writes Dr. Manzoor Ahmed Yatoo
India is now going through an unprecedented energy crisis and no one seems to be certain as to how the country would come out of the situation. The present import of crude oil in India is around 180 million tones per annum. With the production of crude oil remaining nearly stagnant, it is expected that the import of crude oil will exceed 240 million tons per annum in the next five years, if the GDP growth of around 6 to 7 per cent were to be sustained.
India is now importing around 80 million tons per annum of coal. A number of new coal based thermal power projects are being implemented. As Coal India is often unable to meet even the existing committed supply, it is likely that the Indian import of coal will exceed 150 million tons per annum by 2017. The natural gas production from the Reliance-operated Krishna Godavari basin has been disappointing with the production of gas presently hovering only around 50 per cent of the envisaged natural gas production from KG basin. With natural gas production also unlikely to increase substantially in the near future, India will become a big importer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and thousands of cores of rupees have to be invested in building LNG terminals in different coastal regions in the country.
The net result of this scenario would be that Indian industry and economy would become highly vulnerable to international price and supply pressure for crude oil, coal and natural gas in the near future. To avoid this situation, the country has to urgently find an appropriate alternate source of energy in tune with the country’s strength, geographical conditions and the need. Since J and K state is whole dependent on energy from central Govt and if at all hydroelectric power is gene rated mostly is transferred to centre, thus rendering it always in dependency state. J and k state has got large water bodies in the form of lakes and ponds. World famous DAL LAKE and Wulur are best examples where there is potential for Algae bio fuel. Fisheries Department can develop Algal ponds with fish. This can be a new concept to reduce the cost of bio-fuels by double harvesting. But who will bell the cat,Is Govt serious enough for such innovative projects?
It is indeed surprising that India as well as our state, has not seriously considered the algae bio-fuel as an alternative means of energy. More than 99 per cent of commercial algae biomass produced worldwide currently is mainly from seaweeds farmed near the seashore. J and K should not let go the opportunity to utilize the algae and weeds, which can be cultivated in large quantity in the J and K water bodies. Algae can be used as a source for bio-fuel and bio-ethanol; apart from this, algae can also be used for the production of hydrogen (for use in fuel cells); and production of methane.
Already, more than one hundred firms across the world are working on cultivation and harvesting of algae bio-mass. The US Department of Energy’s (DOE), National Algal Bio-fuels Technology Roadmap envisages an important role for algae in the energy management in the coming years all over the world.
While large scale production for algae based bio-fuels is expected to start between now and 2020 in the developed countries, the work on development of technology and engineering practices for production of algae bio-fuel in J and K state is still in a nascent stage.
The biggest challenge in algae bio-fuel production is cutting the cost which is estimated to run to more than $20 a gallon at present. Researchers are trying to figure out how to grow enough of the right strains of algae and how to extract the oil most efficiently. If the cost of production can be reduced, the advantages of algae, as it grows much faster and in less space than conventional energy crops, can be well harnessed.
Advantages for J&K
Algae is the third generation bio-fuel and can be an ideal solution for J and Ks impending fuel crisis, as this state has long coastal region and climate can facilitate the cultivation of algae in J and K in mass scale. This calls for strong and dedicated efforts from Government and industries. The several advantageous salient features of algae in J and K conditions include the following:
- The states enormous diversity
- vast hydro potential
- sufficient water bodies
- Does not compete with food crops for land availability
- Can grow in places away from forests, thus minimizing the damages caused to the Eco-and-food chain systems
So far some initiatives have been taken by the local scientists and technocrats to promote research and development efforts on cultivation of algae and production of bio-fuel from algae and such projects have been also forwarded to Govt. of J&K, in recent times. The tasks are really being pursued at a snail’s pace and they are now largely confined to red tapped government files. For all practical purposes, there is no participation from private sector industries and research establishments, there is need for highly focused and time bound efforts. Algae bio-fuel represents a great opportunity. The challenges can be overcome by initiating necessary research and application development efforts on a priority basis.
The Centre should also consider setting up dedicated research facilities for algae bio-fuel, with the target of developing adequate expertise with regard to technology and engineering practices for production of algae bio-fuel in the country and as well as in J and K in the next five years.
J and K should join the global race for research and development on algae bio-fuel and should not let go this opportunity that would enable the country to find a solution to its impending energy crisis.
(The author is an expert in environment ,project & waste Management, occupational safety& health & pollution control and empanelled expert for Indo European chamber of commerce and industry. You may reach him at manzooryetoo@yahoo.co.in)