Adopting Green Energy

A landmark day in Japan was celebrated in May'2012  as they shut down the last of their nuclear plant. Germany has also committed to phase out nuclear power whereas the US has started investing in alternative and green energy like wind and solar.

Where does that leave India? The recent the protests over the Kundakulam nuclear plant brought to the fore the simmering issue once again. A country that has abundant sunlight twelve months a year is far far away when it comes to tapping in to this source of energy. Whenever I have tried to broach the topic of  Solar energy , people have dismissed it calling it an expensive source of power. This at a time when prices of  Solar panels have crashed over the years thanks to the growing demand for Solar energy in the rest of the world.

The problem with our policy makers is that they think big when it is not required. They talk of acute shortage of power and invest in mega nuclear plants . These plants cost millions of dollars when a localized solution costing a fraction of this costs can provide a more sustainable green energy. The developed nations are dumping technology that is being shunned in their part of the world and our policy makers are lapping it up throwing up acute shortage of power as a reason for the same.

Another factor, which discourages localized and green solutions, is the kickbacks that the babus get in mega deals. How much money exchange hands when such kinds of deals are signed is of common knowledge. I am appalled why a country which is facing huge fiscal deficit and ever-growing oil bill is not pushing the use of alternative green energy. The recent budget did provide some concessions to  Solar Thermal project but it left out  Solar Photovoltaic industry, which makes up bulk of  energy market today.

The good thing about Solar power is that you can have localized solutions for eg, a School /Hospitals / Residences can have their own source constructed within the vicinity. Recently I read an article where a house owner in Chennai is able to beat the incessant power cuts by installing Solar power source in his residence. He is the envied one in his locality which plunges in to darkness very often due to rampant power cuts. Of course it is expensive but with support from the government these solutions can be made affordable to a wider base.

NDTV greenathon programme has been successfully lighting remote villages  using  Solar lamps where conventional electricity would take ages to reach. It is amazing that just by providing light after dusk one can alter the quality of life and improve productivity of the rural populations. These villages have no source of power and a simple Solar lamp is playing the role of catalyst in the overall development. Some times exceptions rather than rule hold the key to development. The general mindset is to go by the rule but it pays to step back and think if an exception to rule can help.

If the industry gets the right push the prices will come down driven by growing demand. Scarce financial resources can re-directed to projects that badly need funding.  All this requires political will and also tremendous amount of foresight.