PROJECT MANATEMENT - 1: POWER PLANTS & ENGINEERING

Assignment

Enhancing the level of energy consumption, particularly in less developed and developing countries, is a global challenge. 20% of world population living in industrialized countries consumes 60% of energy and remaining 80% of population has to manage within 40% of total energy. This has obviously resulted in wide disparities between the standard of living and quality of life of high energy consuming countries on one hand and those who do not have the opportunities of adequate access to energy on the other. It is precisely for this reason that development of different sources of energy and increase in its consumption has become a priority agenda of all the developing countries.

In the light of the above, prepare an assignment on how to solve the problem of energy deficiency in India by alternate sources of energy.

INTRODUCTION

India is one of the five fast developing countries.
Energy is the primary and most universal measure of all kinds of work by human beings and nature. Whatever happens in the world is only the expression of flow of energy in either of its forms. Energy is a crucial input in the process of economic, social and industrial development. Energy consumption in the developing countries is increasing at a faster rate. As conventional energy sources are depleting day by day, utilization of alternative energy sources is the only solution.

India has made rapid strides towards economic self reliance over the last few years.
 Although we have seen an impressive increase in installed capacity addition, from barely about 1,350 MW at the time of independence (1947) to about 160,000 MW today, over 90,000 MW of new generation capacity is required in the next seven years. On the energy demand and supply side, India is facing severe shortages.

The increasing appetite for energy that has developed in the recent past has been further complicated by rapidly diminishing conventional sources, like oil and coal. To further add to the problems of increased demand and constrained supply, there are serious questions about pursuing a fossil fuel-led growth strategy, especially in the context of environmental concerns. The challenge facing a developing nation such as ours is to meet our increasing energy needs while minimizing the damage to the environment.

BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS

Alternative energy options enable local institutions to manage their own energy needs and thus provide rural development opportunities. This situation encourages decentralized decision making, which has far-reaching implications for the governance of a community. In addition, dissemination and popularization of energy-efficient devices and alternatives to conventional fuels can do the following:

1. Provide better lighting. Better lighting enables the poor to stretch their period of economic activity; their children can help them in daily chores and then study in the evenings. 
2. Help the environment. Efficient use of conventional sources of energy or use of renewable energy helps save the environment from further degradation and gives it an opportunity to regenerate. 
3. Provide sustainable fuel systems. A-forestation and agro forestry, combined with the introduction of energy-efficient devices, can help to create a sustainable fuel-use system within the rural community and sustain the ecological balance of a region. 
4. Benefit women. Lower dependency on fuel wood and other household fuel sources reduces the drudgery of women by shortening or eliminating the distances they travel for fuel collection. The improved cook stove, for example, has been associated with an average net annual saving of seven person-days of labour a year in India. 
5. Benefit human health. Use of improved cook stoves and biogas plants, for example, helps reduce or eliminate health problems associated with using conventional cook stoves, including respiratory diseases and eye problems. 
6. Enhance income. Alternative energy sources can provide local employment opportunities through direct use of energy in small-scale industry and agriculture, through construction, repair, and maintenance of energy devices, or through the sale of energy to local utilities. In India, for example, biomass gasification systems are used to dry horticulture produce (such as large cardamom and ginger). Another example is the use of solar water-heating systems to meet the hot-water demand of hotels and hospitals.

THE MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

• Wind energy 
• Solar energy 
• Biogas / Biomass 
• Energy From Waste 
• Other alternative sources of energy such as fuel cell, hydrogen energy, tidal, geothermal, energy management, etc

ENERGY SCENARIO: Supply and Demand

Fig1: Sources of forms of energy supply

Fig 2: Demand

India's energy Balance

Conventional energy supply scenario

Non-conventional energy supply scenario

Table shows the status of renewable energy technologies in India.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

As seen from above facts, the alternative sources of energy provide us with huge advantages in our struggle to solve our energy crisis. Now let us look at how exactly we stand in terms of these sources and evaluate the current pattern of development.

Wind energy

Wind power is known as ‘Green Power’, because of its technical and commercial viability and its environment-friendly nature. The special features of wind energy that makes it attractive are zero cost fuels, low gestation period, quicker benefits and usefulness for sustainable economic development.

Wind Electric conversion System

Present Scenario of Wind Energy in India

With an installed capacity of 2,483 MW as on March 31, 2004, India is now the fifth largest wind power producing nation in the world after Germany, USA, Spain and Denmark. Today, India has earned recognition as a new Wind Super Power.

