34. Energy Security Through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

An energy policy package that will cover all sources of energy and will address all aspects like energy security, access and availability, affordability and pricing, efficiency and environment is needed. Energy security is addressing the total energy demand of a locality and search for solution that provide required energy based on local resources with energy production and distribution to be managed by local communities Biomass is best suited to provide energy access and security in a sustainable and environment friendly manner. Other fully commercial renewable energy resources such as hydro and wind can supplement it wherever possible. India's energy demands are increasing. It is the sign of a vibrant, growing economy. Growth is not an end in itself. It is a means to generate employment, banish poverty, hunger and homelessness and improve the standard of living of the mass of people. It must also be environmentally sustainable. What are our energy options? How do they affect our environment? How will they affect the price of our power bills? How much can we rely on them to supply our power needs? These are just some questions we need to address, to ensure that power cuts are not the way of the future. There is no single or quick fix solution. India is lucky that it has a lot of energy options to choose from and the solution is likely to be a balanced combination of all of them.