“Addressing issues of energy self-sufficiency in a growing energy demand scenario”

India’s energy supply basket currently is dominated by imported energy. Indications are that the energy import bill would rise rapidly both on account of increasing energy demand as well as volatility in energy prices. We import most of our oil needs and a good part of our gas needs. Nearly a fourth of our coal needs are also imported. Current energy scene is a big challenge to our economy, our energy security and climate stability, while on the human development front there is so much of deficit yet to be bridged. Clearly, there is an urgent need to move to relatively cleaner fuels (gas in place of oil and coal) and possibly to non-fossil fuels. Our domestic energy resource endowment would indeed indicate such an energy supply basket. The constraint is whether we have given adequate attention to technologies needed for the purpose. The following need urgent attention in this context (this is besides continued emphasis on on-going efforts):

1. Clean coal technologies including coal conversion to gas/oil (including coal bed methane and under-ground coal gasification) for reduction of import bill and improved air quality in the user domain.
2. Leverage surplus Agri-residue, MSW, non-edible oil seeds, and other available bio-mass for producing non-fossil bio-fuel (bio-crude, drop – in fuels, 2g-ethenol, CBG, bio-diesel etc.). A significant part of import can be sustainably (resource as well as climate) offset besides boost to rural energy.
3. Emphasize on gas economy in the country consistent with global trends. Scenario for gas may well be better, globally as well as domestically. With huge gas hydrate potential in the country, this would be a move in the right direction.
4. Enhance share of electricity in the energy basket at the demand end (for ex. e-mobility). This would help reduction in energy import and cleaner air quality.
5. Rapid boost to solar and nuclear capacity addition for electricity as well as hydrogen production (thermo-chemical splitting of water, steam electrolysis etc.).
6. Make electricity (clean coal, solar, wind and nuclear), bio fuels, gas and non- fossil hydrogen as key modes of energy delivery to consumers.
7. Deploy CO₂ utilization (EOR, conversion to fuel/value added materials, augmented biomass production, …) technologies where ever the opportunity arises.

A fuller discussion is available in the report of ‘High Level Committee appointed by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’ (The report can be seen under ‘Assignments’).

While all above elements represent high potential fully capable of assuring energy security, sustainability and climate friendly strategies in Indian context, they are dependent on new technologies that would also need significant India specific    domestic development effort. Our energy challenge is perhaps much bigger and more urgent. We thus can not afford to wait for others to develop technologies for us to adopt, rather we need to take bold steps and lead this effort.