What is the role of energy in economic development of the country?

Energy is an important input for most of the production processes and consumption activities. Modern economic growth in all the countries of the world is associated with a massive use of energy. In the last fifty years, we have had more than four-fold increase in the total energy. In view of the limited potential of primary resources we have to conserve energy wherever and as much as possible. Plan expenditure on developmnet of energy sector has been rising from plan to plan. Present technology uses electricity extensively in production of goods and services. Agriculture has become heavily dependent on electricity for many of its operations. Our total installed capacity of generating power has increased from less than 1500 megawatt to over one lakh megawatt during the last 50 years.