New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) A two-day Energy Summit that began here in the national capital on Tuesday, focused on reduction of carbon dioxide emission and cleaner uses of coal, a crucial domestic fossil fuel, if used intelligently, could help secure energy security.

“As we plan to bring in more alternative power in the Indian energy mix, it demands a need to create a balance in energy production through efficient but cleaner conventional power sources such as hydro and gas which are traditionally cleaner sources of energy,” said Power Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

However, these needed a push as they currently did not meet the required capacity requirements, he added. Thus coal based plants, which is a cheaper source of energy, continued to be in the power mix and this balance was being maintained by supplying the incremental power through alternative source of cleaner energy such as solar, he said.

The “12th India Energy Summit 2018”, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), provided a platform to the participants from the Energy industry to deliberate and exchange ideas on affordable and accessible power as well as smart integration of renewable energy, development of gas based transportation systems, pipeline grid and city gas distribution system.

Speaking at the summit, Anil Razdan, Former Power Secretary, and Chairman, ICC National Expert Committee on Energy said, “The Energy Summit is being held in the backdrop of India well on track to meet its green house gas (GHG) emissions intensity to GDP international commitment at Paris, and also in respect of non fossil fuel generating capacity, particularly in Solar PV. However, domestic manufacture of solar equipment is meeting a stiff challenge from imports."

He said there was a strong commitment and action to meet the almost two decade old resolve to achieve 100 per cent electrification of villages and households. The health of the electricity distribution sector at the state level continues to be a cause of major concern.

The conference was also addressed by Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC. The conference saw participation from major states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.

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