“It is natural to think about transport when you talk about diesel consumption. But, nearly one-third of the 65 million tonnes of the fuel is used to generate electricity,” asks Mr Narasimhan Santhanam, Director, Energy Alternatives India.
That is electricity costing around Rs 15 a unit – a litre of diesel costing about Rs 45 generates three units of electricity – that can well be produced from renewable sources at about half that cost, he says.
That will be the thrust of Reaction 2012, a two-day seminar on renewable energy that Energy Alternatives, a research and consultancy firm plans to organise on July 26 and 27.
The theme ‘Diesel to Renewables' will showcase proven technologies where the entire gamut of renewable energy supplements conventional fuels, particularly diesel and furnace oil. There are significant success stories in telecom towers, food processing industry, office and factory buildings where significant cost savings have been achieved. The event will bring together service providers, experts and manufacturers in this sector.