Climate resilient technologies: role of Scientists,

Engineers & Professions

21.01.2023 : Rajabazar Science College
Presentation by : Joy Chakraborty
Prepared , based on research work of Beyond the Boundaries
 General Introduction

The Climate Change has surfaced as the worst threat for the very existence of the plannet earth.

The Indian Meteorology Department in its Climate of India during 2020 report, as released on 04.01.2021 says that the year 2020 is
the 8th warmest year in India since 1901.The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India in its report in January, 2021 has
shown that some 14 lacs+ of people have died in 2020 in India from Air Pollution.

The Paris Climate Accord targets: ‘reducing the GHG emissions at 33 to 35 % below of 2005 emission intensity level of GDP
[unconditional] and ‘non-fossil fuel share of cumulative power generation capacity of 40% by 2030 [conditional ] .’

These exercises are aimed to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degree Celsius by 2100.

In 2015, India had fixed up the target to add 175 GW of Renewable Energy [RE] in its grid [it includes 100 GW of Solar and it
covers 40 GW of Rooftop Solar] by 2022.

By October, 2020, India has already achieved 89.63 GW from Renewable. [Source: RE Invest: Govt. Of India: November 26-28,
2020] So, India has to achieve 85 GW further of Renewable Energy to reach at its ‘intended nationally determined RE contribution
goal’ of 175 GW by 2022.

In recent past, India has witnessed steady growth in Solar and Wind Energy sectors. In recent biddings, Solar PV has become the
cheapest source of electricity in India. The latest available tariff is Rs.1.99( in the NTPC bidding on 19.12.2020) for each (kwh) unit
for Solar PV.

2021 Glasgow, CoP 26 : Net Zero Target , Coal : Not phasing out , but phasing down , climate resilient technologies

2022 Doha, CoP 27 : Climate Distress, Climate Justice , Climate Financing , Change in lifestyle pattern

2023 Dubai , Cop 28 : ? ? ?

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21 January 2023 3
 Change in installed capacity in RE from Coal

Fossil Fuel to Non-Fossil Fuel Transition in Indian Power Sector

• Percentage (%) contribution in GW for

coal decreases and the same for RE
increases.

• But, to come at equal level in terms of

generation (BU), for coal (177BU: 2019-
20) and RE (23BU: 2019-20), is still far
away.

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Changeover from Coal or Thermal Company to RE (Solar) Company

• California oil, gas

company  California oil,
gas and solar company
(2001)

• Adani Power (Thermal

energy + HVDC)  Adani
Green

• UAE Energy Company

(Oil)  UAE RE Company

• NTPC (Thermal )  NTPC

Renewable

• Coal India  6000MW

Capacity addition in Solar

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Employment issues

• Bokaro: 16, out of 25 mines are closed

• Jamtara: all five coal mines are closed
• Ramgarh : 50% of the mines are closed

Some 10, 83,802 people have lost their income

source due to reduced dependence on coal in
said 3 best coal producing districts in Jharkhand.

The ILO study says, work force requirement in

Indian power sector will be 35L by 2030. Out of
which 21L people will be working in Indian RE
sector.

In the TERI study, it is identified, distributed

renewables: small rooftop solar, small wind
turbine, small hydro can create maximum
employment for every MW of installed capacity.

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 1177MW Noor Abu Dhabi Solar PV Projects
Being jointly Developed by Japan’s Marubeni and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA).
Lowest ever record bid in the history of PV Solar USD 0.0242 (~Rs.1.564)/kWh

21 January 2023 8
Adani Greens with 15 GW RE portfolio is inching towards the world’s largest
RE Company
Employment quality in RE Sector in terms of salary
(The Govt agency and top 2 Solar EPC in West Bengal : 2020)

EPC 1 Company Name

Sl. No.
EPC 1 EPC 2 Govt. agency

1 More than 1L 18 08 12

2 50,000/- to 25 26 08
1L

3 < 50000/- 70 60 52

EPC 1 EPC 2 Govt. agency

Total manpower
available in the
company
113 84 72

Total manpower 70 60 52
with less than
50000/- salary
per month

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 Net Zero : role of scientists , professionals : Case Study : Bhalo Pahar

• How an energy inefficient campus can be a Green (NET ZERO ) Campus

December, 2019 No change in energy use pattern Rs.38,000 per month electricity bill
July, 2020 Grid Connected PV installed Rs.26,000 per month electricity bill
September,2020 Energy Efficient Pump installed Rs.17,000 per month electricity bill
October,2020 Solar Water Heating System installed. Fan is closed as winter is Rs.6,300 per month electricity bill
settled
January,2021 New Solar Plant with battery will be installed, retrofitting the Rs.4,500 per month ( expected) electricity
existing defunct solar system bill

December,2021 Electricity from cow-dung and biomass (Bio energy from forest Near Zero ( expected) electricity bill
waste, kitchen waste and agricultural waste) will start producing

