SUFFiciENcy EcONOMy ANd GRASSROOtS DEvElOPMENt

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248 The Meaning of Sufficiency Economy International Conference 1. Introduction Energy is fast becoming a rare commodity. The situation in villages as compared to cities is even worse. In India, there are still more than eighty thousand villages yet to be electrified and the cost of extending the centralized grid to remote villages is extremely prohibitive. Moreover, excessive consumption of commercial fossil fuels are degrading our environment and ecology as we are experiencing the global warming due to greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion etc. Under this scenario, renewable energy technologies like sun, wind, biomass etc. offer a clean and viable solution. With maturity in these technologies, they are increasingly being seen as a promising option to meet the present and future energy demands without adversely affecting the environment and arresting the degradation of ecology, thereby offering large scope in manufacturing, installing, servicing and providing consultancy regarding renewable energy based technologies, appliances and products. There is a dire need to build a strong domestic economy and improve competitiveness, based on a country’s potential resources and abilities, in order to gain the benefits of globalization and to minimize adverse impacts (Wibulswasdi et al 2010). India already imports around seventy percent of its oil requirements. Wibulswasdi et al (2010) also said that a proper supply-side management policy is also to be framed to help withstand the shocks and volatility arising from external factors, such as oil and commodities prices, exchange rates etc. With good risk management, we will be resilient and overcome these challenges. Second, promotion of alternative energy sources such as gasohol or bio-diesel will increase our national energy security and help protect our economy from increasingly volatile world energy prices. These self-immunities, once in place, will lead to an increase in the overall economic resilience of the country. (Wibulswasdi et al 2010) In particular case of generating electricity, it is estimated that the activity creates 11.4 billion tons of carbon emissions worldwide each year – nearly 40 percent of all energy-related carbon emissions. Renewable sources could reduce those emissions (Cass 2011). 20 terawatt-hours were the global electricity generation in 2008; 68 percent of this electricity was produced by burning fossil fuels (Levitan 2011). In order to address effectively these environmental matters, together with energy supply security concerns, radical changes in power generation, automotive engine, and fuel technologies will probably be required. Such changes must offer the potential for achieving negligible emissions of air pollutants and Greenhouse gases, and must diversify the energy sector away from its present heavy reliance on fossil fuels (and particularly gasoline in the transportation sector). A number of technologies, including those that are solar or hydrogen-based, offer the long term potential for an energy system that meets these criteria (Owen 2004).
The Meaning of Sufficiency Economy International Conference 249 Distributed sources of energy, such as residential solar installations, will reduce the need for more centralized power plants by contributing power to the local grid (Cass 2011). Japan is testing other technologies to reduce urban energy demand by better integrating power and heating systems. It is spending a billion dollars in four cities in five years to develop and deploy technologies such as residential natural-gas fuel cells: the cells reduce the amount of power the grid must supply, while waste heat from the fuel cell is used to warm the house. When electricity and heat are both generated on-site in this way, a house requires less total energy than it would if warmed and powered separately. (Cass 2011) In India the annual global solar radiation is about 5 KWh/ sq m per day with about 2300-3200 sun-shine hours per year. Solar radiations represent the earth’s most abundant energy source. The perennial source of solar energy provides unlimited supply, has no negative impact on the environment. The solar photovoltaic (PV) modules convert solar radiation from the sun into electrical energy in the form of direct current (DC). Converting solar energy into electricity is the answer to the mounting power problems in the rural areas. Its suitability for decentralized applications and its environment-friendly nature make it an attractive option to supplement the energy supply from other sources. 1 KWp of SPV generates 3.5-4.5 units (KWh) per day (DOT 2008). If we could install Solar Photovoltaic Cells much of the rural exchange power needs could be met, adequately cutting down harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Wind energy is another viable option. The Wind Turbine Generator is designed for optimal operation at wind speed of 10-14 m/s. The Turbine Generator starts at a cut-in speed of 3-3.5 m/s and generates power at speeds 4.5 m/s and above. In India, the best wind speed is available during monsoon from May to September and low wind speed during November to March. The annual national average wind speed considered is 5-6 m/s. Wherever average wind speed of 4.5 m/s. and above is available, it is also an attractive option to supplement the energy supply. Wind generators can even be installed on telecom tower at a height of 15-20 mt. with suitable modification in tower design, taking into account tower strength and EMI & EMC (DOT 2008). 1 KW WTG generates around 3 – 3.2 units (KWh) per day. Hybrid Wind-Solar System for the rural exchanges can make an ideal alternative in areas where wind velocity of 5-6 m/s is available. Solar-wind power generations are clear and non-polluting. Also they complement each other. During the period of bright sunlight, the solar energy is utilized for charging the batteries, creating enough energy reserve to be drawn during night, while the wind turbine produce most of the energy during monsoon when solar power generation is minimum. Thus the hybrid combination uses the best of both means and can provide quality, stable power supply for sustainable development in rural areas. These systems are specifically designed to draw 48 volts DC power output from the solar cells/ wind turbines and combine them to charge the storage batteries. The system does require availability of diesel generator, though for much reduced number of hour’s operation. It is also designed to give priority to solar and wind power so that operations of generators can be minimized to the extent possible
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SUFFiciENcy EcONOMy ANd GRASSROOtS DEvElOPMENt

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