Industrial sector is a major energy-consuming sector

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FAPCCI) & New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) jointly organized a Workshop on “Energy Conservation in Industrial Sector – A New Perspective” on 15^th December 2011 at Surana Udyog Auditorium, Red Hills, Hyderabad. Mr. Chandan Mitra, IFS Vice-Chairman, NREDCAP was the chief guest for the occasion.

Mr. V.S. Raju, President, FAPCCI, Mr. J.K. Chakravarthy, Additional Director, REC, Mr. Rammohan, General Manager, NREDCAP, Mr. R. Virendra, Regional Director, NPC and RPMG, Hyderabad, Mr. Harsha Yadav, Efficient Carbon Management Solutions (LLP), Mr. John Williams, Director - Sales & Marketing Thrive Energy Technologies Pvt Ltd, Mr. P.Seshadri, MD and CEO, Organization Development Consultants, Mr. V. Anil Reddy, Chairman, Energy Committee, FAPCCI and Mr. A.S. Kumar, Deputy Secretary General are the other speakers at the occasion.

Mr. Chandan Mitra in his keynote address said that the industrial sector is a major energy-consuming sector in India and uses about 50% of the total commercial energy available in the country. With the present situation of energy crisis, fossil fuels (coal, oil & natural gas) potential is unable to meet the current energy demands and as we know that energy is the life line of growth in any economy that’s why energy saving is very important. Our country’s per capita energy consumption is 325.1 million tones oil equivalent which is very low as compared to the industrialized countries but the energy intensity is very high. We can easily narrow the gap between demand & supply and decrease the energy intensity in each sector by simple approach towards energy conservation and efficiency through energy efficient technology and housekeeping habits. In India major energy intensive sectors which are as follows having an average potential of 20 – 25% of energy savings. The sector wise saving potential would be Industrial (up to 25 %); Agriculture Sector (up to 30 %); Transport, Domestic Commercial and Municipal Sector (<20 %).

Mr. V.S. Raju said that the development is necessitating growing consumption of energy for economic activities. If India is to achieve the targeted growth in GDP, it would need commensurate input of energy, mainly commercial energy in the form of coal, oil, gas and electricity. However, India’s fossil fuel reserves are limited. Energy being an important element of the infrastructure sector has to be ensured its availability on sustainable basis. On the other hand, the demand for energy is growing manifold and the energy sources are becoming scarce and costlier. Among the various strategies to be evolved for meeting energy demand, efficient use of energy and its conservation emerges out to be the least cost option in any given strategies, apart from being environmentally benign.

Mr. V. Anil Reddy in his introductory remarks said that on the energy demand and supply side, India is facing severe shortages. 80 to 85% of the total petroleum product demand is being met by imports, imposing a heavy burden on foreign exchange. Country is also facing Peak power and average energy shortages. Further, the per capita energy consumption in India is too low as compared to developed countries, which is just 4% of USA and 20% of the world average. The per capita consumption is targeted to grow to about 1000 kWh per year by 2012, thus imposing extra demand on power system. Recognizing the fact that efficient use of energy and its conservation is the least-cost option to mitigate the gap between demand and supply, Government of India has enacted the Energy Conservation Act – 2001 and established Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The EC Act provides for institutionalizing and strengthening delivery mechanism for energy efficiency services in the country and provides the much needed coordination between the various entities.

Mr. Harsha Yadav said that the “Energy Smart”, as conceived by Energy Conservation Mission (ECM), transcends “Energy Efficient” of normal parlance. Smartness is associated with wisdom, innovation and creativity. Efficiency, on the other hand, is the outcome of the effort to bridge the gap between input and output. Sky is the limit for Energy Smart performer. Energy Efficient, however, performs at the ground level, within the boundaries of cent per cent. Like an aircraft accelerates on the runway, Energy Efficient improves in the region of efficiency and takes off into the Energy Smart realms, inspired by innovation & creativity. If “improve” is the process word for Energy Efficient, “innovate” is the password for Energy Smart. In an organization, energy efficiency would be at the highest, if the gap between the supplier and the consumer of energy reduces to naught. Inspired by innovation and creativity, as a catalyst, the supplier-consumer continuum tends to transform the organization Energy Smart. Energy Smart aspires and achieves quantum savings of energy combined with clean environment. No doubt, Energy Efficient also does save energy and environment.