ENERGY CONSERVATION IS PASSE’

'Energy technology, developed as a new field of study, can be expected to create better opportunities and motivate a new breed of engineers and technologists to come out with ideas for optimal utilisation of our energy sources'.

This was the need of the day alluded to in my article 'Energy Technology as a separate discipline' that I had published in 'The Hindu' in November 1983 after seven years of energy audit service where in I had outlined the pitfalls in energy conservation efforts by the industry which is the main consumer of our precious energy resources like coal, oil and electricity. Basically energy conservation or more aptly fuels and electricity conservation, demanded better operation, maintenance and management practices through human interventions to reduce unnecessary wastages that involved minimal investments. This was because the machineries in use were outdated and inefficient and awareness was also quite low.  As the energy costs were quite substantial, the cost benefit ratio of such measures was quite attractive. This economic factor led to creation of energy service companies (ESCOs) as outsourcing agents who offered to implement energy conservation measures with little investment. But this service did not survive for long as the net benefit amounted to hardly 2-4% which was abysmally low as against the expected 10-15% compared to production costs and losses. Thus implementation of such improved and better practices was quite rear as it required a changed mindset and a lot of attention and supervision.

Later, awareness increased due to government's continued efforts and need for energy conservation was felt most essential at that time due to unprecedented hike in crude oil cost in 1970's as well as shortages in availability of various forms of energy resources in India. Academicians acted upon the issue and introduced energy technology as a major discipline in engineering studies. Government ministries and departments dealing with energy resources and Industry organisations took upon themselves to popularise energy conservation measures to save energy as much as possible. However, since 1990's, technology in several domains grew by leaps and bounds. The internet revolution by the year 2000 by the advent of software programs for human interventions and actions then flooded all sectors. Laptop computers replaced the large size and heavy desktop computers and invaded all offices and even homes too. This development also led to hand held mobile phones that had built-in applications to duplicate works on laptop computers besides allowing audio and video calls. Technology also developed sensors based on commands through text with respect to time. This took care of most operational and maintenance actions to save energy on a continuing basis.

After nearly three decades of technology and internet revolution, energy conservation based on operational and maintenance improvements has been taken over by energy efficiency achievable by built-in up gradation in the design and operation of machines and devices. In industry, we see operation of huge machineries like boilers, furnaces, turbines controlled by computer software aided programs that have already incorporated viable energy conservation measures. All these machines are now provided with adequate instruments to maintain required pressure, temperature, and flow rate to control combustion of fuels or energy flows which are monitored at the control panel. Most machines are now marketed with energy efficiency labels. So the burden on energy managers, floor staff and operating personnel is lessened.

We also see such advancements in transport sector. All the present day cars, buses and trucks are fitted with software aided programs that help drivers through a display screen to run at optimum speeds, maintain correct air pressure in tyres, monitor lubricant oil level and also specify distance driven, fuel consumed and mileage recorded and help attain optimum fuel efficiency as well as safety. Added to this, vehicle engines linked to cell phones display Google route maps that show most optimum route for the destination envisaged.  All vehicles are sold with fuel efficiency figures at standard conditions along with their engine capacity and other features and details. So the burden on drivers to follow fuel conservation measures while driving is reduced. Similar systems are incorporated in domestic accessories too like electric and gas stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, dish washers, microwave ovens and air fryers which come with display panels to indicate optimum levels of operation at required temperatures and durations to save fuel, electricity and water. Commercial and domestic buildings are built as per energy efficient architecture and fitted with smart energy meters that display voltage, amperage, pF, KW load and kWh units consumed. This helps consumers to monitor their electricity consumption on a daily or monthly basis. Even the entertainment systems like television sets and cell phones come with smart operation levels that go on standby mode when not in use. As an example, use of LED lights and fixtures on a wide scale in commercial buildings and homes and even on streets these days has brought down electricity load and consumption in lighting substantially

What is now required is not merely 'energy conservation' per se but 'energy transition'. Energy conservation doesn't require human intervention anymore. Humans are in anyway lazy by nature. Technology will take care of it at the design stage itself. In India, energy transition is needed from fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas to renewable energy resources which are adequately available. This will hasten achieving 'Net zero' status by 2047 as per government's wish and combat climate warming issues. I am not sure if the present syllabus in engineering studies includes Climate change and Sustainable Living also which are the need of the day. Nation has to create infrastructure to make this energy transition feasible and at the earliest possible time. Power sector is promoting green electricity generation from solar, wind and biomass as well and reducing power from coal to the extent possible. Vehicles are also switching over to cleaner resources like CNG and electricity. As per Jevons paradox, as energy becomes cheaper and more widely available, its consumption is likely to increase and not decrease. But this increased energy consumption will improve overall economy of the nation and make it available to all sections of people. Fortunately, the renewable sources are available in plenty in tropical country like India as long as Sun, Wind and Water exist on this planet earth and the universe!

Water is also considered as a viable energy resource as it facilitates power generation as well as mobility. It is also a major life giver to all beings and plants on this planet earth. Although there is abundant presence of water in seas and oceans on earth, that which is good enough in quality for use by beings is abysmally low. There is therefore need to save and conserve river and rain water which are considered good enough for our well being and posterity. It is reported that there is huge wastage in transporting river water for use in different sectors. There is also need to harvest rain water in bulk. We have failed in implementing policy actions to initiate both these actions on a wider scale. Popularising water conservation measures by human actions has not yielded any appreciable result. During the latest water shortage crisis in Bengaluru, domestic home owners were advised by BWSSB to fit aerators in their taps to conserve water. This was adopted by many homes easily and sale of aerators increased tremendously. This one action helped conserve water to some extent.  Present day technology, hardware systems and smart applications can play a vital role in achieving these conservation measures faster and effectively. It is unfortunate that this technology and internet revolution has not ingressed into agriculture sector to make it more productive and energy and water efficient.

Humans have always been attempting to put their life at ease by devising systems since ages. Invention of wheel in early years helped mobility through development of cycles, cars, trains and airplanes. Technology development improved productivity of machines. Internet and computer softwares have helped operation of machines and devices from a pivotal point. Most domestic accessories come with remote controls which help operation of devices and light fixtures as required thus saving electricity. There are also some systems which operate on voice commands. Some light fixtures have motion sensors which turn on when they notice human movement. Basically we have reached a stage when we can get all the work done sitting in one place. This has facilitated 'work from home' these days! Artificial Intelligence and machine learning has made it possible to have automatic production and assembly units, driverless cabs, trains, launch of spacecrafts, robots as waiters and servers in hotels and restaurants, check in counters at airports, card less ATMs and deposit and withdrawal machines in banks and so on. In the coming years, most of our actions will get automated and we only need to use our human brain to program these technologies in advance. After all, any technological advancement comes only from the human brain! In fact I wonder why it is called artificial intelligence when it is actually developed by a super human brain. Rather it should be labelled as super intelligence!