Super-efficient laptop, high-speed electric car to be reality

A laptop that runs for 8 hrs without a recharge or a high-speed electric car covering around 300km in one fill may appear a distant dream for many. But, it would soon be a reality with India set to enter the highly competitive world of 'super-energy efficient' appliances. Chetan Chauhan reports.

A laptop that runs for eight hours without a recharge or a high-speed electric car covering around 300 km in one fill may appear a distant dream for many Indians. But, it would soon be a reality with India set to enter the highly competitive world of 'super-energy efficient' appliances.

The government would be announcing a global initiative on super energy efficiency after the success of promoting energy efficient appliances under the aegis of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

'The Prime Minister will make an investment announcement at the launch of the meeting of 23 energy ministers under the global Clean Energy Ministerial in Delhi on April 17,' a senior government official said.

World biggest carbon polluter -- the United States has launched this ministerial initiative and is seen as an attempt to undermine global climate change mitigation agreement, which is the Kyoto Protocol.

The US had refused to sign the protocol but want this parallel process to be part of United Nations post 2020 climate framework. Several least developed countries have resisted this elite club of 23 countries, who contribute 80% to global green house emissions. 'What's wrong if we can get something from the initiative without tweaking our policies at the cost of domestic players?' asked a senior government official.

One such gain, India expects is building its capacity for super-efficient energy appliances ranging from computers to electric cars to smart grids to solar-based electronic appliances.

'We have already decided to build only super critical thermal power plants which have efficiency of 30% to 40% as compared to conventional 25%,' another government official said. The BEE is already working on next generation energy efficient computer, air-conditioners, televisions and refrigerators. In the next four years, India aims to generate 30,000 MW from renewable sources, more than green energy capacity created in the last decade.

The ministerial dialogue aims at cooperation in 13 key climate friendly sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable cities, women in clean energy, green buildings and appliances.