IANS

New Delhi, Jul 16: Around 25,000 MW of power, nearly six times what Delhi requires during peak hours, is being produced by private consumers and commercial units by burning diesel, which is affecting environment and contributing to climate change, a senior official said here Thursday.

"The continuing energy shortage is leading to an increasing use of diesel for power generation, whether in the industrial, commercial, retail or domestic sectors. It is estimated that this may be equivalent to 25,000 megawatt," New and Renewable Energy Secretary Deepak Gupta told a conference on climate change.

"There is also substantial use of kerosene for lighting in villages and small towns. Both are heavily subsidised and dangerous for the environment. Future economic growth of our country would be crucially dependent on the long-term availability of energy in increasing quantities from sources that are accessible, affordable, and environment friendly," he added.

The secretary also advised it is better to "invest in switching the energy system from existing fossil-based energy resources to renewables that are clean and environment friendly. Industry and business must innovate, manufacture, and operate under a new paradigm. Climate change must drive their decision making."

He said a lot of work is being done, but there is need to do much more.

"A new Mission on Energy Efficiency is to start focussing on the most energy intensive industrial sectors. But there are other important areas -- irrigation pumps, urban water supply systems, street lighting and lighting generally.

"We are trying to maximise the harnessing of hydro, biomass and wind power at the earliest. You may also have heard of our new scheme for roof top solar (panel) to mitigate daytime use of diesel. We hope to deliver 10 percent of the energy mix by 2020 from renewables," Gupta elaborated.