ENERGY ALTERNATIVES: RENEWABLE
ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION
TECHNOLOGIES
Assessment of Energy Resources in Kolar District :
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
in Karnataka. Kolar district is situated in dry arid zone.
The change in land use patterns and various large scale
developmental projects has affected the fragile ecosystem
considerably.Due to this short sighted development approaches
have resulted in severe water scarcity and fuelwood shortage
in some of taluks. In view of these, it is necessary to
identify, measure and monitor the cumulative effects of land
use decisions across space and time. Regional energy planning
encompasses the simultaneous consideration of hydrological,
soil and bio resources, the need for making better use of
analytical tools and approaches which address spatial and
temporal variability is critical . The application of
innovative information technologies such as GIS in planning
exercises helps in better understanding multi variate
dimensions of ecosystem management. Hydro and bio resources
are the areas where the use of GIS holds great promise as an
integrative planning tool. Hydro resources development and
management includes issues such as arable and non arable land
issues such as crop and livestock management, surface and
ground water management and conservation, soil conservation,
forest utilisation and human settlement concerns. Secondary
data collection: such as demographic, geographic, social,
economic, ecological and cultural (all these are found to
have indirect influence on energy system (supply and demand)
from government agencies at district and state head quarters
is collected and are being computerised. Field survey is
being undertaken in Kolar district,to assess the availability
of various fuels presently meeting the energy needs.
Assessment include both the availability and supply of
biomass fuels (fuelwood, crop residues and animal residues)
as well as commercial fuels (electricity, kerosene, diesel,
LPG etc.)
An integrated approach involving compilation of data from
government agencies and institutions, application of spatial
and temporal analyses using remote sensing data, Geographic
Information System (GIS technique) and conventional field
survey (ground truthing) have been adopted in this study.
The vegetation map for Kolar were prepared based on the
interpretation of IRS-1C satellite imageries, using the
visual interpretation keys such as tone, colour, texture,
pattern, association, size, shape, topography and drainage.
The resource base in Kolar under each sector such as forests,
agriculture, horticulture and animal residues are analysed
spatially. Also, an attempt is made to illustrate the present
role of biomass energy , the resource base for future
development, some promising conversion technologies and uses.
Biogas, energy plantation and biomass gasification are the
most promising bioenergy technologies.