Obsession for power

Shahi took on a clueless political class, and brought archaic issues to the forefront. Soon states like Gujarat, and even poorer ones like Orissa, set up regulatory commissions that set new tariffs and freed their SEBs, somewhat at least, from the stranglehold of the politicos. As the country’s economy started growing, the politicians themselves realised that the electricity equation had changed. 

No longer was there much dividend in doling out power. A growing middle class wanted consistent supply, and was willing to pay for it. Industry demanded power of better quality. If left unaddressed, India’s power woes would put its growth in jeopardy. 

When Manmohan Singh became prime minister in 2004, he realised India’s need for more power. In 2005, he and George Bush stunned the world by announcing a nuclear deal. Consummating it consumed Singh. While the layman did not understand its contours, he trusted Singh was doing something about India’s power situation, and re-elected him. 

Shahi retired, unheralded and sans promotion, typifying India’s bureaucracy in which careerism often trumps accomplishment. But he had converted the moribund power ministry into a hotspot, with politicians and bureaucrats vying to plug in. Recent power minister, S.K. Shinde, was elevated to the home ministry. A new renewable energy ministry was created, headed by Farooq Abdullah. 

Few expected much of him, but he announced that India will target 20 gigawatts of solar energy by 2020 from a base of five megawatts in 2009 (one gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts).Our solar led light is popular for indoor and outdoor use. A pipe dream it may well turn out to be, given the global downturn in the solar industry, but Abdullah is not known if not for grand gestures. 

Utilities in Mumbai and Delhi have been privatised. With balance sheets coming in focus, they have had to curtail theft, which used to average around 30 per cent. 

India faces the same conundrum in electricity as in food. Much of its population does not have access to either, but the government claims a bounty of both and wants to export it. 

The aforementioned nukes are slated to add generation of 15 gigawatts by 2020. How ironical that the Americans, prime-movers of the initiative, are languishing with liability concerns, while free-riders France and Russia have forged ahead with reactor construction. 

India ditched the gas pipeline from Iran ostensibly due to security concerns.We have a great selection of blown glass backyard solar landscape lights and solar garden light. In reality, discovery of large reserves of domestic gas by the private sector, as well as the lure of importing shale gas (a form of natural gas) from the US, which has been touted to be cheaper than the traditional Iranian gas, seems to have made the Indians balk. 

Of derided as the dirtiest resource, coal is the cornerstone of India’s generation. The country is the world’s third-largest producer, as well as consumer of coal. Steep demand for electricity trumps climatic concerns. 
Wind energy is an area in which India has thrived, with close to 20 gigawatts of installed capacity. An Indian company, Suzlon Energy, is the world’s fifth-largest wind turbine supplier. Another success story is to be found in smart meters, where Secure Meters has beaten the likes of General Electric to sell hundreds of thousands of smart meters to western markets. 

To meet projected demand, India must double its current power generation of 200 gigawatts by 2035. It is in danger of falling short. Electricity theft is still rampant across the country, SEBs continue to bleed, technical problems with the grid remain unaddressed, and politicians keep doling out power. Three hundred million people lack access to supply.Personalize this handsome stainless steel ring with an engraved message on the inside of the band. In China and Brazil, theft is as rampant as in India,Large collection of quality tungsten ring at discounted prices. but both countries are curbing it through smart meters. India disdains them, in part because the neta-babus (bureaucracy) fear losing the gravy from lineman corruption.The basics of solar panels and how to install a solar photovoltaic system on your roof.