fnal chapter 1-4

3 The President in his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day 2005 set an aim for developing an economy that would be largely driven by renewable energy, especially in the light of uncertainties in global oil prices. Energy security and energy independence have taken centrestage in the planning process. The country is developing alternate fuels considering the aforesaid concerns. Consequently, new and renewable sources of energy have emerged as a development imperative. 2.2 The Indian scientific establishment has been working on the development of various renewable energy systems. In 1981, the Government of India established the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) in the Department of Science and Technology on the lines of the Space and Atomic Energy Commissions. In 1982, CASE was incorporated in the newly created Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES). A decade later in 1992, DNES become the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources. 2.3 The Ministry supports a broad-spectrum programme covering the entire range of new and renewable energy. The programme seeks to supplement conventional power through wind, small hydro and biomass power; reach renewable energy to remote rural areas for cooking, lighting and motive power; use renewable energy in urban, industrial and commercial applications; and develop alternate fuels, i.e. hydrogen, synthetic fuel and bio-fuel systems/devices for stationary, portable and transport applications. 2.4 The Ministry has nine Regional Offices, three specialised Technical Institutions and one non-banking financial company under its administrative control. The Electricity Act, 2003 contains several provisions to promote the accelerated development of power generation from non-conventional sources. A draft Renewable Energy Policy has been prepared by the Ministry and put on the website for obtaining views/comments. 2.5 Awareness of renewable energy benefits has been steadily growing, largely because of sustained public awareness campaigns of the Ministry, using different media and through the demonstration and display of renewable energy systems, devices and technologies at exhibitions and fairs across the country. Energy parks are being set up in well-known and established educational institutions with the financial assistance of the Ministry for demonstration and awareness purposes. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Hon’ble President of India inaugurated the 250 KWe Biomass gasifier at Balagangahadharnatha Nagar, Bellur Cross, Mandya District, Karnataka