When you plugin to the grid and charge your electric car or e-bike, do you ever wonder, if you are running on clean electrons? Or in other words, have you ever thought about, how the electricity that charges your battery, is generated?
Sadly, our Indian grid is one of the dirtiest among many nations, due to our over dependence on coal.
But this is changing, many states are pushing for clean energy in their portfolio.
In this blog, I try to answer some questions - Which state has the cleanest grid? Which has the dirtiest? Which state ensures that your electric vehicle is running on clean electrons?
Sadly, our Indian grid is one of the dirtiest among many nations, due to our over dependence on coal.
But this is changing, many states are pushing for clean energy in their portfolio.
In this blog, I try to answer some questions - Which state has the cleanest grid? Which has the dirtiest? Which state ensures that your electric vehicle is running on clean electrons?
This is where we stand.
Source : http://shrinkthatfootprint.com/
Basically our grid is the dirtiest among major countries. We rely heavily on coal and only in recent years, there has been effort to diversify and move towards renewables.
The following tables show the state wise distribution of electricity generation (Numbers as of December 2013 ; Source - Link)
Table 1 shows the dirty power generated (in MW)
The following tables show the state wise distribution of electricity generation (Numbers as of December 2013 ; Source - Link)
Table 1 shows the dirty power generated (in MW)
Table 1 - Dirty power generation (Source - http://www.cea.nic.in/)
Table 2 lists the leaders in dirty power generation
Table 2 - Leaders in Dirty Power generation (http://www.cea.nic.in/)
Coal fired power plant = Dirty Power
What is surprising is that, Delhi has one of the dirtiest grid being the national capital. Industrialized states like Gujarat and Maharashtra really depend on coal. If you own an EV in these states, it would be better to go for those solar panels, if you want to run on clean electrons. Nevertheless, using an EV is still a greener alternative as compared to using a ICE based vehicle, due to the high efficiency of the electric motor.
States like Gujarat and Maharashtra are investing huge money in renewable energy. This leads to a very important point - that as these states clean up the grid, your electric vehicle will get cleaner as the years go by.
States like Gujarat and Maharashtra are investing huge money in renewable energy. This leads to a very important point - that as these states clean up the grid, your electric vehicle will get cleaner as the years go by.
Table 3 shows clean power generated by various states (in MW)
Table 3 - Clean power generation (http://www.cea.nic.in/)
Table 4 lists the leaders in clean power generation
Table 4 - Clean power leaders (http://www.cea.nic.in/)
The Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand use the mighty Himalayan rivers to their advantage and generate enough clean hydro electricity for their needs. This also makes them the states with the cleanest grid! Electric Vehicles driven here will almost use clean electrons!
The southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lead the industrialized states in generating clean energy. EV owners in these states can be sure that their vehicles will definitely be cleaner than oil based vehicles.
The southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu lead the industrialized states in generating clean energy. EV owners in these states can be sure that their vehicles will definitely be cleaner than oil based vehicles.
Hydroelectric Power = Clean Power
Mr Narendra Modi at the Narmada Canal Top Solar Project
Political Support to clean up the grid
Mr Narendra Modi of the BJP, talks about our grid
“With the country having so much natural resources, India hasn't progressed much in the 21st century,”
“With eastern part of the country rich in water resources, it is a heaven for hydro power generation; also our coasts are fit for wind energy. Similarly our plains such as Gujarat and Rajasthan are fit for solar energy generation. If the planners had thought of these factors and formed a policy India wouldn't be so dependent on energy imports,”
Our national action plan on climate change recommends that we generate 10% of the power production from solar, wind, hydropower and other renewable sources by 2015, and 15% by 2020.
Our next government should absolutely take measures to clean up the grid and slowly but surely increase the generation of clean energy powered by renewable energy sources.
Mr Narendra Modi of the BJP, talks about our grid
“With the country having so much natural resources, India hasn't progressed much in the 21st century,”
“With eastern part of the country rich in water resources, it is a heaven for hydro power generation; also our coasts are fit for wind energy. Similarly our plains such as Gujarat and Rajasthan are fit for solar energy generation. If the planners had thought of these factors and formed a policy India wouldn't be so dependent on energy imports,”
Our national action plan on climate change recommends that we generate 10% of the power production from solar, wind, hydropower and other renewable sources by 2015, and 15% by 2020.
Our next government should absolutely take measures to clean up the grid and slowly but surely increase the generation of clean energy powered by renewable energy sources.
Final Words
Despite India's coal based grid, electric vehicles offer enormous hope for reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality and limiting noise pollution.
And the fact that cleaning up our grid in the coming years, will automatically ensure that your electric vehicle will also get cleaner in time.
Despite India's coal based grid, electric vehicles offer enormous hope for reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality and limiting noise pollution.
And the fact that cleaning up our grid in the coming years, will automatically ensure that your electric vehicle will also get cleaner in time.