The capital cost of wind energy projects in the country ranges from Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 4.5 crore per MW. The cost of power generation is estimated to be Rs. 2 to Rs. 2.50 per KWh, depending on the site. The cost per unit of power comes down to 50 KWh, five years after the project commissioning due to the cost of fuel being nil.

Thereafter, for the next 15 years, it would stay at this level, as the only recurring cost would be on the operations and maintenance of the plant. Therefore, wind harvested power is both cheaper and reliable than other conventional sources of power.

Need for the use of energy through solar, wind and biomass sources in remote areas is increasing and will put the nation at the forefront of renewable power used; with the government recently proposing renewable energy standard for the nation.

A press release on the Web site for the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in New Delhi outlines the renewable resources that are currently utilized in India, and the Government’s Common Minimum Program to establish enough renewable energy sources to electrify all Indian villages by 2010.

Under the program, an additional 4,000 MW of power from renewable sources would be added to the nation’s current power generation by 2007, and the government has set a goal of elevating the share of renewable energy sources to 10% by 2012.

Currently, according to the Bureau, renewable energy contributes about 5,000 MW of the nation’s power needs. That is only 4.5 percent of the total installed generating capacity from all available power sources in India Wind power alone accounts for 2,483 MW, which makes the nation’s wind energy program the fifth largest in the world. The features of wind energy that makes it attractive are zero fuel costs, and quicker benefits and usefulness for sustainable economic development. Gross wind energy potential in the country is estimated at 45,000 MW, and the states with high wind power potential are Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The development of infrastructure facilities, will expedite the process of economic development. Energy is the most crucial input for power generation projects and this will certainly contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. Even after rapid industrialization, India is still dependent on agriculture, which is the backbone of Indian economy. To increase the agriculture production irrigation facilities, for which electricity is needed, have to be installed.

Rural electrification is very essential for the social development. Energy generation by wind reduces the generation cost and will help in balancing the cost of energy.

Wind energy is pollution-free as wind fans have potential to reduce CO2 emissions. Wind energy is inexhaustible, environment-friendly, emits no pollutant? or waste heat and needs no cooling water.

India is one of the few countries in the world that has made significant attempts to harness these indigenous energy sources.

Wind power potential of the country is estimated to the tune of 20000 MW. By the end of 20th century energy production through non-conventional energy sources is about 6000 MW through biomass, followed by 5000 MW from wind energy and 2000 MW from solar energy. Of all these sources, wind power is found to be most cost effective and economically viable. In collaboration with Pioneer Asia Wind Turbines, a division of Pioneer Asia Industries, Chennai, is offering 850 kw wind turbines in India. An independent wind farm developing in India is also proving to be successful with the achievements of Chennai-based Indio Wind Energy Ltd.

A special mention has to be made about, Muppandal in Tamil Nadu, which has the highest number of wind farms in Asia and the third highest in the world. Its highest capacity utilization of 42% has been achieved in a commercial project followed by Jogimattic in Kamataka. The industry average is 20%.

Based on the capabilities the ministry of non-conventional energy sources, it is planned to get an additional 15,000-MW wind power capacity during the 10th Five Year Plan. Faster growth of wind power generation in the country is necessary to dose in the gap between the real and potential, as envisaged by wind industry and environmentalists.

Gujarat is one of the many potential states in India for development of wind power projects.

There are 18 wind-monitoring stations in operation and 12 sites have been identified with annual mean wind speed of 18 KMPH (Kilometer per hour) and above. Many companies are engaged in the field of manufacture and installation of Wind Turbine Generators. NEPC MICON Ltd, a Chennai based company is the pioneer and leader in India for wind energy technology. The company has created wind farm of 178 MW with 711 Wind Turbine Generators and has created Asia’s largest wind farm Another company, which is harnessing the wind for power is Windia Power Ltd, a joint venture company promoted by Weizmann Ltd. and Ned Wind Rhenen of Netherlands. They mainly manufacture and market Turbine Generators (WTGs) in India.

Some of the world’s most prominent names in wind power industry like NEG, Micon, Vestas, Enercon, Ecotechia, GE wind etc. are also in India with fully owned subsidiaries or as joint ventures with Indian partners.

