CONTENTS EDITORIAL. G. Beig. 2 Page

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2 CONTENTS Sources of air pollution.3 Use of technology to reduce air pollution 4 Government schemes used to promote clean fuel and renewable energy 4 Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana..4 National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP).5 National Biomass Cookstoves Programme. 6 Unnat Chulha Abhiyan Programme...7 Green Buildings.7 Solar Energy System..7 Akshay Urja Shop..8 Focus on new technologies.. 8 EDITORIAL Air is a mixture of various gases, important for survival of human race and life on the Earth, in a fixed proportion it s a life supporting system, but if the composition of air alters then elevated concentration of certain trace gases can lead to detrimental effects on human health, environment and other form of life. Most of the anthropogenic activities including fossil fuel, biofuel burning for transportation, industries, power generation emits certain amount of pollutant in to the air. The type and amount of pollutant emitted in to the air depends on the type and quality of fuel and technology used for production. Adopting sustainable life style is one of the solutions for pollution reduction, which again depends on the initiative taken at individual level. For the purpose technology developers and providers need to be also approached so that new technologies can be introduced in to the market which can help to reduce the emission at the first place, near the source and further reduce the environmental burden at large. This newsletter covers such technologies which can be used for controlling pollution at first place. It also give information about few government schemes and policies which promotes use of renewable energy to reduce burden of air pollution on health and environment. G. Beig 2 P a g e 2 Page

3 Sources of Air Pollution Before exploring certain technological innovations which can be used to reduce air pollution problem first we need to understand exactly from where pollution come from and what are the various activities involved in the process. Typically the pollution source can broadly categorize as Natural Sources and Anthropogenic Sources. Natural sources includes wind-blown dust, wildfires, volcanoes, sea salt spray etc., whereas anthropogenic sources includes burning of biofuel and fossil fuel in various well known sectors including transport, industries, power, residential etc., which involves use of cars, buses, planes, trucks, trains, power plants, oil refineries, factories, agricultural practices, heating cooking activities in urban and rural areas etc. It is well known and widely accepted fact that we don t have any control over the natural air pollution sources and also on the various climatic and weather processes which are responsible for desperation, deposition, transport and sink mechanism of pollutants but we certainly can control the other. Emissions from biofuel and fossil fuel combustion The steam generators in large power plants and the process furnaces in large refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants and incinerators burn considerable amount of fossil fuels including coal, fuel oil, natural gas etc., and therefore emits large amount of pollutants in to the atmosphere. Emissions also come from the exhaust pipe of vehicles as a result of combustion of fuel such as petrol, diesel or natural gas. Vehicular emissions depend on the type of engine, fuel type used, engine technology, how it is maintained and age of the vehicle. In rural area and certain slum pockets in urban areas use of biomass fuels including fuel wood, dung cake, crop residue along with some amount of kerosene, coal can be seen for heating or cooking purpose. Most of the time it is burnt in small, open chamber, natural-draft stoves (Chulhas) in poorly designed kitchen. All these activity collectively emits considerable amount of pollutants in to the air. However, it is possible to reduce the emissions from all the above sources by doing little bit technological innovations. Governments will always play a huge part in solving big problems. They set public policy and are uniquely able to provide the resources to make sure solutions reach everyone who needs them. They also fund basic research, which is a crucial component of the innovation that improves life for everyone. Bill Gates 3 P a g e 3 Page

4 Use of technology to reduce air pollution Technological advancement in the industrial, power and transport sector resulted in the problem of air pollution which has aggravated because of the rapid population growth and urbanization. However, on other hand same can be used to solve the problem of air pollution. There are smart technological solutions which can be used to reduce the pollution at source. Some of them includes Hydrogen-powered vehicles, use of solar energy, use of Titanium Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide (Tio2) Photocatalysis, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, Scrubber, Circulating fluidised-bed (CFB) technology, syngas etc. In India various schemes has been implemented by Government to promote use of clean fuel and reduce major pollution sources in the country. Government Schemes used to promote clean fuel & renewable energy Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana In India the poor have limited access to the cooking gas (LPG). LPG is predominantly used in urban and semi urban areas by most of the middle class and affluent households. Because of the unavailability of LPG biofuels including wood, cow dung, etc., is widely used in various slum pockets in urban areas and also found in rural part of the country, which results in the indoor pollution causing serious health problems in the residence specifically in women. The Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yyojana is aimed at providing free LPG connections in the name of women in BPL (Below Poverty Line) households across the country. The government has set a target of 5 Crore LPG connections to be distributed to the BPL households across the country under the scheme. Once you have an innovation culture, even those who are not scientists or engineers - poets, actors, journalists - they, as communities, embrace the meaning of what it is to be scientifically literate. They embrace the concept of an innovation culture. They vote in ways that promote it. They don't fight science and they don't fight technology. Neil degrasse Tyson 4 P a g e 4 Page

5 The major objectives of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna Empowering women and protecting their health Assisting in cutting short the issue of the air pollution due to use of fossil fuel. Reducing the serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels. Reducing the number of deaths in India due to unclean cooking fuels, which is about 5 lakh every year in India. Preventing young children from significant number of acute respiratory illnesses caused due to indoor air pollution by burning the fossil fuels. National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) NBMMP provides helps for setting up Family Type Biogas Plants mainly for rural and semiurban/households. A family type biogas plant generates biogas from organic substances such as cattle dung, and other bio-degradable materials such as biomass from farms, gardens, kitchens and night soil wastes etc. The process of biogas generation is called anaerobic digestion (AD) and has several benefits which are given bellow; It provides clean gaseous fuel for cooking and lighting. Digested slurry from biogas plants is used as enriched bio-manure to supplement the use of chemical fertilizers. It improves sanitation in villages and semi - urban areas by linking sanitary toilets with biogas plants. Biogas Plants help in reducing the causes of climate change. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing the NBMMP in all the states and UTs of the country. About 47.5 Lakh biogas plants have already been installed in the country upto 31st March, 2014 and a target of 1,10,000 biogas plants were set for the year Under the program ministry provides subsidy for family type biogas plants. Safer chemicals and more energy-efficient technologies can provide cooling without severe climate implications. Shifting to these alternatives could avoid the equivalent of 12 times the current annual carbon pollution of the United States by Frances Beinecke 5 P a g e 5 Page

