S. Dasappa, program executive, Indian Institute of Science, said a 20-KW system set up in Tamil Nadu had shown that 10 hectares reserved for bio-fuel generation could support irrigation of 36 hectares.

M. Rajagopalan, vice-president (southern region), Wartsila India Limited, argued that though biomass power generation had great potential, it was not scalable what with the problems of supply and availability of the resource; instead, bio-oil from the jatropha seed could be used.

M.S. Swaminathan said there was unanimity on the fact that the demand for economical energy was going up. But the current trends indicated that decentralisation would be a better option, with a mix of different sources, including solar, wind and bio-energy. But, he called for care while handling the food-versus-fuel problem that was raging globally.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Teaching teachers how to mould young minds
Vocational training programmes
To be honoured with ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ title
Financial aid for Kamaraj’s niece
NGO seeks copy of charge sheet
Date extended
Habeas corpus petition: court directs Minister, five others to file counter
200 operators to receive Arasu signals
Rs.1.12 cr. for holding handloom exhibitions
Over 1.42 lakh assessees file income tax returns
Inspection of new broad gauge line to begin on August 7
Poompuhar honours award-winning artisans
Contributions invited
Street food from Singapore will come to Chennai next year
A feast of plays ahead
Special trains to Tirunelveli, Rameswaram
It’s Tamil medium, yet learning proves a challenge
Six held on charge of abduction
27 persons hospitalised for diarrhoea
Work planned at sewage pumping station
Swimming pool to be ready by March-end
Security enhanced on High Court premises
“DSS development a boon to water resources”
Youth Forum holds protest meeting
500 more MTC buses with GPS in offing
Police directed to hand over girl to mother
Draft poll rolls for mid-year revision out
Inspection of BG line from August 7
New diabetes drug to be tested for insulin production
Experts for decentralised system of generation
Chennai today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu