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People in Europe and US have the option of choosing between “brown” and “green” electricity. Electricity produced from polluting sources like fossil fuels, dams and nuclear power plants is “dirty” or “brown” electricity; while electricity produced from renewable, non-polluting and environmental friendly sources like Wind, Sun, Micro Hydro electric projects and waves is “Green Electricity”.
Burning of fossil fuels in Thermal Power Plants causes global warming and premature deaths of over 4million people annually by releasing Carbon dioxide into atmosphere. Large Dams are harmful to environment and lead to displacement of population. Nuclear Plants produce radioactive waste which decays after 10,000 years. “When the winds of change blow, some build walls other build Windmills”—Chinese Proverb. Unlike the Middle Ages when they were first used, Modern Windmills are long lasting (20yrs), energy efficient and financially viable, paying back in 3-5 months of operations. Best located in Windmill Farms on shorelines, hilltops, mountain ridges or gaps, they require around 0.1sq.km/ MW land out of which 99% can be used as farmland/forest. Since wind speed is variable, their output needs supplementation. Newer Windmills include Wind Amplified Rotor Platforms (WARP) which looks like a stack of wheel rims without any blades and Flying Windmills (Gyromills) which resemble a cross between a helicopter and kite and flying at 15000feet generate 27 times more electricity which is transmitted to the ground through its tethering cable. Solar Power is generated from Photovoltaic cells which over the years have become cheaper and more efficient. Their production is limited by short supply of refined silicon. Solar energy reaching Earth every minute is greater than the entire world’s fossil fuel requirement for one year. Wave Power generates electricity by capturing the energy of ocean surface waves. Geothermal Energy uses earth’s heat to boil water and generate electricity, by drilling 10kms deep tunnels. Geothermal energy below US can fulfill all the world's current needs for 30,000 years. Tidal Power exploits the rise and fall in sea levels using underwater turbines or small barrages which trap high tide water. India is the 4th largest producer of wind power after Denmark, Spain and Germany. However only 0.3% of India’s energy production is green; Thermal power plants produce 81.7%, Dams 14.5% and Nuclear Power plants 3.4%. Under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) over 1 lakh solar lights were installed in 2003 in Karnataka’s remote villages. Costing Rs15000/- each, villagers paid Rs 2250/- as down payment and Rs 300/- as monthly installments for 5yrs to Bank of Karnataka. This was less than the kerosene bill for most people. There was no government subsidies involved. 20,000 similar lights were installed in higher reaches of Ladakh. Officially 122 villages are unelectrified in Uttarakhand, out of which 2 are in Dehra Dun District. However numerous villages like Bimson in Chakrata have broken down transmission lines which have not been repaired for years. The concept of producing electricity at one point and then distributing it (Central Generation) is not suitable for hills due to problems in laying and maintaining long lengths of transmission lines through forests and mountains. Distributed Generation, involving generation and consumption of power at local levels is more reliable, requires less capital and can be setup in remotest villages. If we replicate the experience of Karnataka and Ladakh, we can light up hundreds of homes in remote villages. Unfortunately Government emphasizes on making dams to supply brown electricity to big cities. At a fraction of the cost, windmills supplementing solar power can light up our villages. Mountain tops and ridges are ideal places for locating Windmills. Solar lights on remote mountain roads can prevent accidents at night and in bad weather, and solar pumps can pump water from rivers below to water deprived villages high up in mountains. Power Producers of Uttarakhand could adopt remote unelectrified villages to provide Green Electricity. It’s time to exploit Uttarakhand’s green potential. |
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