Biomass Conversion: Untapped Reservoir of Clean Energy?

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India is known as an acknowledged leader in conversion of solid biomass into clean of up to 500 to 600 kW capacity are eminently suited for off-grid electricity supply in our rural areas. A number of projects have already been initiated with private sector participation for supply of 6 to 8 hrs electricity daily through gasification for domestic lighting and 6 to 8 hrs for other commercial activities like water pumping for irrigation purposes and to micro enterprises and telecom towers.

A Cheap, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Source

Projects are being carried out in Araria and Purnea districts of Bihar – where Daincha/Ipomoea, maize residues and hardwood ensure perennial supply of feedstock. Rice husk based power gen-units in the villages of West Champaran district in Bihar have been lighting up around 700 households spread over 20 villages in the district, and changing the profile of cluster altogether.

The West Champaran experiment is supported by the Ministry and implemented by Husk Power System (HPS), an NGO. The technology employed is simple: It uses the husk based gasifier technology to provide electricity using 32kWe ‘mini power plants’ that deliver power on a ‘pay-for-use’ basis to households in rice producing belt of India. The price paid to procure electricity generated by these mini power plants is very low, Rs 2 per day per household, located within a radius of 1.5 km.

Kerosene Consumption Reduced by Two Thrids

It results in a reduction of consumption of kerosene by as much as two thirds. Power is supplied from 5 pm till midnight each day. Success of this initiative has led to further planning for installation of such plants in Samastipur and Lakhisarai.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has now plans to take up the rice husk based electricity systems on a ‘Mission Mode’. It has enormous potential and even some of the larger rice mills can feed power to grid as well as distribute locally. More than 5000 to 10,000 industries can be benefitted in the next two to three years. These systems can lead to saving diesel to the tune of 200 to 250 million litres annually.

The conversion of biomass to fuel or energy also has huge advantages for urban areas. – in fact the same procedures could be used to convert urban wastes as well, insiders believe... More about ths exciting opportunity on page 6!

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