The Study IAS

Tag: Energy Security

  • Anti-Dam Protests Against the Upper Siang Hydropower Project

    Context: Two anti-dam activists from Arunachal Pradesh were preventively detained on July 8, ahead of the Union Power Minister’s visit. Activists claimed they intended only to submit a memorandum regarding the contentious Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage Project.

     

    Upper Siang Project Details:

    • Project Capacity: Proposed 11,000 MW hydropower project.
    • Location: On the Siang river in Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

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    India is aiming to raise its hydroelectric power  potential 42GW to 67 GW by 2031-32.

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    • River Path: Siang originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet as Tsangpo, flows 1,000 km, bends around Namcha Barwa peak, and enters Arunachal Pradesh as Siang.It is the principal constituent of the Brahmaputra River and is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China, where it is joined by the Dibang and Lohit rivers in India.
    • Government Proposal: In 2017, the government proposed replacing two projects (Siang Upper Stage-I 5,500 MW and Siang Upper Stage-II 3,750 MW) with a single multi-purpose project of higher capacity.
    • Construction: The project, to be built by NHPC, would include a 300-metre high dam, the largest in the subcontinent.
    • Existing Projects: As per a 2022 report by the Central Electrical Authority, the Siang river basin has 29 hydroelectric projects (installed capacity over 25 MW) totaling 18,326 MW.
    • Project Contribution: The Upper Siang project’s capacity is roughly 60% of the total installed capacity of existing projects.

     

     

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    Strategic Importance:

    • Counter to China: The project is seen as a strategic counter to China’s hydropower projects on the Tsangpo, particularly the 60,000 MW ‘super dam’ in Tibet’s Medog county.
    • Water Reservoir: The Upper Siang project is intended to act as a reservoir to counter potentially reduced water flow from China’s projects.

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    Environmental and Social Concerns:

    • Environmental Impact: Concerns about the project’s impact on delicate ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.
    • Displacement: The project is expected to submerge more than 300 villages of the Adi tribe, including Yingkiong, the Upper Siang district headquarters.
    • Cultural Heritage: The Siang and its tributaries are vital to the livelihoods, cultural practices, and sustenance of local tribes, and they pose a threat to their way of life.
    • Concerns on National Interest Framing: Activists are wary of framing the project as a national security issue, citing the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act which exempts strategic projects within 100 km from borders from clearance.
    • Activist Statement: The activist highlighted the displacement issue, stating that there is no viable relocation area due to the harsh conditions uphill.

     

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    Hydroelectric Power Overview

     

    • Hydroelectric energy, also called hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a waterfall—to generate electricity.
    • The potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as water flows downhill.
    • Major Hydroelectric Projects in India:
      • Tehri Hydroelectric Power Plant: Bhagirathi River, Uttarakhand.
      • Koyna Hydroelectric Project: Maharashtra. 
      • Sri Sailam Dam: Andhra Pradesh.
      • Sardar Sarovar Dam: Navagam, Gujarat.

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  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy Analysis Reveals Insights into Solid-State Battery Degradation

    Context: Researchers from HZB and Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, have developed a new method using photoelectron spectroscopy at BESSY II to monitor electrochemical reactions in solid-state batteries, as reported in ACS Energy Letters. 

    • This approach aims to enhance battery materials and design by providing detailed insights into operational processes.

     

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    Photoelectron Spectroscopy

    • PES is an analytical technique that uses ultraviolet light (UV) or X-rays to ionise electrons in a sample. 
    • The energy and number of the emitted photoelectrons are measured to determine the electronic structure and chemical composition of the material.
    • There are two main types of PES: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS)

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    Key Highlights

    • A team has devised a novel method to examine electrochemical reactions occurring at the interface between a solid electrolyte and electrode with exceptional temporal resolution.
    • They investigated samples of the solid electrolyte Li6PS5Cl, recognised as a leading candidate for solid-state batteries due to its high ionic conductivity.
      • They utilised an ultra-thin layer of nickel, approximately 30 atomic layers thick or 6 nanometers, as the working electrode. 
      • On the opposite side of the Li6PS5Cl pellet, a film of lithium was applied to function as the counter electrode.
    • Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) was employed to monitor reactions at the interface in real-time to observe the formation of an interlayer (SEI) and analyse the chemical evolution during battery operation.
    • The study revealed that decomposition reactions at the interface were only partially reversible, contributing to reduced battery longevity.

     

     

     

    Challenge: Solid-state batteries use a solid ion conductor between the battery electrodes, allowing lithium ions to move during charging and discharging. 

    • Unfortunately, decomposition products and interphases form at the interfaces between the electrolyte and the electrode. 
    • These hinder lithium ion transport and lead to active lithium consumption, resulting in decreased battery capacity over charge cycles.

    About Solid-state batteries 

    • A solid-state battery is essentially battery technology that uses a solid electrolyte instead of liquid electrolytes which are instead behind lithium-ion technology.
    • They are safer because they are less susceptible to fires.
    • They can be charged more quickly.
    • They are more energy dense which means they can store more energy in a smaller and lighter package.
    • Their limited lifespan remains a challenge.

     

    Implications and Future Directions: By understanding these processes, researchers can improve battery materials and design. The findings pave the way for longer-lasting, more efficient solid-state batteries.

     

     

    [stextbox id=’info’]The lithium-ion batteries that we rely on in our phones, laptops and electric cars have a liquid electrolyte, through which ions flow in one direction to charge the battery and the other direction when it is being drained.[/stextbox]