Observations: 1. Only Govt. initiatives(existing all solar systems at Bhalo Pahar are installed through Govt
initiatives only) are not enough to obtain effective benefit from RE. Sense of ownership and user consciousness can
keep the system in operation and retrofitting is again possible for partially defunct old system.
2. Other than installation commissioning of Solar: PV and Thermal, Bio Energy System; for regular operation,
upkeeping and maintenance, across the year, employment of local person is ensured here. Such initiatives can be
extended for many buildings and campuses which are at present energy inefficient mode of operation.
3. Employment through Local Business model: For obtaining optimum output from RE Systems on regular basis,
involvement of locally available technician is needed. So, extension of Net Zero Building/ Campus (Bhalo Pahar
or so) can provide opportunity for local technicians through local initiatives’ based Green Business Model.

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Capacity addition Solar Power in West Bengal : January to December 2022

Type of Solar India West Bengal

Power Plant
Ground Mounted 9.2GW + 10 MW + 5
Solar Power Plant 2.1 MW MW floating +
floating 175 MW
sanctioned
Rooftop Solar 1.9GW 3.5 MW
Power Plant

In West Bengal, the West Bengal (State ) Electricity Regulatory

Commission has issued the New Regulation on 21.12.2020. Then
2021, back to old regulation. Again new regulation. Challenged
in court and as onn21.01.2023, it is a subjudice matter.

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 Environmental Impact of Solar Power

Every 10MW Solar Power Plant Installation means the following environmental impact.

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission in its lifetime : 30 Crore Kgs

Has the same effect as planting : 6 Lacs Mature Trees

Has the same effect as saving : 500 Lacs Liters of Water

Has the same effect as saving : 21 Lacs Kgs of Suplhur Dioxide

Has the same effect as saving :13 Lacs Kgs of Nitrous Oxides

This is why intervention of scientists, engineers , professionals are needed.

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Economic Impact
There are around 250+ Solar Companies in West Bengal which provide direct
employment to around 6000 peoples and indirect employment to around 10,000 people
which includes electrical job, masonry job, civil job, mechanical job. As a result of
fallout of the policy there would be unemployment among the above mentioned
number of people
MSME/SME industries would find it difficult to compete with cost of production of
their material. Other states have comparatively cheaper tariffs also. They have
conducive solar policy from which they are able to draw cheaper tariff in the range of
Rs 3 to 4/kWh . But, Industries/Commercial consumers in WB would lose the
competitive edge, as West Bengal is among top 3 states (after Maharashtra and
Madhya Pradesh) which has one of the highest power tariff.
The global Coronavirus pandemic has made commercial and industrial customers
realize that going solar is one of the best ways to cut down operational costs. Energy
cost account for around 30-40% of operational expenses for Commerce and Industries.
With solar power prices dropping drastically over the years, it makes sense for
business to adopt solar to save cost. These projects could have helped businesses to
save enough money to stay afloat and help generate income. With the new policy
MSME/SME would find it difficult to survive.
As per Mercom report (Q2, 2020 India Solar Market Update), about 96% of the
distributed solar installations has come from Industrial and Commercial
consumers. Rooftop Solar is the cheapest form of energy available for Industries
and Commercial consumers.

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IT & IoT Applications for Rooftop PV
A solar RMS (Remote
Monitoring
System) reports the
performance of a solar power
plant. Tracking the
performance of a solar power
plant after installation is
necessary for both its users
and installers. With an RMS,
one can monitor the
performance of the solar
power system, observe the
trend of its generation data,
and if need be, take actions
towards optimal generation.
RMS is an inbuilt or external
data logger that works with
the inverter/ energy meter.
With a reliable RMS, user/
installer can view check SPV
system’s performance
anytime and anywhere with a
click on smartphone or PC.
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An Approach To Smart Solar System

It allows the user/owner to monitor solar energy generation and

performance from anywhere with internet or mobile phone connectivity

It gives visibility and insights into user’s energy production and

consumption that allows user to balance / optimise the overall energy
consumption and maximize the value of user’s investment.

Example: Technologies like carbon TRACK allow the user to switch an air
conditioner on before he/she reaches home, switch off a hot water unit or a
pool a pump when as per requirement.
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The storage revolution begins : Future is Solar powered EV charging

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Climate resilient technologies , its penetration , role of scientists , engineers,
professionals

Key considerations : Climate distress, change of mindset , change of policies &

priorities , change in life style

Research, identification of climate resilient technologies [ agriculture with lesser water

, saline water cultivation , RE applications, EV ]and sustainable practices [ Energy
Efficiency practices ; Reduce , Reuse , Recycle .

Policy level advocacy

Replicable models, pilots , validation , mainstreaming

At individual level , in society , in government : embedding sustainable alternatives

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CONCLUSIONS

“We do not inherit the earth

from our parents, we borrow
it from our children” –
Chief Seattle

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Think, understand, act beyond : Paris Accord
:as there is no Plannet B

THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE
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