The Hindu Business Line : Expert highlights inefficient use of energy in Kerala

Efficiency of energy use - petroleum fuels, power and other renewable sources - in Kerala is deplorably low despite tremendous improvements that have taken place world over.

It is estimated that there exist a saving potential of 30 per cent in the agricultural sector, 25 per cent in the industry, 20 per cent in transport and 20 per cent in the domestic sector if we opt for proven and available energy efficiency improvement devices, said Dr M.P.S. Nair, Managing Director of the Travancore Cochin Chemicals (TCC) Ltd.

According to him, there are no concerted efforts in this direction and the users see not much incentive in making investments for energy saving. Every consumer shall be encouraged to adopt modern developments in technology for attaining increased energy use efficiency in their area of activity

Make audit mandatory

He told Business Line that though energy audit is mandatory and conducted in every industry, most often it is ritualistic and does not contribute to the targeted energy savings.

In the power sector, he said, there is an immediate need to take steps to commission all the ongoing power projects with in a targeted period. A time bound strategy has to be evolved to create additional capacities in the light of the growing energy needs in the industry, commerce and trade, service and domestic sectors in the State.

None of the series of 18 small hydro projects identified as far back as 1995 and put under Chinese technology and investment tie-up could be implemented even after 10 years. A scheme for implementation of small and medium hydropower projects may be drawn up while development of other hydroelectric projects in the state may also be taken up urgently.

Hydroelectric projects

Major high tension power consuming industries in the State like Travancore Cochin Chemicals Ltd (TCCL), Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) Ltd, Hindalco (Indian Aluminium Company) etc may be encouraged to develop small and medium hydroelectric projects as captive units. This could be done based on a cost-benefit sharing approach between Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), the state government and the companies, he said.

The refinery based power plant project was proposed in 1999 to produce 500 mega watt (MW) power based on the one million metric tonnes (MT) of vacuum residue - a cheap, unmarketable and difficult to dispose residue from refining operations - from Kochi Refineries Ltd. This project was later abandoned and now there is a need to reconsider it given the prevailing high cost of naphtha fuel (Rs 33,000 per MT) on account of which the Reliance (BSES) Eloor and NTPC Kayamkulam thermal power plants find it difficult to sustain operations and remain closed.

As and when the LNG terminal becomes operative natural gas will be available to power plant operators at half the price being paid for naphtha. Several large-scale power plants based on natural gas are planned in the State to take advantage of the low cost of gas fuel and also reduce pollution problems.

Besides, industries may be encouraged to use renewable sources for production of electrical power. They shall promote utilisation of waste heat from process plant operations. Wherever possible, the energy intensity of industrial operations may be reduced by retrofitting or revamping of existing operations.

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