Greenpeace New Delhi, Jun 13 The use of sewage water to meet cooling needs of coal-based power plants will not resolve the conflict over water between thermal projects, farmers and urban communities, a Greenpeace India report said today.
In 2016, the government had made mandatory the utilisation of treated wastewater for coal power plants located within 50 km of a sewage treatment facility.
"Switching from fresh water to sewage will not reduce the impact of coal power plants on water scarcity in the country," the report, titled ‘Pipe Dreams’, said.
The report said that another solution is timely adoption of the water consumption target set for power plants by the environment ministry in its notification, dated December 7, 2015.
It recommended that all permits for new coal plants must be halted, as they are in any event not required at least till 2027, per the Central Electricity Authority’s draft National Electricity Plan.
The treated sewage policy was meant to tackle this problem, but GIS-based analysis shows that less than eight per cent (18 GW) of the country’s coal plants can actually utilise treated sewage water, about 87 per cent (200 GW) of the plants have no access to treated sewage water at all, making the efficacy of the policy questionable.
"Speedy adoption of the new water consumption targets will also help alleviate the crisis," said Jai Krishna, Greenpeace researcher and the author of the report.
The report also found that those power plants that are able to use treated sewage could see a 300-600 per cent increase in water costs, apart from hundreds of crores in capital investments for treatment facilities.
The resulting costs will be included in the tariff, increasing the burden on distribution companies and consumers, the report said.
Coal power plants require as much as 3.5 litres of water for each unit of power generated and the 230 GW of coal power plants included in this analysis would need about 19 billion litres of water each day for their operations.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Lessons Learned and Issues for Congress. Click on the graphics to enlarge them. Summary The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. RGGI involves nine states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The RGGI cap-and-trade system applies only to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electric power plants with capacities to generate 25 megawatts or more—approximately 168 facilities. The RGGI emissions cap took effect January 1, 2009, based on an agreement signed by RGGI governors in 2005. The results of the RGGI program may be instructive to policymakers. Several of RGGI’s design elements generated considerable interest during the development and debate of federal proposals to address GHG emissions. In particular, the program’s emissions cap has received particular attention. When the original cap took effect in 2009, it did not compel regulated entities to make internal emission reductions or purchase emission credits from other sources. Several factors led to this outcome: RGGI’s cap design, an economic downturn, and a substantial shift to less carbon intensive fuels. For instance, in 2005, RGGI states generated 33% of…

Kampala — Uganda’s electricity exports to Kenya grew 300 per cent in the four months to April as drought cut the neighbouring country’s local generation of hydro-electric power by 347 million kilowatt hours.
Kenya imported 92.3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) from Uganda in the four months compared to 13.66 million units in the same period last year – marking a 302 per cent growth, according to official data.
This is a departure from last year when Kenya cut by half electricity imports from Uganda following the injection of the additional 280 megawatts geothermal power to the national grid a year earlier.
But the drought, which follows low rainfall during the October and November rainy season, has left at least 1.3 million people in need of food aid and driven down water levels in dams.
Around 910 million kWh of the energy supplied to the Kenyan grid came from hydropower in the four months, down from 1.25 billion units in the same period last year.
The supply shortfall was plugged by increased intake of imports and expensive diesel-fired electricity.
Kenya has a direct electricity transmission line connecting with Uganda via Tororo, enabling bulk power imports.
Kenya bought 870,000 units of power from Ethiopia in the first quarter, up from 740,000 units in a similar period last year.
Official data shows that Kenya’s electricity exports to Uganda fell 95 per cent to 740,000 units in the four months, reversing a trend where the exports have been rising.
Uganda has been exporting electricity to Kenya under an agreement signed during colonial times but renegotiated at Uganda’s insistence in 1997.

Water scarcity grips Gaza.
After the economical siege, the continuous military threats from the Israeli occupation forces and with no power supply, the people of Gaza are living in tough conditions; however, international reports are discussing Israel’s attempts to limit water supply.
Last week’s shutdown of Gaza’s only functioning power plant creates even more urgency, with the water utility warning that it does not have the fuel to run water and sanitation facilities when the power is off.
Almost 3,000 items needed to build infrastructure to meet the demand for water and sanitation are still waiting for approval to enter through the mechanism, which requires Israeli approval of projects as well as individual items.
Recent research by Oxfam found that just 16% of items submitted for approval through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) for the water sector have actually made it into Gaza, a damning success rate that mirrors the dynamics of the blockade itself.
In the wake of the devastation in Gaza in 2014, the UN brokered an agreement — the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) — between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel, so construction materials could enter Gaza more easily.
This has helped repair most of the water and sanitation infrastructure that was damaged almost three years ago.
The Water Authority in Gaza warned of the gravity of the electricity crisis on the water and sanitation system in the Gaza Strip and stressed that the repeated power outages foreshadow a real crisis.
If funding for fuel is not secured immediately, Gaza’s 14 public hospitals will be forced to partially or completely close essential services, putting thousands of patient lives at risk, according to the World Health Organisation.
The spokesperson of the health ministry said the Palestinian hospitals are in a dire situation due to the power and fuel shortage which led to operating the second level of generators in hospitals.

