During last decade various developed nations all over the World have demonstrated successfully the advantages of adopting new and evolving spatial and temporal analysis tools such as Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote sensing(RS), Image processing and Computerised Data management in Planning of Management of Natural Resources. But in developing nations GIS still remains unexploited for natural resources and environmental planners. Water and Biomass resources constitute major component in planning of regional energy systems. Through this study we try to chart an economically and environmentally sustainable regional energy supply and demand (sectorwise) data base for Kolar district, Karnataka.
Review of Status
Nature of Development proposed
We propose to develop regional integrated energy model taking in to account spatial and temporal variation in supply and demand and apply it to two ecologically distinct districts of Karnataka.
Energy model would include- Sectorwise and Source Wise Energy Consumption Patterns in this Region. Small scale industries sector and household sector constitute major consumers of non commercial energy in the district. spatial mapping of these sectors helps in identifying demand of various energy sources.
- Low and high resolution imageries with GIS tools (such as IDRISSI, GRAM, ARC/INFO) helps in resource mapping on spatial and temporal scale.
- Spatial mapping of sectorwise energy demand provides energy demand profile, creation of raster cadastral images-overlaying on toposheets.
- Analyses of spatial distribution of energy supply and demand
helps in identification of energy status of a region (such
as energy surplus/deficit)
- Scope for energy conservation through intervention of new devices
- Scope for energy alternatives through mapping of resources such
as wind, solar etc.
- Capabilities to generate and assess energy scenarios
Current Status of India
The use of GIS for energy planning in developing countries is not
as well established in large government agencies; however there
are few research centres where hydrological and watershed assessments
are being studied. Apart from these, energy planning in our country
is not an integrated activity. Various government agencies dealing
with different resources, considers only the demand and projects
the energy demand over a period of years without taking in to
account efficiency of utilisation, scope for conservation with
technology improvement, exploiting renewable sources.
In this situation, there is a need to develop integrated energy
plan taking in to account spatial variation and sesonal variation
in resource availability, energy demand etc. Apart from these, we
attempt to consider decision structure, levels of decision making
and implementation strategies in the regional energy plan.
Survey carried out in 92 villages of Kumta taluk, reveals that level of energy consumption and adoption of energy efficient technologies depends on
- Level of education of end users of energy
- Land holding and finally to some extent
- Community(our population is diverse, and there is a need to map all these aspects).
- Identify hydel sites for electricity generation in a decentralised way
- Assessment of potentials of wind, solar resources
- Agro-ecological zonation helps in demarking degraded land, which helps planners to take up energy plantation to meet the fuel and fodder requirement of the region
- Spatial mapping renewable energy sources and sectorwise energy demand
- Resource - demand balancing (modelling)
This work is expected to develop methods to overcome the limitations in the present decision and implementation structure.