Assessment of carbon emission due to electricity distribution by utility and identification of strategic utility driven initiatives to mitigate its environmental impact
Student name: Ms Arushi Nandi
Guide: Prof. Prateek Sharma
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Sujay K Saha
Abstract: Generation of electricity by power plants and distribution by utilities results in emission of gases like CO2, SO2, NOx and other pollutants that have significant environmental impact. Combustion of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas to generate electricity emits a large amount of carbon dioxide which results in increase in concentration of the gas into the atmosphere. Higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to global warming, rise in sea level, melting of glaciers, climate alteration and other climate extreme phenomena. Other gases like Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides results in acid rain and ozone formation respectively. With increase in urbanization and growth in economic activities, India’s power demand is rising at an astonishing rate. Delhi being the capital of India, is facing tremendous rise in population and energy based economic activities. With increase in power demand in the city, there exist a demand supply gap. Hence, it is necessary to look out for ways and measures that can overcome this gap and minimize the environmental impact associated with power generation and consumption. Demand side management is one such approach that can fill the demand supply gap either by load management or by reducing consumer’s power consumption by promoting energy efficient technologies. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited is a power distribution company that had developed and implemented various schemes and programmes under demand side management in order to promote energy efficiency that favor energy and monetary savings plus reduce carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere. Thus, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change caused due to increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Few of the initiatives developed by the utility to promote energy efficiency are energy efficient AC replacement scheme, Building energy efficiency programme and user friendly energy calculator. These three programmes implemented under DSM measures led to peak demand reduction, uninterrupted electricity supply, potential energy savings, monetary savings and annual carbon dioxide emission reduction into the atmosphere. Such DSM measures along with shift to renewables can also help the utility to avoid power purchase from power plants. Thus, mitigating the environmental impact caused due to emission of harmful gases during combustion of fossil fuel.
Key Words: Energy Efficiency, Demand Side Management, Energy Savings, Monetary savings, Carbon emission reduction
