All countries with growing economies can dramatically reduce growth in energy use by reducing energy intensity and improving energy efficiency.They can bring about reductions in emissions of polluting gases, including greenhouse gases, particularly by shifting to cleaner sources of energy, such as natural gas and renewable energy resources. Let us begin by understanding the concept of energy intensity.
We now discuss how improving energy efficiency helps in the goals of reducing energy intensity and conserving energy.Power system energy efficiency significantly depends on making optimum choices about fuels, technology, scale of operations, energy pricing, design of buildings, habitats and transportation systems and the standards for energy end-use applications. Thus, we can say that energy efficiency in the power sector has two dimensions: supply side efficiency in energy conversion to its cleanest form (conversion to electricity) and demand side efficiency in end usage.
Note that electricity generation involves conversion of mechanical, chemical or nuclear energy into electrical energy . Conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy occurs at a higher efficiency. Maximum loss occurs during the conversion of chemical energy to thermal energy.We now briefly discuss the aspects of supply side efficiency and demand side efficiency.
Supply Side Efficiency
Increasing efficiency in energy conversion to electricity has to be carried out at the levels of Generation, Transmission and Distribution.In India, the overall efficiency for the coal based power plants ranges from 28% to 35% depending upon the size, operational practices and capacity utilization. After generation at the plant, electricity is transmitted and distributed over a wide network. The primary function of transmission and distribution equipment is to transfer power economically and efficiently from one location to another. Conductors in the form of wires and cables strung on towers and poles carry the high voltage and current (Fig.).Energy loss in transmission lines occurs in the form of heat losses.
The power transmission and distribution system has many other components like capacitors, switches, relays, circuit breakers and fuses. Transformers are placed at strategic locations throughout the system to minimize power losses in the T&D system. They are used to change the voltage level from low to high in step-up transformers and high to low in step-down units (Fig.).
Fig. shows the change in efficiency at each stage of power transmission from a thermal plant to the user. The efficiency of the T&D system from the output of the power plant to the end use is the product of all efficiencies(except the generation efficiency) given in the figure.
Note that electricity generation involves conversion of mechanical, chemical or nuclear energy into electrical energy . Conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy occurs at a higher efficiency. Maximum loss occurs during the conversion of chemical energy to thermal energy.We now briefly discuss the aspects of supply side efficiency and demand side efficiency.
Supply Side Efficiency
Increasing efficiency in energy conversion to electricity has to be carried out at the levels of Generation, Transmission and Distribution.In India, the overall efficiency for the coal based power plants ranges from 28% to 35% depending upon the size, operational practices and capacity utilization. After generation at the plant, electricity is transmitted and distributed over a wide network. The primary function of transmission and distribution equipment is to transfer power economically and efficiently from one location to another. Conductors in the form of wires and cables strung on towers and poles carry the high voltage and current (Fig.).Energy loss in transmission lines occurs in the form of heat losses.
The power transmission and distribution system has many other components like capacitors, switches, relays, circuit breakers and fuses. Transformers are placed at strategic locations throughout the system to minimize power losses in the T&D system. They are used to change the voltage level from low to high in step-up transformers and high to low in step-down units (Fig.).
Fig. shows the change in efficiency at each stage of power transmission from a thermal plant to the user. The efficiency of the T&D system from the output of the power plant to the end use is the product of all efficiencies(except the generation efficiency) given in the figure.
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| Energy Efficiency from Generation to End User |
Demand Side Efficiency
Demand side efficiency can be managed with energy efficient end usage.Around two-thirds of the energy is lost while converting primary,secondary and final energy into useful energy services. Improving the energy efficiency of end-use applications would further help in energy conservation .we would like to set the tone of the discussion right here.The Indian consumer market is extremely price sensitive; consumers prefer lower initial capital outlay to optimization of lifecycle costs.