Here special mention has to be made of the Project Pawanshakti (means wind power) in Gujarat. Pawanshakti is the joint venture of Indian initiative and expertise with Danish technical and financial assistance. With the help of Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Ministry of Energy, Government of India (DNES) and Gujarat Electricity Board, the Gujarat Energy Development Agency has executed the project in a record time of eighteen months. It is situated in Lamba village, 50 km north of Porbandar on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat State. Project Pawanshakti with its sophisticated technology can easily provide power to irrigate 10000 hectares of land. The project generates 20 million units of electrical energy every year.

A notable feature of the Indian programme has been the interest among private investors/ developers in setting up of commercial wind power projects. The gross potential is 45,000 MW (source MNES) and a total of about 1869 MW of commercial projects have been established until March 2003. About 8.8 billion units of electricity have been fed to various State grids from wind power projects.

The breakup of projects implemented in prominent wind potential states is given in the Table

Present Scenario of Solar Energy in India

India is blessed with abundance of sunlight, water and biomass. To accelerate the momentum of development and large-scale utilization of renewable energy sources, the Indian renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) was incorporated in March 1987 under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Government of India. By 2010, IREDA hopes to add about 3000 MW of power generation capacity through renewable energy projects it funds. More and more possibilities are being explored in environment friendly energy fields. IREDA estimates a potential of 5,000 trillion kwh per year of the solar thermal energy.

3 million square meters of solar thermal systems have been installed providing 15 million liters per day of hot water. In addition, there are 372,293 solar cookers. The public sector units CEL and BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd) are the major manufacturers of solar cells in India. In the private sector, RESPV and TATA-BP Solar (India) are the major players. In addition, Pentafour Solec Technology Ltd is a new and promising entrant in the field, setting up a solar cells manufacturing line of 3 MW per annum. Production efficiencies of 13 percent are being obtained for cells manufactured in India for single crystal silicon.

The demand in India of single crystal PV modules in 1994 was 5.6 MW. The Indian Department of Telecommunications still forms 70 percent of the domestic market.

There are also 954 PV community lights/TV and community facilities; 85,000 PV domestic lighting units/Lanterns; 32,872 PV street lights; and 1,373 PV water pumps. India receives a good level of solar radiation, the daily incidence ranging from 4 to7 kWh/m2 depending on location. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic technologies are both encompassed by the Solar Energy Programme that is being implemented by the MNES. The

Programme, regarded as one of the largest in the world, plans to utilize India’s estimated solar power potential of 20 MW/km2 and 35 MW/km2 solar thermal. The country has also developed a substantial manufacturing capability, becoming a lead producer in the developing world.The principal objective of the Solar Thermal Programme is the market development and commercialization of solar water heaters, solar cookers etc.
Solar water heating has been applied in a wide variety of circumstances from individual residences to hotels to industrial processes.

The MNES has been promoting the sales of box solar cookers since the early 1980’s. In
March 1999 the world’s largest Solar Steam Cooking System was installed at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. It is a hybrid system with back-up oil-fired boilers and is designed to prepare food for 10 000 people. There is also a separate Solar Buildings Programme aimed at creating an awareness of the potential for solar-efficient buildings. The passive solar design concept is a climate-responsive architectural practice that is now being researched developed and implemented throughout the country.

A Solar PV Programme has been developed by the MNES for the past two decades, aimed particularly at rural and remote areas. The MNES has instituted a plan for establishing solar PV power generation of 1 MW for use in specialized applications, voltage support at rural sub-stations and peak shaving in urban centers. At the present time 15 grid-interactive solar PV power projects have been installed in seven states and further 10 are under construction.

Solar water heaters (SWHs) have proved the most popular so far. A conservative estimate of solar water heating systems installed in the country is over 475000 sq. meters of the conventional flat plate collectors. Solar water heaters are cost competitive in most applications when you account for the total energy costs over the life of the system.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) for decentralized power supply are fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas. Today, solar PV systems are at work converting the radiation of sun directly to electricity. PV generated power has three main advantages over all other types of remote power generation- free inexhaustible power, simplicity and low maintenance. PV power is practical and extremely handy where access to conventional electric lines is difficult and costly, and for low and portable power needs.

Conclusion

The future is bright for continued PV technology dissemination around the world. PV technology fills a significant need in supplying electricity, creating local jobs and promoting economic development in rural areas, while also having the positive benefits of avoiding the external environmental costs associated with traditional electrical generation technologies. People who choose to pursue a renewable and sustainable energy future now, are the ones showing the way for the future. Solar energy is presently being used on a smaller scale in furnaces for homes and to heat up swimming pools. On a larger scale, solar energy could be used to run cars, power plants, and space ships.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT -THE BIGGEST ENERGY SOURCE

Over the last few years it has been observed that present and up-coming trends in industrial as well as business demands, strenuous competition, growing population, mechanized living styles are causing increase in energy demands. Advanced technological developments, which are changing at a very fast rate, are adding to these demands substantially.

