Energy Generation In India

India has shortfal of 18gigawatt. The peak load of 130GW is mainly derived from Thermal,Hyroelectric and other Non-Conventiaonal Sources such as Nuclear,Wind,Solar etc. Being Fifth largest producer and fourth Biggest consumer of electiricity the power reforms is an early need of hour.
  Let us discuss one by one each method and its future. Thermal power is largest source of electricity generation produces elecrticity using coal based or gas based power plants. Though it is the costliest eleftricity generation method still it is used for its hugh quantum capacity. The UMPP (Ultra Mega Power Plant) can range upto 6-9 GW can be established within 2-3 years work and immediatley commisioned. Raw material like coal,gas and abudnacy of water are essence to have Thermal Power Plant. NTPC emerged as biggest player in this area and contributes around 85% of total Thermal Power Generation. To meet the shortfall of Power GOI has given clerance to many Thermal Power Plant in 12 Five Year Plan. Still around 300 million rural population is away from electricity. The supply available in Urban areas too intremitant and irregular. The electriciy prices from thermal plants mainly depends on raw material supply due to which the GOI has subsidised the Coal Mine Explorer to have uninteruppted supply of Coal to Power plants and cost effectiveness. However the recent irregulations in mining sector will significantly affect on this area and soon we will have a hefty increase in prices of electricity from these plants breaching the earlier contracts. The huge availiablity of Gas in KGDB has made a hope to have Gas based UM Power Plants using this natural resources however one Private Business Conglomorate has systematically grab control of these National Resources. Serious review is needed on this Irregularities and attempt must be made to nationalise these entities.
  Second method is Hydroelectric Power Generation. Though this is the cheapest method and pollution free still not fully utlised. With installed capacity of 94GW assuming 60% load factor our current capacity is only 34GW. The construction of HydrPower Plant includes construction of Storage dam and this dam is also utilised in other purpose. So the problem Irrigation department facing are also faced by Power however during summer when demand for elecrticity and water is at peak its difficult to match the peak load demand. The water is kept reserved for drinking and Irrigation Purpose. This fluctuates the generion capacity. Still there is a lot of scope for Hydro Power Projects for which a real groundwork is needed than only policymaking. Small hydro power plants could be promoted as they have generation additional capacity 9GW and can nurture the demand of small towns eftectively. State rub NHPC leads this sector.
  Third major source is Atomic Power Generation. A lot of debate is already going on and some so called nature lovers are dominany opposing the use of atomic energy.
In my opinion, the electricity generation through atomic energy is an essential major required to be immediately implemented. As electricity generation is cheaper and UMPP can be easily set without disturbing the ecology. However the technology required for this is still to be developed here. Thourium can be fusioned and enrich plutonium is abundantly available in India. However the Proposed power plants in India are Urenium based and the technology is need to be imported causing invariable profits to global power companies. This is again a debatable issue. However the quantum of power output and history of India's NCPEL functioning of such plants it always preffered source of energy.
Fourth method is through wind energy. This method has been rapidly become popular in last decade with promotion of renewable energy sources and least pollution India have achieved fourth largest wind powrr generation capacity and Pvt players have dominance in this sector. Land acquisition and secuirty of material are the two key issues which need immediate attention to have sustainability in this sector. A capacity of 102 GW is possible through it. MINISTRY OF NEW RESOURCES AND REBEWABLE ENERGY is estimating to add 6GW new projects till 2013.
Other forms include Solar, Captive,Small Hydroelectric Plants are also need to considered for planning the future demand.