Strategies for a nation-wide survey of renewable energy resources available in each village in India

About 0.6 million villages spread over the length and breadth of the country offer various economic opportunities for judicious exploitation of local resources. Such optimal use of resources holds the key to sustainable development. Among the various factors for growth and development, energy is the crucial input for sustainable development of the rural areas in the long run. The need for bringing about efficiency in the usage of noncommercial fuels such as firewood and agricultural residues is important, while at the same time, renewable sources of energy such as sun, wind and hydel potential have to be harnessed for meeting the increasing demand of energy in the rural areas. Renewable sources of energy being decentralised in nature, are cost effective in modular form and help cut transmission/transportation cost. The electricity needs of the villages are by and large taken care of by SEBs under the REC schemes. However, there is need for survey of villagewise energy resources from the point of view of planning so that least cost energy options could be exercised as between conventional and renewable sources of energy. Energy schemes can be formulated for development of renewable sources of energy such as biomass, wind, small hydel, solar, geothermal etc. suited to local conditions and needs. This paper discusses the various strategies required to be adopted for a nationwide survey including classification, selection criteria, division of work, questionnaire and action plan systematically compile the data to prepare a master plan for the use of nonconventional sources of energy.