By Omarlin Kyndiah
At the outset we must says a big thank you to Marbianglang Rymbai for his terrifying details of the power crisis in our state of Meghalaya (The Shillong Times, dated 18 January 2020). That, with the last fourth stage commissioned twenty eight years ago in 1992 we could total up to 243 Mega Watts as against the unprecedented industrial promotion in the State, is a matter of great concern. I still could never forgive and forget the electricity crisis that hit Meghalaya hard from September 2018 till the middle of May 2019. It was only after the debt to NEEPCO amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees was paid we could enjoy watching the ICC World Cup for forty-two days till the closing ceremony.
More terrifying is, if we have an idea of electric energy consumed by our cement plants. Here are the details (1) kilns- 6.36 million kilowatt/ hour. (2) Air compressor – 165 kilowatt/ hr. (3) Packaging plant – 60 Kw/ hr. Each plant usually has two of each of the above. For the cement plants in our state the total would reach 118 Mega Watts per hour, for one month. Coal is used as pre heater and the calorific value of coal is 6.1 x 106 calorie/ kg for Jaintia coal. For the benefit of the lay person, 1 kg of Jaintia coal could heat 6 kg of water to its boiling point. Thus the quantum of coal used in cement plants is huge. Cement is an essential part of our daily lives. It’s production contributes significantly to annual anthropogenic (man-made) global CO2 emissions, mainly because such vast quantities are used. Thus, energy efficiency becomes very important in its production to reduce this carbon footprint. The cement production in India is likely to grow at around 6% annually, thereby adding significant amount of CO2 to the atmosphere.
By what flight of fancy did our State government promote industrial development in the backdrop of the energy crisis that now turns into deep humanitarian crisis unprecedented in this tiny state of ours? What would have happened in the absence of Kupli Hydro Electric Project – a venture of NEEPCO which came into existence in 1976? The Kupli once located within the geographical map of Jaintia Hills is now in possession of Assam due to lack of concern for boundary when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi granted us statehood. There is no doubt that industrial development gives rise to per capita income and creates employment avenues. But for a power starved Meghalaya, industrial promotion would be an unforgivable blunder if the energy scenario in the State does not improve.
The cement industry is among the nine energy intensive sectors. It also results in high level of Carbondioxide (CO2) output. Cement production is the third ranking producer of anthropogenic CO2 in the world after transport and energy generation. Five percent of the worldwide total of CO2 is caused by cement production. International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that from 2014-2017, the direct CO2 intensity of cement production increased by 0.3 % per year (0.53 tonne CO2 per tonne cement). It is reported that cement plants worldwide have more carbon footprints than airlines worldwide. Surprising, isn’t?
In a bid to combat increasing energy consumption and related carbon emission, the Government of India (GoI) released the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008. Under the NAPCC, eight national missions were framed to focus on various aspects related to water, solar energy, sustainable habitat, agricultural, energy efficiency, ecosystems, etc. One of the eight missions under the NAPCC is Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme. PAT is a component of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
PAT is a regulatory instrument to reduce specific energy consumption (SEC) in energy intensive industries, with an associated market-based mechanism to enhance cost through certification of excess energy savings, which could be traded. Energy Savings Certificate (ESCerts) are issued to the industries which reduce their SEC beyond their target. Those companies which fail to achieve their target are required to purchase ESCerts for, or are liable to be penalised.
PAT Cycle – I started from 2012, with its baseline from financial years 2007 – 08 to 2009-10. Cement sector has achieved energy saving of 1.48 million TOE (tonnes of oil equivalent) in comparison to the target of 0.815 million TOE during the PAT Cycle I. This achievement has estimated GHG (Green House Gas) emission reduction of 4.34 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent and 3.42 million tonnes of coal saving.
PAT cycle –V which is effective from 1st April 2019 from financial years 2019- 20 to 2021- 22 is currently being implemented. Under PAT cycle –V, 110 DCs from the existing sectors of PAT i.e. Aluminium, Cement, Chlor-Alkali, Commercial Buildings (Hotels), Iron & Steel, Pulp & Paper, Textile and Thermal Power Plant have been notified. The total energy consumption of these DCs comes out to be 15.244 million TOE and it is expected to get a total energy savings of 0.5130 million TOE through the implementation of PAT cycle –V.
Man and nature are intimately related to one another and they are truly inseparable. Protection of environment and preservation of ecological balance and energy saving must, therefore assume paramount importance in side by side along with progammes of industrial development. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, GoI realized the need to address global climate issues and implement a scheme, for the benefit of industries and the nation. It is blissful to know that if the energy intensive cement plants in Meghalaya come under PAT Scheme, a scheme which had led to huge savings in term of CO2 emission reduction and coal then the fight of a student environmentalist Greta Thunberg will not be in vain.
Climate Change is fuelled by individuals, businesses, cities and nations. It is a problem of personal consumption too. Examples of the great role of an individual are not too far-fetched. Let us take the case of an immersion rod affordable by the poor. Since it is not geyser with set degree automatic off, we should be always watchful to attend to the state of water. Televisions keep on televising to no one in the room. Swiss scientists say humanity could limit the effect of climate change if each person could use just 2000 watts of powers a year.
And one advice which I apologize before giving is, “Please do not use 120 BHP vehicles to drop and pick up children to and from school.” Yes, we have cash, but what about waste of fuel especially at a time when the Middle East is burning besides burdening our traffic. We need to know that 50 milli ampere hour (50 mAH) of energy is used to charge 3.6 V Lithium Hydride battery, the powerful cell, the invention of Dr Stanley Fleming (2019 Nobel Laureate). In India with a population 1.21 billion, if 50% use smartphones, the small milli multiplied by billion is not little MW per hour. Electricity consumption in Indian homes has tripled since 2000.
The percentage of households with access to electricity has increased from 55 % in 2001 to more than 80% in 2017. In 2014, an electrified Indian household consumed about 90 units (kWh) of electricity per month on an average; enough to run four tube-lights, four ceiling fans, a television, a small refrigerator, and small kitchen appliances with typical usage hours and efficiency levels in India. This is three-fourths of the average monthly household consumption in China, a tenth of that in the USA, and a third of the world average. Let us use our electric and electronic gadgets sparingly and have the will to change our lifestyles. In short we do not belong to the age of plenty anymore; now every drop counts.
At this point I am reminded of Henry David Thoreau’s 1863 essay “Life without Principle” in which he issued a challenge: “Let us consider the way we spend our lives.” The grave challenge today is the global crisis of climate change.
(The writer is Associate Professor & HOD Biochemistry Dept, St. Edmund’s College)