Idea of fuel switch at Koodankulam unheard of

I was surprised to read a piece titled “Use coal or gas at Koodankulam,” by M G Devasahayam in these columns on Nov 9. His suggestion on switching fuel at the nuclear power plant and opting for coal or natural gas instead is unheard of. And the point that wind, solar power and biomass power projects can be a near substitute for a nuclear power project is not entirely true.It’s nobody’s case that non-conventional power sources, such as wind and solar energy, should not be tapped to the fullest. However, in a vast country like India, with power shortage crippling industrial and economic activity, all sources for generation must be utilised. It’s not an either-or situation; both non-conventional energy and nuclear power must co-exist. Wind power projects operate at an average of less than 40% capacity in India due to absence of adequate wind during most parts of the year. And the wind power potential in Tamil Nadu has nearly been exhausted; so, offshore projects are the alternative. But that technology is still in the development stage in the world.Solar power has limitations, particularly in the cost of generation, which at present is as high as Rs 16 per unit. Further, the key ingredient for generating solar power is polycrystalline silicon. Remember, one megawatt of solar power requires 10 tonnes of polycrystalline silicon. With India’s target of 20,000 MW of solar power, we will need two lakh tonnes of polycrystalline silicon. But neither does India manufacture polycrystalline silicon, nor is there any project to do so in an advanced stage of development. This means that Indian solar power units will become vulnerable to international price cartel for importing polycrystalline silicon. The way forward is to urgently create capacity for it. Sadly, nobody is talking about it.Several of the biomass projects already operating in Tamil Nadu are sick or operating at low capacity due to inadequate availability of biomass and related cost factors. In the case of thermal power projects, India’s dependence on import of fuel such as coal, crude oil/natural gas are now reaching alarming levels, which puts a question mark on the cost of power in future due to high fuel import cost. The way forward is finding alternative sources of fuel, such as jatropha or algae biofuel. There was huge euphoria around jatropha biofuel a few years ago, but it no longer exists as the government has not offered adequate incentives to promote it. The developed world is spending millions of dollars on research and development of algae biofuel. India has huge opportunities in this area but the Centre does not appear to be addressing it with the urgency it deserves. On the Koodankulam power project, Indian nuclear scientists have competently answered all criticism against the plant. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam explained the safety aspects with high level of clarity in simple Tamil to reach out to the locals. It is disturbing that the protestors are belittling Dr Kalam, who is a scientist known for honesty and intellectual integrity.  (The author is director, Nandini Consultancy Centre and secretary, Chemical Industries Association)