Discussing the price of natural gas in the country has become a significant issue for the government and the industry. The issue, however, is that we must use whatever resources we have as efficiently as possible. | |
| While the hydrocarbon reserves - both oil and gas - are depleting fast, prices are bound to go up. The efficient use of natural gas can prove to be a reliable solution to this problem and state governments and industry needs to step up the adoptation of fuel efficient methods, especially for power generation Ajit C Kapadia, vice chairman, Centre for Fuel Studies and Research, said. |
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| Combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) mode must be given top priority as it can be the ideal solution. Kapadia told Business Standard, "The Planning Commission report on integrated energy policy and the statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former President APJ Abdul Kalam stress efficient use of our fuel and energy resources. Natural gas in large quantities "" to the extent of 80 to 100 mscmd is likely to be available in next 2-3 years beginning June 2008. The ongoing debate on price of NG may be too hot to handle but instead the focus should be on efficiency." |
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| Suggesting the CCHP mode as a solution, he said, "It has been experienced not only by international community but by Indian industries as well that when NG is used in combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) mode, it is possible to get 75-90 per cent thermal efficiency." |
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| "The industry consumes 35 per cent of the energy generated in India. Even if all 100 mscmd of NG is used in combined cycle mode of power generation , it can only supply 25,000 Mw power (combined cycle 50 per cent efficiency mode). While in CCHP mode, it can not only generate 15,000 Mw power, but also save about 14 million tones ." |
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| India requires about 100,000 Mw power in XI plan. Industrial requirements would be of the order of additional 35,000 Mw. As can be seen, all NG likely to be available in XIth plan cannot fulfill industrial requirements fully. |
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| "The other advantages of CCHP mode would be no transfer and distribution (T&D) losses as power is generated at user point, no need to expand T&D network, which in turn saves capital expenditure, high efficiency would result in less environment pollution as well be eligible for CDM credits. In addition, industries can gain competitive edge resulting from savings in energy inputs." |
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| It is time planners of our country change their focus from business to what can and needs to be done. No point in arguing that if utilities loose industrial consumers, how can we support captive generation," Kapadia added. |
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