Background of Energy Conservation
As a thumb rule, the energy needs of a country are about 1.5 times its GDP or the economic growth rate. India's projected growth rate up to the year 2012 is about 8%. This necessitates commensurate needs of power. You will study in previously that coal reserves could last for about 200 years, but about 73% coal cannot be used because of its high ash content. Our known oil and natural gas reserves are meager and may last for only 20 years or so. Our oil imports are already very high and dependence on further imports is bound to affect our economy and energy security.
This scenario warrants a firm thrust on
1. Improving energy efficiencies in new generation capacities, supply side, demand side and end-user side; and
2. Lowering the energy intensity in our economy.