RAJIV GANDHI URJA BHAWAN, NEW DELHI

1.1.

INTRODUCTION
India has 17% of the worlds population, but only about 0.8% of the worlds
known oil and natural gas resources.
The power generating capacity has to increase to 400,000 MW by the year
2030 from the current 130,000 MW in India.
Dr. Abdul Kalam'
s goals for energy independence are that by 2030 the
sources of energy should be as follows :
hydel capacity - 80,000 MW
large-scale solar energy farms - 55,000 MW
wind energy - 64,000 MW
nuclear power plants - 50,000 MW
solid bio mass, bio fuel and municipal waste - 15,000 MW
The demand for energy in all sectors, that is, domestic, transportation,
agriculture, industry, etc., is increasing day by day.
The government is paying focused attention to the development and
deployment of renewable energy systems and devices in the country as is
clear from the introduction of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The National Common Minimum Programme has committed to develop our
renewable energy potential.
Bharat Nirman program looks to combine power generation through thermal,
hydro etc., replace diesel with bio-fuels in agricultural pump-sets and tractors,
hi-tech biomass gasification for cooking and lighting, and develop frontier
technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells.
Indias sustained economic development is vitally dependent on the country'
s
energy security and on the simultaneous promotion of sustainable and
environment friendly energy technologies.
One of the most energy intensive sectors in India is the building sector.
Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhawan is a proposed project of ONGC which will house
the Energy Centre and Corporate offices of state-run Oil and Natural Gas
Corp'
s (ONGC) group of companies.
The new building is being constructed on a 36,340-square meter (9acre) plot.
The group companies -- ONGC, ONGC Videsh Ltd and Mangalore Refinery
and Petrochemical Ltd. will have their office here.
The Energy Centre to be housed in Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhawan will be a
National Institute for holistic Research in alternate energy sources beyond
Oil and Coal.

1.1.1. ONGC an OVERVIEW

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. is a govt. organisation with the govt.
having 70% shares, the rest being with the private players in the industry.
It is involved in oil & gas exploration and production and is the Numero Uno
Company in Asia in this field.
It also incorporates research and implementation of all possible sources of
energy production.
It is the only Company from India in the Fortune Magazines list of the Worlds
Most Admired Companies 2007.
It has been ranked as the most respected Public Enterprises in India.
It maintains top rank among Indian companies in terms of profits.
The company now has participation in 38 projects in 18 countries.

1.1.2.

URGENCY OF THE SITUATION

Economic growth is desirable for developing countries, and energy is

essential for economic growth.
India would need commensurate input of energy, mainly commercial energy in
the form of coal, oil, gas and electricity to achieve the targeted growth in GDP.
Indias fossil fuel reserves are limited.
The known reserves of oil and natural gas may last hardly for 18 and 26 years
respectively at the current reserves to production ratio.
In the business as usual scenario, the exploitable coal may last for about less
than 100 years.

1.2.

LOCATION & POTENTIALITY OF THE SITE

New Delhi is the National Capital, and houses innumerable corporate offices
and research centres of varied fields facilitates.
The work culture of Delhi combined with its excellent infrastructural facilities
favours the growth within the city.
The site is located on the 30m wide Nelson Mandela road in Phase-II of
Vasant Kunj Malls, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
It is one of the posh locales lying in the south of the national capital.
The site shares its approach road with the corporate offices of Bharti and
Maruti and three high end malls, one being the Ambi Mall and the other two
belonging to DLF, namely DLF Place & DLF Emporio.
It also has two five star hotels, Hotel Grand and Vasant Continental within a
range of one kilometre.
A bio-diversity park, well known PVR Priya complex, and Jawaharlal Nehru
University or JNU are in a range of a kilometre of the site.

Google Earth image of the site

Location Plan

1.2.1. TRANSPORTATION
From

Distance (km)

Time
(minutes)

Mode of
Transport

International Airport
Domestic Airport
Railway Station
Connaught Place

08
12
18
18

15
20
35
35

Car
Car
Car
Car

The site

Site

1.3

Approach road

VALIDITY OF THE PROJECT

The world is gradually moving towards sustainable energy use and RE
(renewable energy) sources are becoming the order of the day.
The country needs to develop a sustainable path of energy development.
Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of RE sources are the
twin planks of a sustainable energy supply.
Enough importance is not being accorded to R&D in the field of renewable
energy technologies, especially in making them affordable.
In the fast growing city like Delhi & NCR, it has become all the more
necessary to encourage energy conservation and prevent haphazard
development.
The government also encourages the construction of such kind of buildings by
providing them with some concessions.

