What is your assessment of the current situation in the Non-Conventional Energy Sector in India?
Energy is one of the main inputs for an accelerated economic development and as such finds an important place in the agenda of the countries world over, especially in the developing countries. In the last 50 years, India has made significant achievements in the electricity sector. Our power generating capacity has increased from meagre 1362 MW in 1947 to over 84,000 MW today. More than 85% of the Indian villages have now access to electricity. Per capita availability of energy has increased to about 350 units from a level of hardly 15 units. Despite all these achievement there are about 80,000 unelectrified villages and in the electrified villages, 31% households have access to electricity. The demand of energy is increasingly being met mainly by fossil fuels. It has started creating serious environmental problems such as global warming, climate change and acid rains. The supply of fossil fuels namely coal, Petroleum and Gas in many rural and remote areas of the country is still a dream. In such a situation exploitation of the abundant renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, Biomass, Small hydro etc. to replace and /or supplement fast depleting and polluting fossil fuels is accorded increasingly with more importance in all countries including India. In India, we have a tremendous potential for generating energy from new and renewable sources. India is the only country where there is a separate Ministry for promotion of renewable energy sources. We, in West Bengal, have initiated renewable energy related programmes through WBREDA with the active support of MNES, Government of India.

Do you suggest any measures to improve the status of this sector?
The human civilisation will have to depend increasingly on renewable sources of energy. At the same time, the energy needs in India is going to increase significantly in the future and large scale demand of energy for meeting day to day domestic, commercial, agricultural and small industrial requirements can be met by utilizing renewable energy sources like solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, biogas, biomass, wind turbine, geo-thermal and tidal energy etc. In this situation, it is absolutely necessary to plan and execute various schemes for utilization of this critical input for sustainable development of the country.

What role does WBREDA play in promotion of non-conventional energy sector activities?
The environment is being polluted by various power plants and also by natural causes of emission. But we need clean air, water, atmosphere and surroundings for good health and better living standards. Therefore, systems based on non-conventional and renewable energy sources must be explored for generation of clean power as much as possible. At the same time, providing energy to remote isolated locations from conventional grid is a major problem. But renewable energy sources, which are decentralized in nature, can play a significant role in providing energy to the isolated locations. In West Bengal there are more than five hundred villages where it is difficult to take conventional grid power. With all these in view, WBREDA was established in 1993 with the objective of promoting renewable energy technologies and create an environment friendly development of industries based on renewable energy technologies in the state. WBREDA has been pursuing this policy vigorously and has implemented a large number of development programmes. The state of West Bengal is implementing one of the largest programmes on renewable energy in India covering a broad spectrum of energy technologies like solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind turbines, improved chulhas, biogas plant, biomass gasifier, small hydro and tidal power etc. These activities are mainly taking place in areas where it is very difficult, cost prohibitive or almost impossible to supply power through conventional grid. West Bengal is rich in respect of renewable energy sources. But the exploitation of these sources for generation of power depends upon the location, technology, finance, infrastructure, trained manpower and the willingness of the people or the entrepreneur.

What are you doing about improving the service of WBREDA?
Giving a special emphasis on public awareness, funding of project, implementation of project and above all staff training and educational programmes.

Tell us something about the ongoing projects.
Biogas Development programme, Biomass programme, Improved chulhas, solar shop and Energy Park scheme has made significant progress. By the year 2004, a Tidal project is coming on and West Bengal is the pioneer in implementing such type of project in the country. Besides, small hydel Renovations scheme in North Bengal, Wind Farm project at Frasergunj, and 1/2 MW Biomass Gasifier plant at chhoto Mullakhali, Sundarban has been commissioned.

How do you look at the future of Non-conventional Energy sector?
It has a bright future. We are targeting to generate 15,000 MW power by the year of 2012. At that time the total number of electrified villages in India and West Bengal goes to 18,000 and 250 respectively. About 20,000 beneficiaries staying in 250 villages were benefited, and thereby improve the quality of life, supply adequate power for agricultural development, installation of cold storage and refrigeration facilities for fish preservation, installation of pump and irrigation plants for better fresh water availability, development of tourism and development of industries.

Have you any observation on any other issues?
The main problems of energy generation by conventional method are the limited stock of fossil fuel and environmental pollution caused by burning of fuel. Unfortunately, this message of a very serious crisis has not reach the common people, not even a large section of educated mass. Basically, the awareness level of the people towards this crisis is very poor. Energy Education park is being set up with the aim of increasing awareness of the people. one of the primary objectives of this park is to impart training to the students on the concept of energy.