Power Problems : Generation and distribution

Everyone acknowledges there is a power problem but all the solutions we hear, from a common persons perspective, are long term and long gestation ones . It has been long enough since we as a nation became independent and hence the same approach of the past few decades will not alleviate the immediate needs in this sector and the suspicion that nothing will get done remains.

How will Power problem be solved. Both the supply side and demand side has to be looked at. While the issue is ever increasing demand in urban areas it is the supply side and distribution issues in rural areas and smaller towns.

So the solution put in a simple way is to:
1. Increase Power generation, availability and distribution.
2. Reduce power consumption wherever possible

These two points are known to everyone and sounds simple enough. We also know these are easier said than done!

Here are some 'Wild' thoughts for the supply and distribution side:

1. Convert all the cable operators to generating stations
2. Convert the private fixed line telecom providers to power distribution points
3. Use Direct-To-Home or wireless power supply!

Well these sure sound Wild! I mention these more to tickle the brain cells into thinking differently. Not think just about nuclear, hydro, thermal plants and then on how to do the distribution. If you think about it we had similar issues with TV and they got solved in the short term by messy cables and cable operators. We also had similar issues with telecom until others were allowed to create a last mile infrastructure and local exchanges.

If we travel around the place we see the varying levels of "Power problems". Here I mean power problems faced by people at large (aam admi) and not the industries.

Earlier we had telephone booths and browsing centers. We had a few places where they had large antennas where we had to go watch TV. We have similarly some places that have 24x7 power and the rest not having quality power. Unfortunately we can't go to these Power booths to use power and come back! That maybe one of the solutions in the rural areas where they have small areas marked as places where power would be available and provide for all the facilities for entertainment and studies there. I agree that a farmer may be more interested in getting power for his pump sets but again I am trying to focus one step at a time.

Expanding on our earlier thought, before the dawn of the wireless communication such as WLL phones and cellular phones the issues were similar. Before cable TV the issues were similar that there were no local network and support system. Heavy cost of setup, connecting the people with wires was next to impossible due to the terrain and the cost involved. Off course all this was expected from the government since no one else was allowed to provide these services. Thinking about it, these got solved because of the following reasons. I am listing the reasons that I feel are relevant to the Power problems as well.

1. Private people allowed to provide the last mile in case of fixed line phones.
2. Wireless communication making it possible to get over the terrain issues.
3. Allowing for cable operators to setup and wire the homes literally with messy cables running all over the place. Eventually have the option to go DTH.
4. Allowing cable operators and telecom providers to setup their own exchanges so to speak and have it localized.

The Power capacity or availability in a region is similar to the time of govt monopoly on telecom and television channels. The second one is the transmission and distribution across long distances and high maintenance costs with cables getting cut in remote places which are difficult to access.

Unfortunately today power cannot be transmitted wirelessly (that would be great right! a truly charged atmosphere!:)) but I believe we should tackle the issue by localization and local distribution. This is more so for rural areas and small towns and in urban areas focus on reducing power consumption while waiting for additional supply.

Here are some food for thought:
o I live in an apartment which has backup generator and hence impacted less by power. I can't use my microwave but I have enough lights/fans and TV running. I was thinking that it would be a good start if everyone could get to this stage.
o I see a role for the UPS folks who could or would need to involve in the quality of power and to make sure that there is uninterrupted power.

What apartments do internally should somehow be made at an area level or a block level. Many homes already use UPS to get by with some lighting. The problem is with the intensity of power cuts the batteries are not in a charged state by the time the next power cut happens!

For that we could either allow or even make it mandatory for designated places to put up generators and feed back to the local grid or even have solar farms to do the same. I knew of a person who is no more who had tried to get the power dept in one of the cities almost 10 years ago to put solar panels on the roofs and have them feed to a grid. The dept was to pay the home/building owners a fee per unit generated, the roof was provided with no rental by the home owners and the panels were to be installed by the power supply company.

Why not take these ideas forward and allow for such small outlets to either supply by directly drawing a wire or by supplying to the grid. I can already see many people saying all this is too much work! Who is going to draw the wires, who will pay for this etc.! Well I am sure that if people out there who are experts think out of the box they will find solutions. More so in smaller towns and rural areas where people have cable TV, cell phones but no lights/power. I have also read that some people have taken the initiative to provide solar powered LED lamps which is a good start but I think we should provide for full clean power to these rural households with small localised power stations which should run as much as possible on solar/wind/biogas and other natural resources and maybe augmented with generators when required. As I say these are Wild thoughts which I hope will allow for wild innovations and help if not totally eradicate the power problems at least bring everyone to a level of having lighting available round the clock. Will try to write a few thoughts on "Reducing Power consumption" sometime which should become the focus for the urban world.