Renewable energy is the need of the hour in Uttarakhand

Knowing very well that we are all heading towards an energy crisis situation, usage of non-conventional energy sources is an option that has become an urgent imperative today. Renewable energy sources include biomass, wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal heat. The mindset vis-a-vis renewable energy is not generally welcoming and most would be shocked to learn that opting for this option is an unbelievably low cost one and convenient.

Renewable energy utilizes natural cycles and systems such as sunlight, wind, tides, and geothermal heat. Although some measures have started in Uttarakhand to spread efforts in this regard, nothing concrete has been achieved so far. Though it is understood that to begin with it is hardly feasible to rely solely on renewable energy sources, few can be alternating, such as solar and wind, requiring either use of a combination of energy sources or a form of energy storage. For example, sunlight can be combined with standard electric lighting to produce hybrid solar lighting, a new development in solar technology and hydroelectric and wind power, can be used in conjunction with fossil fuels to produce electricity.

It is realized that the main obstacles to utilizing renewable energy sources are costs and paucity of land needed for wind and solar farms. While overall costs continue to decrease, most of the technologies remain more expensive than conventional fossil fuel technologies.

Gharat man Dr Anil Joshi, who is advocating use of this source for energy needs in the hills, says that defunct water mills can be refurbished and upgraded for use by small hamlets. Joshi is already working in many states in conjunction with the army to revive Gharats.

"I am glad that the Energy Park, set up Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency, includes a live demonstration of upgraded watermill," he states, adding, "We need to spread awareness that there is a subsidy of Rs. 1 lakh provided by the ministry of non-conventional energy sources apart from one of Rs 6000 provided by the state government for water mills. Financial assistance is also being provided by the Small-Scale Industry Department to the unemployed youth for the installation of watermill."

J.S. Bisht, who deals in renewable energy, has an outlet at the park complex by the name of ADOS, to sell these. He states that the central government guidelines state that 20 per cent hot water requirement should be fed through solar energy, but that guideline is hardly being followed. He adds, "Though power generation could be costly for private parties, for government departments there is 90 per cent subsidy for solar power plants and 60 per cent for solar water heaters in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and HP. But this advantage is not being utilized."

Bisht is offering a good service to Doonites through Energy Service Company (ESC), which can take up the entire capital cost of installing renewable energy plants in private or government institutes. This will ensure no cost to customers while ESC will get back its investments by way of subsidy. "In one to two years, the payback will be complete," Bisht assures. ESC is already doing such a project with the Uttarakhand Agriculture Department.