Exploit renewable energy sources to save environment : expert

Chandigarh, June 5 (UNI) Keeping in view harmful effects of burning fossil fuels -- coal and oil, their depleting stocks and rising costs, serious efforts are required to exploit renewable sources of energy to save the environment, says S C Verma, former director of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN).

On the occasion of World Environment Day today, Mr Verma told UNI that to reduce environmental pollution, priority should be given to hydro, nuclear, wind, biomass or solar energy instead of fossil fuels.

Mr Verma informed that fossil fuels contain sulphur, which together with nitrogen leads to acid formations during combustion and even acid rain. Increased use of fossil fuels leads to green house gas emissions which in turn leads to global warming and depletion of the ozone layer.

''Global warming is leading to rise in sea levels and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Such changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather patterns, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, changes in agriculture yields and cause glacier retreats or contribute to some biological extinctions,'' he pointed out.

Of the total 1,23,901 MW power being generated in India, hydro projects, nuclear plants and renewable sources constitute a meagre 32,135 MW (25.9 per cent), 3,310 MW (3 per cent) and 6,158 MW (5 per cent) respectively while 82,298 MW (66.4 per cent) of the power is generated in thermal power plants.

About the advantages of hydro power, Mr Verma said that it is a renewable source of energy which is environment friendly, low costing in the long run and there are no fuel costs.

Stressing on the importance of nuclear energy, he said it was the most environmentally benign way of producing electricity on a large-scale and without it, most of the world would have to rely entirely on fossil fuels.

Mr Verma said nuclear agreement with US would provide big impetus to increase nuclear power capacity, which at present is only around three per cent of the total installed capacity, whereas nuclear energy share in France, Japan, Germany and USA is 78, 23, 28 and 23 per cent respectively.

Referring to biomass, Mr Verma said it is the best source of energy capable of generating electricity anytime, unlike wind and solar. Biomass energy is produced from timber, agriculture, waste of food processing industry and fuel crops grown for electricity generation. Biomass fuels can also include sewage sludge and animal manure.

He said most biomass power plants burn biomass fuels directly in boilers to produce steam for the same kind of steam generators, which use fossil fuels. Methane, ethanol, methanol, charcoal, biodiesel are obtained from biomass, he added.

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