Breeze Beaches - The Energy Source

 Have you ever gazed out at a field of windmills, their blades pirouetting by the melodies of the winds? These modern giants are at the forefront of renewable energy, harnessing the power of the wind and converting it into clean energy.

However, there is a catch.

These machines are massive and require consistent winds to produce consonant electricity.

Hence, open areas, and massive winds are the two requirements for wind farms. In the diverse landscape of India, two places come to mind; Deserts and oceans. Deserts, however, are plagued by sand storms and unpredictable speeds of winds.

So the ideal solution is to place the windmills in the massive blue oceans? How? And why?

A.P.J Abdul Kalam, during his presidency, mentioned on various occasions, the potential of harnessing the consistent sea breezes for the growth of the clean energy sector in India. India has a massive coastline of about 7,500 km, giving opportunities for multiple business ventures to construct windmill projects in the ocean.

Such windmills in the ocean go by the term, “off-shore wind farms”. They are usually located in shallow waters, 0-50m in depth, or even further into the ocean on artificial platforms. Generally larger in size than on-shore (land) wind farms, they are capable of producing roughly 20-25% more energy in comparison. Over time, this amount of energy adds up, commemorating the sustainability of these projects in the long run. 

The construction of these off-shore projects, however, is a lengthy process. It involves specialised machinery to help establish the turbines, and the marine cables connecting them to power grids on land. Access to ports is also an important aspect of construction, seeing the requirement of ships to transport the machinery and the turbines to the construction site regularly. This among other reasons is why there are no active off-shore wind farms in India.

What about its success in other countries?

Many countries in Europe, such as the UK, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany, alongside China and the USA, are examples where off-shore wind projects are well established, making a significant contribution to their energy consumption. In the year 2023, the turbines in the UK alone generated enough electricity to power 50% of all UK homes. China has the most total offshore wind farms in operation, adding more capacity at a speedy pace.

So why is India reluctant to invest in this project? We have accessible ports, an ever-increasing budget in expenditure and a dire need for more and more electricity as time passes. It might be due to the growth of two other ways of harnessing energy.

·         Pumped Hydro Storage

·         Nuclear Power

A brief description of the working of Pumped Hydro Storage - Link

Pumped hydro storages are being prioritised because they act as an energy backup. When the water reaches the upper reservoir, the energy can be reserved until required. Only when the water flows down will the energy be released. This is often paired with dams, where it acts as the backup of energy when the main river is not as ferocious. Thus naturally, it is being prioritised in such areas, where there are acute shortages of energy and there is a sumptuous supply of water.

There is, however, a factor we do not consider in such circumstances. The geographical advantage posed in the coastal regions. In the majority of the coastal regions, especially on the Western coast of India, the seashore is accompanied by the mighty western ghats which pose as the PERFECT location for the reserve batteries. There is no water shortage in the region, there is a perfect elevation of the mountains and most importantly it is right next to a renewable energy source, the off-shore wind projects.

When accompanied by the mighty turbines, these batteries turn into the best example of green energy production in history. While the turbines can generally generate enough to power the coastal regions and beyond, the pumped hydro storages act as backup sources of electricity which can generate and supply electricity at times of weak winds or heavy demand.

This symbiotic connection can be a formidable factor in the production and growth of all coastal regions. Thus it might not be right to shun away the prospect of off-shore wind projects as an invalid source of energy in India, at least for now.  

All hail the king of green production, the nuclear power plants. No turbines, no batteries can ever beat the production capacity of these big guns. And unlike in the past, these are no longer as dangerous as once proclaimed, posing a safe, sustainable and green source of energy for ages to come. Well, at least until we aren’t depleted of uranium.

While these plants are undoubtedly the main source of energy for ages to come, they haven’t yet reached every nook and corner of the country. Burning of coal and fossil fuels is still the number one option in the country. And unfortunately, the condition will remain the same for a while, because their cost is so high they make the off-shore projects look like a school exhibition.

 India has got a long way to go, to reach green production. And while nuclear energy might be the undisputed future, we need some solutions for the coming years, which can sustain our country while not relying on pollutants. Thus, the emphasis is on harnessing what is present, for the future.