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Adopt cleaner technologies in coal energy generation: SCCL MD

Low capacity power generation plants, which function with less efficiency causing more environmental problems should not be allowed, chairman and MD of Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd Sutirtha Bhattacharya said here. He was speaking at the national symposium on 'Clean energy from coal resource: reliability linked to its relative abundance' here at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT). The symposium was the first in the new biennial symposium series organised by the Coal Resurgence from Energy-Secure Society (CRESS).

Sitirtha Bhattacharya explained about the energy scenario across the world and pointed out that Germany would be coming up with its first clean coal power plant. A 35,000 MW power plan by solar technology would also be coming up in India. While maintaining that solar energy was a good option, Sitirtha Bhattacharya said it would be inevitable for developing countries like India to depend on coal for energy. "That would also mean that we come up with cleaner technologies. That is the need of the hour," he said. Bhattacharya said there would definitely be pressure not from the local community but also from the international community to adopt cleaner technologies. "The focus of scientists should be on developing cleaner technologies and these should also be introduced for the purpose of energy generation from coal," he said.

 "There will come a time when people will be educated not to buy products made from power generated without adopting cleaner technologies," he said.

B Madhusudhan, chief scientist and head, cola and gas technology division, IICT and convenor Cress-2014 said coal has been the most reliable source of energy for decades and emphasised the need for adopting environmental friends methods for generation of power. IICT director M Lakshi Kantam said the IICT would lay emphasis on the issue of developing cleaner technologies.

Source: The Times of India