Setting up of waste energy projects have to be speeded up as there is potential for generating 2,500 Mega Watts of power from urban, municipal, and industrial wastes in large cities, besides metros, in the next 2-3 years, according to a joint study brought out by ASSOCHAM.

The Hindu reports that the study, 'Mitigating Climate Change: The Indian Perspective,' indicates that about 40,000 million tonnes of solid waste and 5,000 million cubic metres of liquid waste is generated every year in the urban areas of the country, which can be suitably recycled for power generation.

According to estimates made in the study, about 1,500 Mega Watts of power can be generated from urban and municipal waste, and an additional 1,000 Mega Watts from industrial wastes by 2010, by setting up waste energy projects in the country.

The cost factor involved may be within the range of around Rs. 200 crore, resources for which can be generated through local governments and subsidies for such projects from the State government concerned.

India has the potential to reduce its projected emissions over the next 30 years by nearly one-fourth for less than $25 a tonne of carbon equivalent, with a substantial portion available at a low cost. Clean mechanism

Several studies on the Indian power sector reveal the potential for saving of around 20,000 MW through various energy efficiency and demand-side management measures. These include renovation and modernisation of old power plants, adoption of cleaner coal technologies, energy-efficient distribution transformers and installation of capacitor banks. In addition to this, installation of super critical boilers has also been gaining momentum recently.

All the energy efficiency and demand-side measures in the power sector can gain carbon credits through clean development mechanism. Recent initiatives by several generating and transmission companies towards claiming carbon credits are a positive sign for the sector, according to the study.

The study has also sought a shift from fossil fuels (such as coal, diesel, and petroleum) to natural gas and renewables.

With the abundant availability of renewable sources like biomass across the country, India has the potential to replace fossil fuels in various industrial and commercial applications. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is also expected to increase the economic value of biomass fuels, which in turn is likely to improve the social and economic condition in rural areas.

With the continuous exploration of gas reserves across the country, India is poised to grow in this field and develop more gas-based power plants. The government's encouragement of private participation in this sector and the growing potential for gas-based power plants in India would definitely play a key role in reducing the GHG emissions in the power and industrial sector.