Water scarcity grips Gaza.
After the economical siege, the continuous military threats from the Israeli occupation forces and with no power supply, the people of Gaza are living in tough conditions; however, international reports are discussing Israel’s attempts to limit water supply.
Last week’s shutdown of Gaza’s only functioning power plant creates even more urgency, with the water utility warning that it does not have the fuel to run water and sanitation facilities when the power is off.
Almost 3,000 items needed to build infrastructure to meet the demand for water and sanitation are still waiting for approval to enter through the mechanism, which requires Israeli approval of projects as well as individual items.
Recent research by Oxfam found that just 16% of items submitted for approval through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) for the water sector have actually made it into Gaza, a damning success rate that mirrors the dynamics of the blockade itself.
In the wake of the devastation in Gaza in 2014, the UN brokered an agreement — the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) — between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel, so construction materials could enter Gaza more easily.
This has helped repair most of the water and sanitation infrastructure that was damaged almost three years ago.
The Water Authority in Gaza warned of the gravity of the electricity crisis on the water and sanitation system in the Gaza Strip and stressed that the repeated power outages foreshadow a real crisis.
If funding for fuel is not secured immediately, Gaza’s 14 public hospitals will be forced to partially or completely close essential services, putting thousands of patient lives at risk, according to the World Health Organisation.
The spokesperson of the health ministry said the Palestinian hospitals are in a dire situation due to the power and fuel shortage which led to operating the second level of generators in hospitals.

Report: Drought increased California’s electricity costs by $2.45 billion.
(KGTV)–California’s latest drought lead to an increase in electricity costs in the billions of dollars and contributed to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new report released today by the Pacific Institute.
The report assessed the costs of lost hydro-electricity to California during the severe, five-year drought and found: An increase in electricity costs of $2.45 billion Ten percent boost in carbon dioxide emissions from California power plants "The recent drought was the driest and hottest in 120 years of instrumental records and one of the worst in California history, and it had impacts on all water users including farmers, industries, cities and natural ecosystems," report author Peter Gleick said.
"And, in fact, all California ratepayers were affected by the drought as they paid for electricity that was both dirtier and more expensive than in non-drought years."
The loss of hydroelectricity during the drought led to the additional combustion of fossil fuels for electric generation, the report claims.
Carbon dioxide emissions are the leading cause of climate change.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer.
Follow her @10NewsSandy

It increased electricity bills statewide by $2.45 billion and boosted levels of smog and greenhouse gases, according to a new study released Wednesday.
“The drought has cost us in ways we didn’t necessarily anticipate or think about.
From 1983 to 2013, an average of 18 percent of California’s in-state electricity generation came from hydroelectric power.
In the driest year, 2015, hydroelectric power made up just 7 percent of the electricity generated in California.
Although solar and wind power increased during the drought years, grid operators and other power managers still needed to boost electricity from natural gas-fired power plants.
He noted that in other dry years, hydroelectric power decreases and it has to be made up with other types of electricity.
The overall cost in higher power bills, $2.45 billion over five years, works out to be about $12 per person in California per year, or $60 during the entire drought, he said.
Ominously, 2014 was the hottest year ever recorded in California since modern temperature records were first taken in the late 1800s.
Then that record for statewide average temperature was broken in 2015.
Natural gas generated 60 percent, nuclear power 9 percent, hydroelectric power 7 percent and coal and other sources 1 percent.

“Unfortunately, a lot of this has become lost on people.” The Creation Care Alliance of WNC, a network of people of faith communities, formed in 2012 to work on practical solutions for protecting the earth, or caring for creation.
Some are instituting trash recycling and food waste composting, updating HVAC systems changing out old incandescent lightbulbs to the more energy-efficient LED bulbs, planting vegetable gardens or even installing solar panels to reduce the reliance on coal plants for electricity.
“Doing these things for environmental justice as a congregation strengthens that, the community, the parishioners, and the earth.” Some faith communities are just getting started in environmentally friendly practices, since the first Earth Day in 1970.
Hardin-Nieri said environmental awareness has been slow in part because faith communities are involved in so many aspects of life.
“I am seeing more congregations engage us through that lens.” Jane Laping, a retired research scientist and member of First Presbyterian Church on Church Street downtown, said the “Green Team started about eight years ago.
They started a community garden eight years ago in front of the church, for all passersby to see.
Last month the church started working with McDonald’s to compost their coffee grounds to use in the garden.
These gardens contain wetland, bog and water-tolerant plants and in the lower gardens they have planted drought-resistant plants to lessen the need for watering.
He called for an “ecological conversion” for the faithful.
In the first year, using renewable energy from the sun, the church generated $6,912 worth of electricity, 30 percent of its yearly bill.