A case in point is the lower efficiency of rewound motors, which constitute nearly 50% of the capital stock in the low and medium capacityrange. This is where the implementation of compulsory energy efficiency standards can promote energy efficient options. Minimum energy efficiency standards need to be formulated and rigorously implemented for moving the users and the market in the direction of efficient energy use. The development of compulsory energy efficiency standards for end-use applications by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency should be able to bring this about.
Industries require heating/ cooling, rotating machines, shop floor lighting, etc. Necessary measures can be taken to minimize heat loss,use energy efficient rotating machines and lamps. These will not reduce the effectiveness of the processes but will definitely reduce energy consumption. Liberalization and competition, as in the cement industry,coupled with proactive and focused schemes for upgrading technology and development, as in the sugar industry, have worked well in improving the energy efficiency of the Indian industry.
In fact, industries today are going in for retrofitting energy efficient equipments to reduce the cost of extra energy consumption. Right from using energy efficient lamps to energy efficient motors, to getting energy audits done, many industries are successfully saving on their energy bills.You can go through the case study given below to appreciate what can be done by an industry to improve energy efficiency.
Little thought has been given to the planning and layout of urban habitations in India with a view to reduce the energy demand made by civic amenities and the transportation sector. We need to maximize public transportation facilities as opposed to private transportation. Although car manufacturers are developing more and more energy efficient vehicles to minimize the resource usage, stress should be laid on minimising fuel usage or making it more efficient. Similarly, higher levels of electrification in the railways can increase their energy efficiency. These, however, are system- wide changes that can be implemented only if the concept of energy efficiencyis integrated into town planning and architecture.
While technology is trying to cope up with the growth rate of population and demand for energy, it is the individual consumer’s behavioural pattern that can drastically reduce energy consumption. For example, we can save energy by taking simple steps such as car pools to travel to office or CFLs (Box) to light our homes.
Box : Characteristics of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
The benefits of improved energy efficiency are explained in the chart below:
Little thought has been given to the planning and layout of urban habitations in India with a view to reduce the energy demand made by civic amenities and the transportation sector. We need to maximize public transportation facilities as opposed to private transportation. Although car manufacturers are developing more and more energy efficient vehicles to minimize the resource usage, stress should be laid on minimising fuel usage or making it more efficient. Similarly, higher levels of electrification in the railways can increase their energy efficiency. These, however, are system-wide changes that can be implemented only if the concept of energy efficiency is integrated into town planning and architecture.While technology is trying to cope up with the growth rate of population and demand for energy, it is the individual consumer’s behavioural pattern that can drastically reduce energy consumption. For example, we can save energy by taking simple steps such as car pools to travel to office or CFLs (Box) to light our homes.
The world average energy consumption per person is equivalent to 2.2 tonnes of coal. In industrialized countries, people use four to five times more than the world average and nine times more than the average for the developing countries. An American citizen uses 32 times more commercial energy than an Indian citizen.
Energy consumption is integrally linked with the quality of life and per capita energy consumption is regarded as an indicator for human development today. The high standards of living in the developed countries can be attributed to their high-energy consumption levels. The rapid population growth in the developing countries may be regarded as one reason for low per capita energy consumption. However, we must ensure good quality energy supply to all our citizens, at affordable costs at all times. Ensuring energy security for all is a very important goal for our country and the power sector has tremendous responsibility on its shoulders in attaining it. Let us try to understand its implications and the options before our country.
The world average energy consumption per person is equivalent to 2.2 tonnes of coal. In industrialized countries, people use four to five times more than the world average and nine times more than the average for the developing countries. An American citizen uses 32 times more commercial energy than an Indian citizen.
Energy consumption is integrally linked with the quality of life and per capita energy consumption is regarded as an indicator for human development today. The high standards of living in the developed countries can be attributed to their high-energy consumption levels. The rapid population growth in the developing countries may be regarded as one reason for low per capita energy consumption. However, we must ensure good quality energy supply to all our citizens, at affordable costs at all times. Ensuring energy security for all is a very important goal for our country and the power sector has tremendous responsibility on its shoulders in attaining it. Let us try to understand its implications and the options before our country.
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