Bengal takes lead,looks for renewable energy options

As the world watches the proceedings at the Copenhagen climate summit,West Bengal has started taking small but...

As the world watches the proceedings at the Copenhagen climate summit,West Bengal has started taking small but steady steps to promote the use of renewable energy.

The state saw the inauguration of the countrys first commercial unit of 1.25 MW solar photovoltaic power plant along with the first bio mass project of 10 MW on Tuesday. It has also decided to soon come up with a land-fill gas capture project in New Town,Rajarhat,which will be the first of its kind in eastern India.

In a land-fill gas capture project,garbage is collected and dumped on the ground. The gas formed during dumping is captured and used,acting as an alternative source of energy generation. According to S P Gon Chowdhury,the Managing Director of West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Limited,which is working out the details of the project,the gas capture project would come up in New Town.

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Officials claim that West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) already has an area in New Town earmarked for garbage dumping which can be used for the project. We would be coming up with a land-fill gas capture project in New Town soon. The details of the formalities have not been chalked out yet. We have a target of generating at least 3 MW power, said Chowdhury.

While the project cost of Rs 40 lakh would be provided by UK government promoted DFID fund,the land would be provided by HIDCO. A team of experts from DFID are expected next month to carry out a feasibility report.

On Tuesday,Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurated the solar photovoltaic power plant in Jamuria,Asansol and the bio mass power plant in Bankura. The Rs 40 crore Jamuria project would contribute 1.2 MW initially,which will be enhanced to 2 MW in six months. The bio mass power plant would give 9 MW.

Our dependency on coal and oil from foreign countries has to be lessened. Our Prime Minister wants India to be a leader of renewable energy. I was scared to see the carbon emission from large chimneys in Durgapur and Mongolpur. It is impossible to breathe properly and this should be replaced immediately with solar or other less polluting technologies, said Abdullah.

Climate message on Pawar bday

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MUMBAI: About 300 cyclists will race 300 km from Mumbai to Baramati on on December 12 NCP chief Sharad Pawars birthday to create awareness on global warming. The event will be organised by NCP,the Baramati Mitra Mandal and the Maharashtra Cycling Association. ENS