ALTERNATIVE CARBON SOURCES

In order to decrease the carbon footprints , it became the primary concern of researchers to
find out various eco friendly , reliable and renewable means of energy production methods
for ground concerns . In this modern world , rising fuel costs also thinks about finding
alternative resources of energy production . Majority of rural population depends on cost
efficient sources . Thus, it became a challenge for researchers and engineers , to think about
low cost and sustainable energy sources which can also eliminate carbon emission problems .

Thus , various renewable power methods are adopted in India . These are as follows

 Solar Power generation

 Biogas Power generation
 Wind Power Generation
 Hydro Power Generation

SOLAR POWER IN RURAL AREAS

The climate change is showcased as major global issue. India being the nation that primarily
depends on agriculture is undoubtedly one of those nations who are much vulnerable to be
directly threatened by the growing menace of the climate change. Climate change is
estimated to have serious adverse effects on India’s growth as it aggravates the pressures on
natural resources and the environment associated with rapid urbanization, industrialization,
and economic growth.

Source : Research gate

Water resources, marine habitats, biodiversity, and agriculture production are the sectors with
the greatest exposure to such impacts. Since there is a developmental process, it is much
tougher for the developing nations to get on the tune with the developed nations while the
climate change issues are in the scene and for India [5]. On the other side solar energy is
playing major role in order to reduce the greenhouse gases. In result of which, climate will
change automatically and maintain environmentally friendly atmosphere in totality. There are
evident that solar energy is most suitable one in order to reduce the pollution on earth also .

Source : Research gate

Various sectors like the manufacturing, construction and heavy engineering, transportation
provides for the greenhouse gas emission and impacts on climate change. In India, under the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India, Clean
Technology and National Clean Development Mechanism Authority in engaged in the
approving Host Country Approval projects in sectors of energy efficiency, fuel switching,
industrial process, municipal solid waste, renewable energy and forestry . Many of the
developing nations are involved in utilizing renewable energy technologies as a cost effective
alternative to grid supply for providing electricity to rural and remote areas. However, In
developing countries electricity supply is already very high and renewable energies such as
photovoltaic technology can be connected for the same [16]. It is important note here that if
the individual countries decides to succeed in solar power energy sector it should decide
based on ground reality as it is depending upon policies regarding solar energy, technology,
financial schemes etc.

It was in July 2020, the Prime Minister of India, inaugurated Asia’s largest 750MWRewa
solar plant, which is estimated that it would avoid 15.4 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide
generation every year. Additionally, this is the first project fund sanctioned by the World
Bank and Clean Technology Fund in India .

BIOGAS POWER GENERATION IN RURAL AREAS

In India, more than 68% of the total primary energy supply (TPES) is supplied from non-
renewable energy sources (coal, crude oil or natural gas) and around 18% is from hydro
resources. Only about 12% of the energy basket is supplied by renewable energy sources
which include solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc. Though most of the energy need is
harvested from fossil fuels, 70% of the rural population depends on the bio energy for their
domestic usage in the country. The bio energy use in the country shows a decreasing trend
over the years due to urbanization and rural electrification; nevertheless at present about 25%
of the energy demand is met by bio energy .

Source : Research gate

Bio energy resources are renewable in nature and combustion would not produce poisonous
gases and ash with sufficient oxygen supply. However, the CO2 generated during combustion
of bio energy is used by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Hence the ecological balance
is not disturbed by using bio energy [14]. This process leads to forestation which is the
important part of ecological system to maintain the balance and to promote sustainability .

As on 30.06.2021, a total capacity of 10170 MW has been installed in Biomass Power and
Cogeneration Sector.

 Installed Capacity of Biomass IPP – 1836 MW

 Installed Capacity of Bagasse Cogeneration – 7562 MW
 Installed Capacity of Non-Bagasse Cogeneration - 772 MW
As per a recent study sponsored by MNRE, the current availability of biomass in India is
estimated at about 750 million metric tonnes per year.    The Study indicated estimated
surplus biomass availability at about 230 million metric tonnes per annum covering
agricultural residues corresponding to a potential of about 28 GW.  This apart, about 14
GW additional power could be generated through bagasse based cogeneration in the
country’s 550 Sugar mills, if these sugar mills were to adopt technically and economically
optimal levels of cogeneration for extracting power from the bagasse produced by them.

WIND POWER GENERATION IN RURAL AREAS

India’s carbon emissions from the electric power industry can be held at the 2018 levels in
2030 at costs comparable to a fossil fuel-dominated grid — without affecting the country's
growth and development . There is a need for aggressive renewable energy targets: building
600 gigawatt of renewable capacity — majority being wind plants — for holding India’s
2030 emissions below 2018 levels for less than the social cost of carbon .

Source : Research gate

India currently aims to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity, including large hydro,
by 2030. This will largely be dominated by solar power sector with a share of 300 GW; the
wind power sector will account for 140 GW. India has an installed capacity of 143 GW of
solar, wind, hydro and biomass capacity.

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. In February 2021, in its India
Energy Outlook 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlighted that its economic
growth was expected to accelerate dramatically. It had said the rate of energy demand growth
in the country was already three times the global average. India’s primary energy demand is
expected to double by 2040 compared to 2017. Hence, India has a growing importance in
global energy issues, and the implications of its development trajectory on international
energy supply, trade and investment.

