Energy conservation has been attracting the attention of mankind ever since its evolution. The energy is not available in directly usable form. There is a great need to use the generated energy gain fully. It has been a quest of mankind from time immemorial.
Commercial energy in the world today is primarily derived from fossil and mineral resources like coal, petroleum, natural gas and uranium. These fossil resources are however a limited treasure of men. These are fast depleting: caught up in the demand-supply gap scenario and therefore, cost has shown steep upswing through two major energy crises of 1973 and 1979. Now the world has already entered into the era of high energy cost. Overall energy growth pattern indicates that even during next 50 years, fossil fuels would continue to be the main stay of energy source.
India continues to be energy importer. Only 66% of its requirements are being met through indigenous production and is faced with the challenge of developing new sources of energy. The total estimated connected load in agricultural pumpsets of 30,000 MW makes it the candidate for immediate attention.
Efforts are on to develop alternate renewable sources of energy and also to affect energy conservation and all the spheres of life: domestic as well as industrial including transport sector. Agricultural pumpsets is one of the major sectors that need immediate attention for energy conservation.
The scope of the study is as given below:
- The relationship and the importance of the selected subject of technology to the broad one to which it belongs.
- The current status of the technology in the world and the country.
- Assessment of the technology and technology options available to India
- The Economic aspects of the technologies along with their feasibilities which leads to the preferred option(s).
- Impact of the preferred option by itself, its linkages to the broad area of technology and spin-offs.
- Identification of agencies/groups/individuals and suggested action plan.
The primary literature survey was done from the published literature to assess the present status of agriculture pumping system in India and abroad.
To obtain information from various working on this subject, different types of questionnaires were prepared and sent to R&D organizations, engg. colleges, public & private sector organizations, including all manufactures, users etc. sample of questionnaires are enclosed as Annexure – XI.
Besides sending questionnaires, BIP representative personally contacted key persons/experts in this field, actual users/customers etc. at various places in Gujarat, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh to get first hand information on various aspect of pumping system. Efforts made by various agencies in conservation were studied at various sites.
The data/details collected by way of literature survey, replies to questionnaires and personal interviews was thoroughly examined, synthesized and critically analyzed by our experts, keeping in view Indian conditions and constraints.
We have received limited response from the various organisations to whom questionnaires were sent and therefore, we have collected information by deputing our persons at various organizations and sample survey carried out at different sites.
After having gone through the consumption, supply and other relevant aspects of commercial energy sources as available from various references listed and reviewing the measures taken for energy conservation and oil substitution in India, we come to the conclusion that conservation is a basic necessity. Conservation has become one of the major international themes of current time as the energy problems will seriously limit the economic growth of all the countries and particularly the developing ones. It is an accepted fact that human material progress is dependent upon the extent of the use of energy. Unless adequate energy in usable forms and affordable prices is made available there are little conditions of the masses in the country. The limitation of poor to use adequate energy leads to low productivity and low incomes. The energy supply cost is many times more than conserving energy as explained in Chapter 8 para 8.6.4 and 8.7.4 by use of rectification investment of 70 crore saves cost of diesel by 1260 crore and in electric pumps investment of 200 crore saves power cost of 1010 crore. These in turn can save investment cost of such power generations. Back