Global Market for Distributed Energy Generation, 2017-2021: Focus on Each Major Technology and their Market Potential Over the Next Five Years.
The Global Market for Distributed Generation Technologies is Expected to Increase from Nearly $69.7 Billion in 2016 to $109.5 Billion in 2021 at a CAGR of 9.5% The scope of this investigation includes all major viable DG technologies as well as an abbreviated assessment of potentially viable and emerging DG technologies.
Each technology is analyzed to determine its current market status and examine its impact on future markets and the report presents forecasts of growth over the next five years.
Technological issues, including the latest trends, and the industry’s current and projected regulatory environment are assessed and discussed.
The global industry is analyzed from both a manufacturing and an implementation point of view and examines government roles including regulatory support and requirements, feed-in tariffs and promotional incentives for various DG technologies.
Estimated market values presented in the market chapter are based on manufacturers’ total revenues.
Projected and forecasted revenue values are in constant U.S. dollars unadjusted for inflation.
Report Highlights An overview of the global market for distributed energy generation.
Analysis of the market’s dynamics, including growth drivers, inhibitors, and opportunities.
Key Topics Covered: 1: Introduction 2: Summary 3: Overview – Distributed Energy And Distributed Generation – Renewable Energy And Distributed Energy Generation – A Brief History Of Distributed Energy Generation – Distributed Electricity Uses – Advantages And Drawbacks Of Distributed Electricity Generation – Distributed Energy Generation Technologies And Applications 4: Regulatory Support And Incentives For Distributed Generation – U.S. Regulatory Support And Incentives – International Regulatory Support And Incentives – Europe – International Regulatory Support And Incentives – Asia And Australia – International Regulatory Support And Incentives – South America 5: Industry Structure And Major Market – Industry Structure – Major Markets Overview 6: Company Profiles – Microturbines – Small Combustion Turbine Manufacturers – Microhydropower Manufacturers – Reciprocating Engine Manufacturers – Fuel Cell Manufacturers – Photovoltaic Systems Manufacturers And Market Participants – Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers 7: Market Assessment And Analysis – Scope Of Market Analysis – Microturbines – Small Combustion Turbines – Small Hydropower – Reciprocating Engines – Fuel Cells – Photovoltaic Systems – Small Wind Turbines – Overview Of The Distributed Generation Market 8: Appendices 9: Reference Companies Mentioned – Aeolos – Alm Turbine – Ansaldo Turbec – Asian Phoenix – Ballard – Bergey Windpower Co. – Bladon Jets – Bloom Energy – Canadian Solar – Canyon Hydro – Capstone Turbine Corp. – Cargo Kraft Turbin Sverige AB – Caterpillar – Cellkraft – Conergy – Cummins Power Generation Inc. – Deutz AG – Doosan Fuel Cell – Electrochem Inc. – Fairbanks Morse Engine – First Solar Inc. – Flexenergy – Fortis Wind Energy – Fuchun Industry Development Co. Ltd., Shenzhen – Fuel Cell Energy – GCL Poly Energy Holdings Limited

Sen. Kennedy Leads Development of ‘Cow Power’.
From The Office of Senator Ted Kennedy: Connecticut’s dairy farmers could soon become the newest alternative energy producers, thanks to an innovative “Cow Power” initiative promoted by State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr., Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Environment Committee.
Passing unanimously out of the Committee, the Cow Power bill, SB 999, promotes the use of cow manure as a renewable energy source through the process of anaerobic digestion.
“‘Cow Power’ is a term for the conversion of cow manure into electricity, enabling farmers to make money by adding a new, desperately-needed source of farm revenue,” said Senator Kennedy.
This can allow farmers to assign surplus energy production from their generator to other metered accounts at retail, not lower wholesale, prices.
“Farm-based anaerobic digesters now number over 250 nationwide and have already become significant sources of electricity in places such as Lancaster County, PA and Vermont.
In addition to becoming a valuable and diversified source of electricity, anaerobic digesters solve many other problems, such as eliminating farm odor, reducing manure-based water pollution, and creating a by-product that is non-toxic and pathogen-free that can be used or sold as animal bedding or fertilizer,” said Senator Kennedy.
“We need to cut through the red tape, streamlining and simplifying Connecticut’s permitting process to accelerate this technology and save our farms.” SB 999, which will initially establish a pilot program for 3 farms in Connecticut, is welcome news for Connecticut’s farmers.
“In addition to generating electricity, installing agricultural anaerobic digesters destroys methane and reduces overall carbon emissions, making it outperform other Zero-Rec emitting technologies.” The goal of the pilot program is also to identify the best technologies, examine economic risks, and modernize Connecticut’s future digester permitting pathway.
Image Via Pixabay