The recent development in solar and wind domain along with the plummeting prices of both
technologies provides India an opportunity to successfully meet aspirations of its citizens
without following the high-carbon pathway that other economies have pursued in the past.
This is crucial, particularly at a time when the talk around climate change has deepened.

The report argued that high renewable energy capacity will not obviate the need of building
new fossil fuel-based power plants to serve peak demand. A capacity of 600 GW of
renewable will reduce the usage of fossil fuel power plants. Solar sector should account for
25-50 per cent of the 600 GW renewable capacity to incur the lowest mitigation cost; wind
should account for 45 per cent of it. The decreasing cost of battery storage and their
integration can cost-effectively avert the need for new fossil fuel power plants .Costs for
energy storage on the grid are falling rapidly, making it a viable option in the near term. To
avoid investments in new coal power plants, deploying battery storage will be essential .

Source : MNRE

In India, wind capacity addition in the last four years has been at an annual average of about
1.5 GW against solar 5.5 GW. The wind energy sector, which had the biggest share in non-
hydro renewables for decades, had been surpassed by solar in January 2021. It will be in the
national interest that wind as a natural resource is optimally utilised.

Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based non-profit, had earlier highlighted
the need for re-powering the older wind farms on a rolling basis. It is also important to
explore off-shore wind options. 

HYDRO POWER GENERATION IN RURAL AREAS

Hydroelectric stations supply about 20 percent of the world's electricity demand. But only
about 30 percent of potential has been exploited to date, and most of the remaining potential
is in the developing world . Indonesia has only tapped 1 percent of its potential, China 5
percent, and India 9 percent .

The power output of a hydroelectric (hydro) plant is measured in kilowatts (kW). Small
hydro can be subdivided into the following classification: -

 Mini hydro: between 100kWand 1000 kW

 Micro hydro: less than 100 kW

Small hydro stations are a renewable non-polluting form of electricity generation, and require
no fuel to produce energy. This is significant in light of concerns about pollution and of
global warming arising from the burning of fossil fuels. Stations may often be installed at
existing hydraulic structures, which were built for other purposes, such as flood control or
irrigation. In countries such as India and Nepal where, along with cow dung, biogas and
kerosene, wood is the principal fuel for cooking and heating, the use of electricity as an
alternative energy source may slow deforestation and the resulting soil erosion, loss of
nutrients and flooding.

Source : Research gate

There is little negative impact from a small hydro plant construction, although fish migration
in streams may sometimes be hampered, even if a fish ladder is installed.

Hydro power is low carbon source of renewable energy , reliable and cost effective
alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels .Hydropower generates more than 4000
terawatt hours of electricity globally every year .

Source : Research gate

Hydropower contributes significantly to the reduction of GHG emissions and to energy

supply security. Compared with conventional coal power plants, hydropower prevents the
emission of about 3 GT CO2 per year, which represents about 9% of global annual
CO2 emissions.

At the global level, the overall impact of climate change on existing hydropower generation
may be expected to be small, or even slightly positive. However, there is the possibility of
substantial variations across regions and even within countries. In conclusion, the general
verdict on hydropower is that it is a cheap and mature technology that contributes
significantly to climate change mitigation, and could play an important role in the climate
change adaptation of water resource availability. However, careful attention is necessary to
mitigate the substantial environmental and social costs. Roughly more than a terawatt of
capacity could be added in upcoming decades.
CONCLUSION
Approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions are emitted from electricity generation through
the combustion of fossil fuels to generate heat needed to power steam turbines. Burning these
fuels results in the production of carbon dioxide (CO2)—the primary heat-trapping,
“greenhouse gas” responsible for global warming. Applying smart electric grid technologies
can potentially reduce CO2 emissions.

Also , Wind power is needed to meet fast rising electricity demand and decarbonisation goals.
Co-vid , supply chain disruptions and fierce competitive have delayed project
implementation. As interest in wind solar hybrids & round the clock power is rising .

And Bioenergy reduces the fossils burning rate up to certain extent in rural India . But , the
myth about hydroelectric system is that reservoirs release carbon . But , its emission rate is so
small that it can be neglected as compared to other non renewable and non sustainable
production means .
REFERENCES
1. Dwipayana , Garniwa Iwa & Herdiansyah , CO2 emission reduction from solar power
plant in rural areas , ICCEE 2018
2. Prema E , Rajavenkatesan P.R.L , Solar power transforming the face of rural india :
Climate justice for all , IOP Conference series , Earth and environment science , 2020
3. Hossain Jami , Swamy Deepthi , Mishra Neelu & Chauhan Pareexit , Report on
India’s Wind potential , June 2015
4. Ramachandra T V , Hegde Ganesh , Setturu Bharath & Krishnadas Gautham ,
Bioenergy : A sustainable energy option for rural India , March 2014
5. Algburi Sameer , Sharma Umesh Chandra , Hydroelectric power , n book: Energy
Science & Technology Vol. 1: Opportunities and Challenges (pp.429 - 448) , Ch: 17-
Hydropower ,Published by : Studium Press LLC, USA , March 2016