The ease of use and low cost, petroleum-based fuels gained dominant position as energy sources over a long period. Due to the continuously increasing consumption of these energy sources, the natural stocks of these sources have considerably reduced with time.

Hence these sources have lost economic leverage leading to increase in the use of alternatives, such as biomass, solar and wind energy, which have become attractive

Present scenario regarding wastage of energy

It is observed that much of the energy is wasted in various ways which results in decrease of the energy sources without any service to the mankind. A few of these are,

• Poor road condition results in more fuel consumption, more wear and tear of vehicles, higher maintenance cost of vehicles, more replacement of spare parts, more accidents etc. Accidents alone result in further energy loss besides other serious losses. This energy loss is continuous and very big.
• Poor maintenance of machinery and equipments in industries, other companies, offices etc. result in wastage of energy. One can imagine total energy loss in this form.
• Municipal Corporations, Nagar Parishads and Gram Panchayats work include electricity and water supply. There are many reasons we can observe how a great amount of energy is wasted. Water supply needs a huge energy right from construction of dams till it reaches the consumer. Hence waste of one drop of water is a great energy loss. Same is the case with electric energy. In the year 1990 in a seminar on energy crisis, one paper was presented which stated that in a city the cost of electricity wasted due to early switching on and late switching off of street lights was Rs. 64,00,000. Hence, total wastage in this type is of the order of crores.
• Wastage of energy in the domestic use is of a high order. Much of the energy is lost due to misuse or non-required use.
• Wastage of energy in the form of electricity and water is of a very high order. Along with usual known wastage there is a great deal of indirect wastages. For example poor quality seeds will consume energy but will not give expected yield.

There are so many such practical losses which call for better energy management. Due to the continuous increase in consumption of these energy sources, the natural stocks of these sources have considerably reduced with time. Hence these sources have lost economic leverage leading to increase in the use of alternatives, such as biomass, solar and wind energy, which have become attractive.

Methodology to develop energy conversion system

To make a system almost wastage free, right from initial stages the system should be developed adopting Design For Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology. Steps involved will be-

Define: details including purpose, elements involved like machineries, transmission, distribution, use should be minutely decided.
Measure: Details of measurement system in all the phases should be decided.
Analyze: The elements of the first two phases be thoroughly analyzed so that the system could effectively designed.
Design: Based on the above phases system should be completely designed.
Verification: Design is to be verified using problem redefinition technique and after practical verification final implementation is to be done.

Methodology to use energy
Use of energy should also be based on Six Sigma methodology.
Define: Define the purpose of energy use clearly.
Measure: Measure the performance.
Analyze: Analyze the performance.
Improve: find ways to improve the performance.
Control: decide the parameters to be maintained for the future and see that they are within the control limits.

Conclusion

Along with the methodologies suggested here overall planning of the energy sources should be done using these methodologies like which source of energy is to be adopted for which purpose.
In hilly areas wind energy may be the best choice. Solar energy is best option for streetlights.
Biogas energy may be the best alternative in remote villages.
Adoption of these methodologies will definitely lead to cost effective use of energy. It will also help conventional sources to last long and the alternative ones be the most useful to the mankind But this definitely needs a complete cultural change. Let us all work towards making it possible and make India more energetic.

References

1. M.L. Mckinney and R.M. Schoch “Environmental Science” -Systems and Solutions Web Enhanced Ed. 1998, Published by Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
2. W.P. Cunningham & B.W. Saigo “Environmental Science” 1999 Published by WCB/McGraw- Hill “Down to Earth” -Science & Environment fortnightly Various Issues
3. “Indian Express” Newspaper -Wind Power Supplement
4. Website: www.windpowerindia.com and other related websites
5. Ashok V. Desai, “Bioenergy”, Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi, India, 1990, pp 6.
6. Kai Yang- Basem El- Haik, “Design for Six Sigma, A Roadmap for Product Development,” Mc Graw Hill, New York, 2003, pp1-35
7. Greg Brue, “Six Sigma for Managers,” Tata Mc Graw – Hill Publishing co Ltd. 2002, PP 79-131