Solar Energy Can Shine Kashmir

BILAL HUSSAIN

Ever rising energy demand in Jammu and Kashmir coupled with impediments like Indus Water Treaty and many other associated issues, demands a shift of focus from hydro to solar energy generation. A diversified energy mix with a focus on efficient exploration and consumption of energy resources is needed to achieve it.

In this direction harnessing Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy could be a step toward achieving a well-built energy mix to meet future demands.  Currently, the installed capacities of India with regard to different sources are:

 Power sector at a glance (India)

Fuel	MW	%age
Total Thermal	155968.99	68.19
Coal	134,388.39	58.75
Gas	20,380.85	8.91
Oil	1,199.75	0.52
Hydro (Renewable)	39,788.40	17.39
Nuclear	4,780.00	2.08
RES** (MNRE)	28,184.35	12.32
Total	2,28,721.73	100.00

Renewable Energy Sources(RES) include SHP, BG, BP, U&I and Wind Energy

SHP= Small Hydro Project ,BG= Biomass Gasifier ,BP= Biomass Power,

U & I=Urban & Industrial Waste Power, RES=Renewable Energy Sources

 At present, the solar power plants of varying capacities aggregating to 600 KWs have been installed at different locations/institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. And Supplies for 1000 nos. of solar cookers have been received by the end of October 2014. While the Ministry of Renewable Energy, GOI sanctioned 03 solar power plants of 100 KW each for Government Polytechnic, Bikram Chowk, Jammu, Kashmir Government Polytechnic, Srinagar and Government Women Polytechnic, Srinagar at the cost of Rs. 8.06 crores.  In addition, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Govt. of India sanctioned the installation of Solar Power Plants of aggregate Capacity of 1313.76 kwp in 19 Govt. ITIs at a total cost of Rs. 32.18 crore (with Central Assistance of Rs. 28.96 crore and Rs. 3.21 crore as State Share).

Power Demand

The sixteenth All India Power Survey has projected an increase in power demand of Jammu and Kashmir from 1706 MW i.e. 9640 MUs during 2004-05 to 2120 MW i.e. 14750 MUs during 2008-09. The demand for power has been estimated to the tune of 15511 MUs during the year 2008-09. The demand is expected to touch 4000 MW i.e. 19500 MUs by 2020-21.

Solar status

Solar energy in India has an enormous potential of 20 Megawatt (MW) per sq km receiving approximately 3000 hours of sunshine per year or 5000 trillion kwh (kilowatt hour) through abundant solar resources.

In 2010, the government of India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (FYP), which was an off-grid clean energy mission. The government is initializing to popularize solar energy systems aiming to build 1,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2013 in the first phase. Further, it aims to add 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022 under the National Solar Mission (NSM).

The driving force behind JNNSM is the depletion of fossil fuels, reliance on oil imports, environmental concerns and the need for a better energy mix for India that can address problems like transmission and distribution losses through decentralized power systems. The upcoming government in the state should ask New Delhi for financial support for the setting of solar power plants across the state.

Way forward

At present, the establishment of new generation capacity and reducing the cost of power will require action on many fronts: like securing long-term financial arrangements, and increasing in a generation so as to take maximum benefit of the available schemes like JNNSM.

And far most important dimension that the policymakers of the state have to keep in mind is to have private participation in terms of Joint Ventures, BOT, and BOOT.