1. To develop regional energy plan models based on decision support system using spatial and temporal analyses tools such as Geographic Information System and multi temporal satellite imagery. This includes

   1. Sectorwise Energy Demand

      This involves survey of the present energy consumption in domestic, agriculture, industrial, commercial and services sector for various enduses covering the magnitude, types of energy sources, trends and preferences in consumption.

   2. Assessment of Energy Supply

      This involves analyses of the present supply system, assessment of woody and other biomass sources and study of supply system of commercial sources of energy.

   3. Spatial Mapping

      This involves mapping of Energy Resources Such as Hydro and Bio Resources in addition to other Resources such as wind, solar etc..

   4. Imagery Analysis

      This involves analysis of Low and High Resolution, Multi Temporal Imagery with GIS data to develop Agro-Ecological zonation of the region to estimate the available biomass supply and a more detailed land cover classification.

   5. Field data Collection- Ground truthing

      These would be supplemented with field data (collected by experienced field staff using random sampling techniques) consisting of vegetation cover, type of vegetation, wind, solar, hydro resources and watershed data to maximise efficiency.

   6. Regional Agro Ecological Zonation

      This provides consistent sampling frame to spatially link the results of energy demand and supply surveys, and to identify energy surplus and deficit regions.

   7. Identification of Development Priorities of the District and the hierarchy of the energy needs in the priorities would be established.

   8. Study of Spatial Distribution of Energy Supply and Demand (talukwise) using G.I.S and estimation of the gap between demand and supply. Mapping of sectorwise energy demand; Industries sector (spatial distribution and temporal variation), Household sector (energy demand mapping along with level of literacy, community and land holding details), etc.

   9. Development of Regional Energy Plan to meet the energy demand in accordance with the development priorities.

   10. Capabilities to Generate and Assess Energy Scenarios: Model developed would enable to generate scenarios of possible future energy demand and viable supply mixes to meet the demand.

   
   

2. To appraise and compare alternative methodologies for regional energy and environmental forecasting, planning

3. To describe and analyse patterns of regional energy use and to develop insight into their relationships to technical and socio-economic variables

4. To develop concept and methodologies for energy environment management

5. Using the above methodologies to examine alternative energy strategies for environmentally prone regions (due to various reasons), to explore their implications from various perspectives using indicators related to environmental impact, energy use, and to investigate whether these strategies represent a viable choice for a given society.

This issues need to be studied, in order to be sure that they differ according to the regions but, nevertheless, there are several concerns common to many regions.

1. Energy Supply

   What are the resources and environmental implications of satisfying future energy demand by the various viable alternative energy sources ?

2. Human settlements

   How is energy use related to settlement, density, size, energy supply technology ? What role should these factors play in land-use planning, etc. ?

3. Energy use patterns

   What are the energy implications of continuing the present evolution of energy use patterns ? How are these modified by the use of alternate energy use technology ?

Apart from these, impacts that occur within the region because of energy use within the region, impact that occur outside the region because of energy use within the region, impact that occur within the region because of energy export to other regions and finally impacts that occur outside the region because of energy export to other region.

Thus, the model simulates regional energy system within a framework that includes energy demand, regional system and environmental impacts. Also illustrates, significant structural differences or similarities between the energy environmental characteristics of the region.

The aspect of geographical distribution is extremely important and sometimes decisive for the assessment of the resource / demand situation. By regionally disaggregating the available data, together with socio-economic information (e.g.: population densities, cultural diversity, land utilization/holdings, transportation facilities etc.) would contribute substantially to a meaningful analysis and projection of energy supply/demand situation.

1. Domestic : cooking, heating/cooling, lighting
2. Agriculture : crop and livestock production
3. Industrial : heating, lighting, welding, etc.
4. Supply services : transportation, hospitals, hotels, etc.

1. Regional and Seasonal Variations in the Quantity of Energy consumption and Energy Resource Availability.

2. Records of the usage of fuel which are not Purchased but Gathered free of cost.

3. Animate Sources of Energy in the Input Analysis to account for Human, Animal power used in Traditional Agricultural practices, Domestic, Industrial operations etc.

4. Energy alternatives and scope for conservation

1. Estimation of sectorwise spatial energy demand in Domestic (based on demographic, literacy rate, community and land holding by household information), Industry, Agriculture, Commercial and services sectors.

   1. Primary survey would be carried out in domestic sector in each taluks based on stratified random sampling approach (stratification based on, communitywise, land holding wise, family income etc)

   2. Groupwise, Talukwise Energy Deamnd in Industries sector

   3. Talukwise, Categorywise Energy demand in agriculture (for different crops)

2. Spatial mapping : Talukwise, Sourcewise energy demand

3. Spatial distribution of energy supply (mapping of various resources), to provide inventory of woody biomass, crop residues, hydro resources, etc.

4. Use of GIS in hydro resources development
   1. This involves spatial mapping of streams with geographic details
   2. Collection of water yield information of sample streams in each river basin of a district.
   
   
5. Agro Ecological zonation of the region

   With spatial and temporal information and GIS data on rainfall, topography, land use patterns, Use of multi stage sampling design with Landsat TM imagery for detailed sub sampling for regional inventory of woody vegetation and crop residues will be carried out.

6. Development of Energy Model based on Decision Support System consisting of modules for computing sectorwise energy demand and sourcewise energy availability, possible supply options and their implications for each of the demand scenario

The regional energy plan developed based on these techniques could be successfully applied to other regions with different energy supply strategies. Identification of energy surplus and deficit region should enable the challenge of conserving regional natural resources in balance with its energy demand to be met in a sustainable manner. The development of energy plan with GIS would also provide spatial dimension.