Trigeneration will define the next phase of low-carbon growth

The demand for energy in India, the world’s fastest growing major economy, is set to rise substantially as the country invests in infrastructure, urbanisation, and industrialisation. The rise in disposable income will also create a greater demand for energy services such as cooling, heating, and lighting. According to BP Energy Outlook, India’s share of global energy demand is projected to rise to 11 per cent in 2040 from 5 per cent in 2016. The International Energy Agency, in its India Energy Outlook 2015, predicted that the country’s energy use will more than double by 2040, reaching 1,900 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe).

As part of its nationally determined contributions, India has committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its gross domestic product by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level. Therefore, it becomes important to meet the rising energy demand with sustainable alternatives. A viable alternative is trigeneration technology, which simultaneously generates electricity, heating, and cooling energy from a single fuel input.

What is trigeneration technology? Trigeneration technology is a transformative cost-effective solution that enables localised, reliable and stable power supply, using a single fuel. This technology has been successful in international markets in enhancing operating efficiency of an industrial application by at least 60 per cent, saving industries and institutions 30-40 per cent in operating energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 per cent due to inherent efficiencies in energy generation. The technology has direct relevance to hotels, hospitals, airports, retail, office and integrated residential/commercial complexes that require all forms of building energy simultaneously. The Cogen/Trigen technology has potential of about 1.3% of the emission reduction potential targeted by 2030 under the Copenhagen accord.

At 60-80 per cent efficiency, trigeneration systems, which can use natural gas as fuel, are highly efficient and can be installed, started and stopped quickly. While in a conventional power system, about 70 per cent of the energy gets wasted in the process of conversion of the fuel into electricity, transmission and distribution, a trigeneration system ensures that bulk of these losses are recovered as useful energy.

Trigeneration systems will especially benefit one of India’s most energy-intense industries – buildings, which annually constitute over 30 per cent of the total electricity consumed in India annually. The gross electricity consumption in residential buildings, which in turn consume 75 per cent of all electricity consumed by all buildings in India, is projected to rise to 600-900 TWh by 2030.

The demand for air-conditioning, heating and electricity in these buildings and large institutions can be met by installing trigeneration systems that not only generate energy savings but also reduce carbon emissions. Residential complexes, and large commercial establishments, therefore, must adopt gas-based trigeneration to ensure simultaneous generation of power, heating and cooling while saving on their electricity bills and carbon emission.

A market assessment study on gas-based trigeneration and co-generation systems in India, prepared by Development Environergy Services Ltd, revealed that the existing unconstrained market potential for trigeneration in the building and industrial sector combined is 15,000 MW. The study, prepared for Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, stated that the market potential is projected around 30,000 MW in the next five years. However, the current installed capacity in India is less than 1,000 MW and operating capacity is no more than half of this.

As the availability of gas in India is expected to double between 2012 and 2030, with domestic supply projected up to 230 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter Per Day (MMSCMD), the prospects for trigeneration look bright. To further promote this technology, two state-owned companies — GAIL Gas and EESL – have signed an agreement to fast-track co-generation and tri-generation projects in the country. Moreover, the recent announcement by the Central government to invest Rs 70,000 crore to spread gas pipelines across the country will encourage the adoption of this technology.

Residential and commercial complexes in India can leverage this opportunity by mapping the potential of trigeneration in their operations. Deploying this solution will not only generate savings but also make our homes and industries environment-friendly.

The writer is Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL)