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. Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of Smart Grid News “playbooks” focused on smart grid development around the world.
By Liz Enbysk
SGN Managing Editor
.
India currently relies on coal for about 40% of its total energy consumption, oil for about 24%, and natural gas for 6%, according to the International Energy Agency. But the country is looking beyond fossil fuels to turn around its energy deficit.
After the crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Indian government’s plan to build what would be the world’s largest nuclear plant at Jaitapur – a fishing and agricultural area prone to seismic activity – has led to violent opposition. But with blackouts common in many parts of the country, observers don’t expect India to abandon nuclear power.
“For centuries, the Indian tradition has worshipped the sun, the wind, the earth, and water, as sources of life, energy and creation. Today’s technology provides us with a real opportunity to transform the promise of boundless and clean energy into reality. From rooftop solar power in urban agglomerations, to decentralized and off-grid solutions in remote rural communities – the opportunities in renewable power are immense.” -- Dr. Farooq Abdullah, India's Minister of New and Renewable Energy
An India smart grid is on the radar too, although this comment from Guido Bartels, GM for the energy and utilities business at IBM, puts an interesting spin on the motivation: "Across the globe different countries have different priorities when envisaging a smart grid. In India, for example, the priority is on reducing the amount of electricity being stolen through illegal connections, while in the United States the emphasis is on creating a more efficient system and in Europe power utilities are looking for better ways to integrate sources of renewable energy into their bouquet of energy sources." Regardless, a report earlier this year on the top 10 smart grid countries by the research firm Innovation Observatory ranked India No. 3 behind the U.S. and China for smart grid investing through 2030. And an analysis by Brad Gammons, IBM's VP of Global Energy and Utility Industry, also puts a positive spin on India's smart grid future. In a piece for the International Business Times, he concludes: "Given the significant inroads in smart grid planning and development India is making to leapfrog other countries, its leadership is one that should be followed."
In the next section we’ll look at where some of that investment is heading.
INDIA SMART GRID AT A GLANCE IBM explores India’s smart grid readiness – IBM is partnering with India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to create a cost benefit analysis for smart grid activities. “There is a huge demand for power grids that are energy efficient, intelligent and secure. Through this collaboration with BEE, our aim is to help overcome inefficiencies in the existing grid and move towards more sustainable energy networks,” said Avinash V Joshi, director – communications sector, IBM India and South Asia.
IEEE helps with India smart grid standards– The IEEE Standards Association is helping India address smart grid interoperability concerns and anticipates introducing interoperability standards later this year, which are expected to pave the way for a faster smart grid implementation.
U.S. invests $25 million in clean energy– A joint U.S.-India partnership will create an R&D center focused on clean energy technologies. The Department of Energy is putting $25 million into the initiative to advance clean energy technologies. Scientists and engineers from the U.S. and India will initially focus on research in three priority areas: building energy efficiency, second-generation biofuels and solar energy.
Power giant eyes 1,000 MW of renewables – India’s largest power generator, the government-owned National Thermal Power Corp. (NTPC), signed an agreement last year that moves it towards its goal of 1,000 megawatts of power from renewable energy by 2014. Though coal is still king with NTPC, it is reportedly making an aggressive push to boost its installed generating capacity in the next few years.
INDIA RESOURCES
Media
Websites
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Maharashtra State Power Generation Co
Reports
Renewable Energy in India: Understanding Key Drivers
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