Lectures in college on Environment and Energy got me thinking again. And this blog is dedicated to the same.
We have heard of the alternative sources of energy - Solar energy, Wind energy, Geo-thermal energy, Bio Gas etc. But what caught my attention were two concepts --> Offshore Wind Farms and Green GDP.
In tapping the Wind Energy, India is placed in the 5th position in the world, after USA(25,170MW), Germany(23,900MW), Spain (16,754MW) and China (12,210MW). The industry has been growing in India at a rate of more than 35% CAGR since 2005. These figures that different reports talk of though are based only on the onshore installations in India.
Offshore Wind Farms
India, a country endowed with approximate 7000 km of coastline ain't focussing on the offshore wind farms. India, which has a huge population should be leaving the land free for other purposes and instead focus on offshore installations.
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| A diagrammatic representation of offshore wind farm |
GE, Vestas, Areva Renewables and Suzlon are the key manufacturers for offshore wind power projects, with power MNCs like Areva Renewables who have already set up typhoon-resistant offshore wind farms in other countries. Europe is at the forefront in installing offshore wind farms with China and US also initiating projects.
The following link gives a lot more information and explanation on the current status of offshore wind farms in India --> http://eai.in/blog/2010/04/india-offshore-wind-status-trends-potential.html
The above link gives the investment comparison for onshore and offshore installations and India's steps in the same direction (just initiated studies in the area).
The steps though initiated by India, are very small and hence may not see commercialization of the offshore
wind farms until 2016, unless the research is expedited. India requires to capitalize on it's strength rather than lagging across all major world economies.
Green GDP
The normal GDP is usually defined as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a territory in a given period of time (usually a year), including exports minus imports (net exports). This GDP looks entirely on the monetary growth of the world neglecting the other 2 indices of significance - the people and the environment and hence is not considered for measuring sustainable development.
In 2006, the Chinese government released its environmentally adjusted GDP—its green GDP, prepared jointly by the State Environmental Protection Agency and the National Bureau of Statistics (SEPA and NBS 2006). Included in the calculation were assessments of air, water, and solid-waste pollution as well as the costs of depleting various natural resources.
Green GDP though important in the context of global warming and in ensuring sustainable development, the other 2 parameters - people development and environment are complex to be measured. Thus the countries have assumed a few parameters and come up with their own versions of Green GDP.
Here in, me thinks the thoughts of Mr. Y.C. Deveshwar, the chairman of ITC ltd. provide us some insights:
"Even more significantly, your Company has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the environmental and social dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line. For the 9th year in a row, your Company has sustained its ‘water positive’ status, creating freshwater potential that is twice its consumption. For the 6th year in succession, ITC is ‘carbon positive’ sequestering twice its emissions. It has also been ‘solid waste recycling positive’ for 4 years now."
The above excerpt comes from his address to the stakeholders of the company. The three terms highlighted in the excerpt may help us in sustaining the environment. These parameters and their neutral or higher status require to be made mandatory for organizations and housing societies all over the country. This way at least an attempt can be made to ensure the sustainable development of the organized sector.
The other parameter, people development - may be ensured through the Human Development Index (HDI). Also the current CSR policy focus more on outlays than on outcomes. This change in the CSR policy may see the corporates doing their bit to ensure the lives of people improve than just showing financial expenditure.
These are just a few thoughts that may help in making our living sustainable else we might enjoy our lives and that leisure, luxury may have come at the expense of the life of our 'Ghar ke Chirags'. And sadly there wouldn't be a way to correct the mistakes made!!!
