Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has called for shift in the structure of energy sources in order to achieve the strategic goals for Energy Independence by 2030.

Inaugurating a two-day South Asian Conference on Renewable Energy in New Delhi recently, he said that firstly fossil fuel import need to be minimized and secure access ensured.

Besides maximum hydro and nuclear power potential should be utilized apart from coal and gas based thermal power generation, he said.

Dr. Kalam stressed that the most significant aspect of this structure shift would be increase in power generated from renewable energy technologies to 25 percent against the present level of about 5 percent.

The President called upon those attending the conference to explore the possibility of a large-scale renewable energy project of several thousands of megawatt capacity as a commercially viable joint venture among South Asian nations.

One such possibility he suggested is in the regime of efficient use of renewable solar energy. This will need the combined power of the joint venture nations to conduct state-of-the-art research and development, professional implementation, management and commercial exploitation, he noted.

President Kalam further said that to meet the development targets of India, power generating capacity has to increase to 400,000 MW by 2030 from the existing 130,000 MW.

This, he said, has got to be achieved through three different sources -- hydel capacity, nuclear power and non-conventional energy sources - primarily through solar energy.

The hydel capacity generated through inter-linking of rivers is expected to contribute additional 50,000 MW of power. Large-scale solar energy farms could contribute around 55,000 MW. The nuclear power plants should have a target of 50,000 MW of power. The balance has to be generated through the conventional thermal plants through coal and gas and other renewable sources of energy such a wind power, biomass, power through municipal waste and solar thermal power.

Speaking on the occasion, Vilas Muttemwar, Indian Minister for Non Conventional Sources, informed that grid-interactive renewable power has taken second place to conventional power with an installed capacity of over 8,000 MW by this March end that corresponds to over 6 percent of the installed power generation capacity in the country, with wind power having reached 4th positions globally.

The minister added that renewable power capacity is likely to double every five years or so in the future. “Consequently, our assessment is that by 2012 around 20,000 MW corresponding to 10 percent of the then installed capacity would be contributed by renewables. By 2030 renewable power capacity is likely to reach 100,000 MW.”

Muttemwar also said that major investment opportunities are waiting in this area to be explored. Regarding alternative fuels like hydrogen, bio-fuel, etc., he said that around 30-40 million tons is aimed to be generated by 2030 accounting for 20 percent of fuel needs in transport sector. As regards encouraging R&D, the minister said, “to attain our deployment aims we will be investing heavily into R&D. In this regard, my ministry provides up to 50 percent central financial assistance for R&D projects taken up by industry”.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Non Conventional Sources through Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

The inaugural session was attended by Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, State Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources of Bangladesh.

Representatives from the governments and industry from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, energy specialists from SAARC countries, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Mauritius, Europe and USA also attended.

EP Desk