Address at the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun

Energy Independence: Role of IIP

I am delighted to be here in the beautiful environment of Dehradun and visit the Indian Institute of Petroleum which is carrying out important research work in the areas of refining technology, analytical sciences and petroleum products application. During the last 45 years, the Institute has carried out pioneering research in the hydrocarbon sector and has led many products to industrial applications. I am happy to know that the Institute has filed over 3 dozen patents in India and abroad and is having industrial partnership in every one of its projects. I congratulate the Institution for its significant contribution for the growth of the Petroleum refining and processing sector. I was thinking what thoughts I can share with you. I have selected the topic "Energy Independence : Role of IIP".

Energy status

As you all know, our annual requirement of oil is 114 million tonnes. Significant part of this is consumed in the Transportation Sector. We produce only about 25 % of our total annual requirement, the reserves of which are fast depleting. The presently known resources and future exploration of oil and gas may give mixed results. The import cost of oil and natural gas today is over Rs. 120,000 crores. Oil and gas prices are escalating; the cost of a barrel of oil has doubled within a year. This situation has to be combated. Keeping in mind the changing scenario I would suggest the Indian Institute of Petroleum to provide thrust to research in the areas of alternate sustainable energy sources such as bio-fuel, photovoltaic cell for conversion of solar energy into electricity and hydrogen fuel cell.

Jatropha - Biodiesel

We have nearly 63 million hectares of wasteland available in the country, out of which 33 million hectares of wasteland have been allotted for tree plantation. Certain multi-purpose trees such as Jatropha can grow well in wasteland with very little water. Once grown, the crop has fifty years of life. Fruiting can take place in this plant in two years. It yields upto five tonnes per hectare oil seeds and produces two tonnes of bio-diesel. Presently, the cost of bio-diesel through the plant is approximately Rs. 17 to Rs. 19 per litre which can be substantially reduced through choice of right size of the plant and using high yield variety plantation which has already been established by the researchers. Bio-diesel plants grown in 11 million hectares of land can yield a revenue of approximately Rs. 20,000 crore a year and provide employment to over 12 million people both for plantation and running of the extraction plants. This is a sustainable development process leading to large scale employment of rural manpower. Also, it will reduce the foreign exchange outflow paid for importing crude oil, the cost of which is continuously rising in the international market. Use of Bio-diesel is carbon neutral. This oil can also be used for soap and candle industries. De-oiled cake is a raw material for composting and plantation is good for honey production. Bio-diesel has so far not been used for a power plant of large capacity. However, chemical analysis indicate that bio-diesel can safely be used in gas turbines in combined cycle mode, as they are normally used for high capacity power plants. Use of bio-diesel in diesel engines has been well demonstrated.

A quick estimate of land requirements to meet the fuel needs of a 500 MW combined cycle power plant is 2,70,000 hectares, which is significantly large. The yield of bio-diesel is 1.62 tonnes/hectare. The bio-diesel requirement for a 500 MW (CCGT plant) is approximately 4,40,000 tonnes per annum operating at 70% plant load factor. The bio-diesel cost is estimated to be around Rs. 20 per litre, which accounts for all the costs associated with plantation and seed collection, oil extraction, trans-esterification and transportation. The risks associated with Jatropha derived bio-fuel appears to be low as these can grow on degraded lands. However, the oil contents in seeds can vary between 28 to 38% by weight.

Indian Institute of Petroleum should work with industry and agriculture universities to design, develop and commission a Bio-fuel plant of one million ton capacity per annum. It should also carry out research to increase the blending of bio-fuel with diesel from the existing 5% in a progressive manner so that we can aim at a power plant or a prime mover run exclusively on bio-fuel. The research is also required to improve the oil content of Jatropha seed from the present 33% to at least 50% by weight. Another area of interest will be to develop seeds, which can give regular fruiting throughout the year. Development of such seeds can increase the productivity substantially.

Hydrogen fuel

Hydrogen holds the potential to provide a clean, efficient, reliable and affordable supply of energy for meeting the growing energy needs in India's economy while protecting the environment and ensuring energy security. Transition from the present fossil fuel based economy to hydrogen economy will require many challenges to overcome specially in the areas of production, storage, delivery, applications, creating infrastructure, economics and public awareness on safety and standards. Initially we have to concentrate on hydrogen production. Some of the routes which IIP can follow are :

Microbial degradation of wastes like bagasse and other biomass materials

Electrolysis of water for producing hydrogen gas using Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyser (PEMWE)

Steam reforming of methanol.

I am sure, IIP scientists can definitely make important contributions in these developments with their vast experience in dealing with petroleum refining and processing.

Solar energy

The current high capital costs of solar power stations can be reduced by grid-locked 100 MW sized Very Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic (VLSPV) or Solar Thermal Power Stations. In the very near future, breakthroughs in nanotechnologies promise significant increase in solar cell efficiencies from current 15% values to over 50% levels. These would in turn reduce the cost of solar energy production. The IIP in collaboration with other research institutions, universities and industrial partners should mount a R&D Programme for developing high efficiency CNT based Photo Voltaic Cells. They should aim to develop a commercial product within the next three years. This will definitely be an important contribution of the Indian Institute of Petroleum in enabling the nation to achieve self-sufficiency in energy.

Conclusion

The energy scenario in the 21st century is going to see a major shift. Very soon, oil and gas will see its finiteness. It is high time that we realize this factor and work towards the fuel of the future. I suggest that the Indian Institute of Petroleum should think now about re-aligning its research contribution from petroleum to alternate futuristic fuels.

My best wishes to all members of Indian Institute of Petroleum for success in their mission of assisting the nation in working towards achieving energy independence by the year 2030.

May God bless you.