6 National Biomass Cookstoves Programme Use of poor quality cookstove for cooking purpose is one of the major concerns in the residential sector. It results in the incomplete combustion of biofuel used and results in the indoor pollution which is the major cause of health concern in India. Realising the need the program National Biomass Cookingstoves Initiative (NBCI) was launched by MNRE on 2 nd December 2009 with the aim of improved biomass cookstoves. The aim of the program was to design and develop the most efficient, cost effective, durable and easy to use device. Technology and models of Biomass Cookestoves Biomass cookstove is basically a combustion device which burns biomass fuel more efficiently with reduced emissions and offers cleaner cooking energy solutions. Biomass Cookstoves are of two types; fixed type and portable type. The portable cookstoves are also of two types; natural draft and forced draft. Advanced cookstoves utilizing fans are more efficient cookstoves compared to natural draft ones. Each type of cookstove can be used for domestic as well as community cooking. The improved cook-stoves may be made with metal, ceramic and terracotta/ pottery (durable type) and combination thereof. With this, the stoves will be categorized as metallic (MS, SS, cast iron and combination thereof), metal clad ceramic/ pottery and ceramic types. As a part of National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative pilot scale projects were taken up for demonstration of community size cook-stoves and domestic biomass cookstoves for cooking applications. Reduction in fuel consumption in the range 40-60%, emission reduction in the rage 60-70% and saving cooking time in the range 10-30% has been recorded by IIT Delhi as compared to traditional chulha. This field performance evaluation was on 400 nos. of community size cook-stoves for cooking in Mid-day meal scheme in government schools in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Haryana. The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. Richard Rogers 6 P a g e 6 Page

7 Unnat Chulha Abhiyan Programme As follow up to the National Biomass Cook-stove Initiative (NBCI), the Ministry initiated a new proposal for promoting the development and deployment of Unnat Chulhas (Biomass Cookstoves) in the country during the 12th Plan Period Objectives To develop and deploy improved biomass cook-stoves for providing cleaner cooking Energy solutions in rural, semi-urban and urban areas using biomass as fuel for cooking. To mitigate drudgery of women and children using traditional chulha for cooking. To mitigate climate change by reducing the black carbon and other emissions resulting from burning biomass for cooking. Green Buildings A building which can function using an optimum amount of energy, consume less water, conserve natural resources, generate less waste and create spaces for healthy and comfortable living, as compared to conventional buildings, is a green building. Green building design is the practical and climate conscious approach to building design which ensures minimum harm to the environment, while constructing and using the building. When a number of green buildings are located in proximity, they would create a green zone, which can provide much healthier environment and minimise heat-island effect. With this background, the scheme on Energy Efficient Solar or Green Building was implemented during for rest of the 12 th Plan. Solar Energy System India received solar radiation equivalent to more than 5,000 trillion kwh/year, which is far more than its annual energy requirement. The radiation vailable can be used for thermal and photovoltaic applications. Solar water heating technology is most widely used in the country. However, solar steam generating and air heating technologies and energy efficient solar buildings can be used in urban areas and industries. Among solar photovoltaic technologies, there are some devices/ systems such as solar lanterns, solar home systems, solar street lights, solar pumps, solar power packs, roof top SPV systems etc which can be used in rural and urban areas to reduce burden on conventional fuels. What is innovation if not our ticket to every business interest in the world? It's the ticket to solving the world's problems - the energy problems, the pollution problems, the global warming problems. If it isn't for science and engineering, how will we compete in the new world? David Pogue 7 P a g e 7 Page

8 Akshay Urja Shops To make solar energy products easily available and to provide easy after sales repair services MNRE was promoting the establishment of Aditya Solar Shops in major cities of the country since During the 9th Plan period, shops were established by the State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) or Manufacturer s Associations and reputed NGOs. During the 10th Plan period, private entrepreneurs have also been allowed to establish these shops. Under the present scheme, the shops are renamed as Akshay Urja Shops with a view to cover wider sale and service of all renewable energy devices and systems including solar energy products. Focus on New Technologies The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken up various programs on New Technologies including Hydrogen Energy, Chemical Sources of Energy (Fuel Cell), Battery Operated Vehicles, Geo Thermal Energy and Ocean Energy. As part of these programmes, research, development and demonstration projects have been initiated at various research, scientific and educational institutes, universities, national laboratories, industry, etc. These projects are helping in the development of indigenous research and industrial base, expertise, trained manpower and prototypes/devices/systems in the country. Government is running Information and Public Awareness Programme to disseminate information on new and renewable sources of energy through verities of media. However, there is a need of more extensive awareness drives to promote and create awareness about various technologies available in the country to curb the air pollution along with various schemes which will help each individual to make use of the available resources and protect their health from dangerous effects of air pollution. All queries and feedback regarding this newsletter should be addressed to: Dr. Gufran Beig ENVIS-Coordinator Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune , India Telephone: , Fax: iitm-env@nic.in Website: & Page PPage a g e