Tender Notice, Times of India, 26/12/08

1.3.1. ENERGY DEMAND AND SUPPLY

70% of the total petroleum product demand is being met by imports, imposing
a heavy burden on foreign exchange (Rs.80, 000 crores per year).
Country is also facing electric Power Shortages.
Additional 100,000 MW required by 2012.
The per capita consumption in India is too low as compared to developed
countries (just 4% of USA and 20% of the world average).
The per capita consumption is targeted to grow to about 1000 kWh per year
by 2012.

1.3.2. INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES

Each country has renewable-energy related policies and programmes.
Germany - renewable energy from wind (47.9%), biomass (28.6%).
UK
2.67% of the power is produced by the renewable whereas gas is the
main source of power generation.
The country has specified a RO (Renewable Obligation), primarily to
ensure that licensed suppliers procure a certain percentage of power
from renewable sources.
Texas, USA - the contribution of RE is 1% of the total power generated; gas
being the predominant resource (49%).
China
It produces most of its power from coal (75%).
Renewable Energy Law offers financial incentives and discounted
lending and tax preference for renewable energy projects.
Economic incentive policies, such as lesser import duties, purchase
price incentives, low interest loans, and subsidies for promotion of
RETs (renewable energy technologies).
Thailand - the major renewable energy source is gas (69%).
Vietnam
It produces 59% of RE from hydro resources.
They have set a renewable energy action plan programme to support
an acceleration of renewable electricity production.
Sri Lanka
The main source of electricity is thermal power (76%).
Mini Hydro is the main RE source and accounts for 3% of the total
power generation.

1.4.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhawan will undertake holistic research in all forms of clean and
renewable energy sources. The research centre would develop alternate energy
sources so as to approach the issue of energy security in a truly comprehensive and
sustainable manner.

1.4.1. DESIGN OBJECTIVES

To design an office building:
which reflect the modern and technological nature of functions housed in the
complex and at the same time do justice to the surrounding context.
which not only is the prime instigator towards the development of that area
but hold the potential, to get absorbed into the fabric of the urbanized area
over time.
To create energy efficient and bio-climatically responsive, built form conducive
to the climatological requirement of Delhi.
The bioclimatic approach seeks better occupant comfort through the plan
form, the placement of building components and selection of building
materials for building skin.
To design a totally self-sufficient, working environment with modern
technologies, sub urban retail and dining amenities, recreational facilities
along with consolidated car parking to maximise natural landscape setting.

1.5.

SCOPE OF WORK

The proposed project is expected to have an office and research area of around
50,000 sq.mt. The plot area is 36,340 sq.mt or 9 acres. The building is to be
designed as a Green, Intelligent and Barrier-Free Building. The use of renewable
energy has to be promoted.
The components of the Urja Bhawan will be:

Work stations
Server room
IT room
Engg. Division
Marketing Division
Human Resources Division
Meeting rooms
Board room
Chambers for C.E.O, M.D, Directors etc.
Video Conference rooms
Media room

Library
Record room
Stationary store
Research centre
Tender rooms
Training rooms
Cafeteria
Entertainment zone
Gymnasium
Parking
Dispensary

1.6.

METHODOLOGY

CATEGORY

SEGMENTATION

Data Collection

background material involving the analysis

as per site, surrounding climate impact and
the building typology

Library Study

for space norms, standards for

various prototype projects

Literature Study

CII-Godrej Green Business

Centre, Hyderabad

Case Studies

TERI Retreat, Gurgaon ;PEDA

Chandigarh; Patni Computers
campus, Noida

Area program development

as per data collection & casestudies

Concept development

from the drawn inferences and

conclusions

Framing of requirements

with a rational approach of the

site, use and design

Final design solution

as per the above inferences