Power & Energy Policy

Discussion Paper : Evolving an integrated approach for improving efficiency of ground water pumping for agriculture using electricity: A few pointers from the field
Rama Mohan RV (CWS, Hyderabad), Sreekumar N (Prayas Energy Group, Pune)

Agriculture power is a socio-political issue with linkages to cropping pattern, marketing of products, pricing & availability of inputs (seeds, manure etc), credit, support pricing etc. Only an integrated approach with all actors will yield sustainable results. Integrated Natural Resource Management approach should be promoted as opposed to short-term populism.
The idea of promoting demand-side management at grass-roots with the involvement of DT level farmers groups needs further refinement and packaging to make it economically attractive and up-scalable. Introduction of incentives at DT level for efficient energy use are needed to encourage farmers to adopt DSM measures. It is possible to improve the situation of power supply to agriculture with different supply schedules depending on the area and time of the year (See full discussion paper) Click Here

Power sector is a key infrastructure sector in India with a dominant role for State owned institutions in its operation (90% owned and operated by State). It is in the concurrent list with demarcated roles for the State and Central governments. There are many players with muscle - bothprivate and public. Private players are mostly in manufacturing and services, though there are a fewin operations as well. In the post liberalisation phase, role of private players and international capitalhas been increasing. The sector is unionised - worker and officer levels in utilities. It is technically complex and has multiple linkages. Fuel linkages include Water for Hydro, Coal, Petrochemicals, Nuclear, Wind and Bio-mass.
Policy Note on Power Sector - R2

by Sreekumar N, Prayas, Prayas Energy Group, 01 August, 2007

Power sector is a key infrastructure sector in India with a dominant role for State owned institutions in its operation (90% owned and operated by State). It is in the concurrent list withdemarcated roles for the State and Central governments. There are many players with muscle - both private and public. Private players are mostly in manufacturing and services, though there are afew in operations as well. In the post liberalisation phase, role of private players and international capital has been increasing. The sector is unionised - worker and officer levels in utilities.
Policy Note on Power Sector -R1

by Sreekumar N, Prayas, Prayas Energy Group, 01 August, 2007

The principal goal of the biofuel programme in India must be fossil fuel substitution, while catalysing rural development through this route, as envisaged in a Planning Commission report, should be secondary. Concern for energy security should promote maximisation of production, consequently large-scale plantations might well emerge. In another approach, community and small farmers could be promoted through cooperatives, panchayati raj institutions and the like. The proposal to take up a biodiesel production programme based on cultivation of Jatropha on the wastelands of 26 states might also be stretching the argument that such land is available.

taken from Biofuels: The Way Ahead, Rajeev Kher
EPW, VOL 40 No. 51 December 17 - December 23, 2005

Solar energy is becoming more economically attractive as technologies improve and the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels rises.By 2020, hundreds of billions of dollars of investment capital will probably boost global solar-generating capacity 20 to 40 times higher than its current level.As the new sector takes shape, producers of solar components must drive their costs down, utilities must place big bets despite enormous technological uncertainty, and regulators must phase out subsidies with care.The actions these players take will determine the solar sector\'s scale, structure, and performance for years to come.
The economics of solar power

by Peter Lorenz, Dickon Pinner, and Thomas Seitz, The McKinsey Quarterly, 01 June, 2008

A farmer C.M. Subramanian of Rasipuram, Tamil Nadu says:
“Already we farmers experience the effects of regular load shedding and frequent power cuts, which make our daily lives miserable. I never thought that getting a power connection would be so tedious and the supply erratic. “Even though my house and fields are near the main highway, the electricity board officials made me run from pillar to post. After months of running around I realized they expect something more than the required documents. “Determined not to pay a single paisa more than the required deposit. I decided to find some alternative. Since our region experiences a good wind flow I decided to erect a windmill on top of my house,” he says. “I am also planning to erect another windmill for irrigating my fields soon. Due to financial constraints I am unable to work on it now,” he says.

Is it true that windmills provide adequate electricity? Is there a good, objective study of the ground realities? If it is really possible, why not we work/campaign towards making governments to help farmers, financially and otherwise, to install such facilities in their fields as the farmers of Tamilnadu have done. Farmers can also be trained to take care of maitenance and repaires of their facilities, I believe.
- H R Kodidela

An alternative power source proves to be a windfall by M.J. PRABU, The Hindu, 02 July 2009

The Financial Express, 25 February 2008

Power tariffs should include social costs

by Tejal Kanitkar, Girish Sant.

Build infrastructure’ has become the favourite slogan of India Inc and is seen as the most important action for development. The discussion usually focuses on the massive investment required and the difficulties of providing it, but rarely on the way infrastructure planning is done

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