A X Esmeraldo Gomes
t is known that electric current flows through the path of a metallic conductor which has electrical resistance. The longer the transmission of this current, larger is such resistance mainly causing undue power losses which are continuous, ‘on – line’. To minimize these losses, the transmission is done at higher voltages such as 220 KV or above. If today 612 MW of power is being transmitted to Goa at (an assumed) voltage of 220 KV / 440 KV then the power losses for a distance of 250 kilometres transmission, are not negligible. These losses cause energy degradation as energy is dissipated to atmosphere in the form of heat, thus increasing unwanted global warming. This energy degradation is accounted as ‘ non-useful energy’ which needs to be billed by the generating stations for the energy generated even though it is transferred to the atmosphere. Who will pay for this electrically-lost-heat –converted-energy? Obviously the end user. In this case, Goa has to absorb the burden. One of the ways it is done is by adding the cost of this burden to the power generating cost and hence the supplying State enhances the energy – unit price payable by the end – user State ( in this case Goa) which in turn may pass on to the consumers.
In the past, there was no alternative but borrow power supply from the neighbouring States at the cost of power losses and power outages due to various component failures especially in monsoon season. Moreover, as witnessed in the past, Goa had to encounter and absorb the problems faced by these States as regards their generating station – problems, mostly hydro-electric, depending on the health of the seasonal monsoon. As for the electric unit pricing, Goa is at the receiving end to compromise and accept its increase as reasoned out by these States, based on their logic and work out. Development in Goa through industries, requires to augment maximum electric load demand which this in turn needs to be agreed/approved by the same power supplying States. These States many a times may prioritize their own needs thus opting to decline Goa’s request. So when other States can butt into the electric power stability of Goa, why now Goa governance wants to further increase the begging bowl?
The proposed Goa Tanmar Power Transmission Project, appears to be a copybook of existing transmission lines on live streams. If it is going to be at higher transmission voltage than existing ones, then apart from the various deficiencies pointed out above, there will be added maintenance and safety problems. Higher transmission voltage means larger number of insulator arrays, greater tower height, higher probability of flashing and high cost of components including transformers and protective equipment. One wonders whether a study is made of “Mean-Time-Between-Failures” (MTBF) on exiting live stream transmission lines, before arriving at such a costly duplication. This project appears to help more the power generating State where this transmission is going to be linked. Electric power augmentation in Goa is the need of the hour but definitely not by repeating the old philosophy of borrowing power which repeats the same old problems, environmental degradation, and high costs, without any spin off benefits.
When the headlines in the news media read that Goa does not intend to set up a power generating plant, it is time for technocrats, economists, sociologists, and environmentalists, to join hands to plead to the concern, that an out-of-the-box thinking is needed to solve the perennial electrical power problems by installing a state-of-art modern power plant with high efficiency, zero power outages, complete pollution control and elimination of transmission power losses. The spin-off benefits of such plants are: employment; supporting plants such as desalination plants and water treatment plants which in turn create further employment; income to the government of power tariff charges. Such plants shall not only outlive many Goan generations, but also invite industries to flower across Goa for greener pastures. As for its gestation period, if our Fatorda football ground was built in record time, thanks to the dedication of the then Sports Minister, the complete infrastructure of the power plant, up to the point of commissioning can be built within three years time; incidentally the same period needed for imported power through the proposed transmission line project.
A natural gas based power station is an obvious choice for Goa as the natural gas pipe line is now available. Natural gas has high calorific value and is a much cleaner fuel with minimum pollution where pollutants can be controlled much below the permissible limits. Gas-based turbo generators, together with steam-based turbo-generators, run in tandem, shall supply electricity at all times, including under climatic calamities as witnessed in Goa in the past. To minimise the dependence of natural water, water-desalination plants shall improve water availability not only to the suggested power plant but also for other uses, especially by the industries. One may not invoke to ‘rain-gods’ at least to get electricity. A nuclear power generating station is not suggested here, due to the apprehension of nuclear fallout, even though this apprehension is presently remote; as such modern nuclear plants have highest degree of safety against radiation.
It appears to be superfluous that the State of Goa, instead of aiming to be self-reliant in power generation, wants to further borrow the power through the transmission lines, expecting to further our dependence on other States. Or is it that, extraneous agencies are more powerful to dump surplus power on us? The need of the hour is consciousness to enhance the vision of self-reliance, of job creation and of environmental protection before one thinks to pursue such a project withdefects as mentioned above.
(The author is a retired engineer.)
