Evolve ways to reduce energy consumption: Mukherjee to scientists

President Pranab Mukherjee has asked Scientists and Technologists to evolve a way out to reduce energy consumption.

Addressing the National Energy Conservation Award Function here yesterday, Mukherjee said that India is the fourth largest consumer of energy in the world, after US, China and Russia.

Accelerated industrialization, growing urbanization and an emerging consumer society have led to a significant increase in energy demand.

"Meeting the energy needs of the population in a scenario of increasing supply limitations has posed a formidable challenge for sustainable economic growth," he added.

He said that as an effective strategy to counter this growing difficulty, the growth in energy demand vis-a-vis the growth of GDP has to be contained through improved energy efficiency.

Giving the example of the US, Mukherjee said that the US has turned itself from being a huge net energy importer to being self-sufficient through the discovery of shale gas, which has been possible because of a crucial technological breakthrough in efficient recovery of shale gas.

Highlighting the role of scientists and technologists, Mukherjee said that they have to engage themselves in the cause of making our country self-sufficient in energy.

"Policy making also has to be proactive to identify problems, highlight trends, develop scenarios, and recommend policy options, so as to avert any crisis", he added.

Mukherjee further disclosed that the Twelfth Five Year Plan recognizes the importance of evolving a low carbon strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth.

"A national target to increase energy use efficiency has been set. It will bring a twenty to twenty five percent reduction in the energy intensity of our GDP by 2020," he said.

The President recognized the various innovative initiatives of Ministry of Power like Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT), Super Energy Efficient Program (SEEP) under National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency.