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4/1/2015 Gasifierfailstodeliver|DownToEarth
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/1037 1/3
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ResidentsofKabbigerevillagetookloanstobuydrip
irrigationkits.Withbiomasspowerfailingthem,theyare
nowdefaultersonloanrepayment/Photographby
AparnaPallavi
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Gasifierfailstodeliver0Comments
Itisnotjusthighcapacitypowerplantsthatusebiomass.Villagesthatdonothavehopetogetelectricityfromthegrid.MinistryofPower'sprogrammecalledPowerforallby2012envisagespowergenerationutilizinglocallyavailableresources.Ministryestimatesthatabout
1,50,000villagesremainunelectrifiedinthecountryoutofwhicharound18,000villagescannotbelinkedtothegrid.
RemotevillageelectrificationprogrammebyMNREaimstoelectrifythese18,000villagesusingbiomassgasifiersandsolarphotovoltaic.Butoutof5,000villagesthathavebeenelectrifiedsince200203,only40villagesusegasifiers,remainingusesolarPVtechnology.
Toprovidedecentralizedpowertothesevillages,biomassgasificationisnotthepreferredroute."Biomassgasificationisconversionofsolidbiomassintoacombustiblegasmixturecalledproducergasthroughapartialcombustionroutewithlimitedairsupply.Typicalcompositionofproducergasincludeslargequanititesofnitrogen,hydrogen,carbonmonoxideandcarbondioxide,"explainsHSMukundaofIISc.Theproducergasisthenusedtopowergenerators.Mostcommonlyavailablegasifiersusewoodybiomasswhilematerialslikestraw,cottonstalk,coconutshells,soyahusk,deoiledcakes,coffeewaste,jutewastes,groundnutshells,sawdustcanalsobegasified.
Monitoringandgovernanceofbiomassgasifierpowerprojectsisaprobleminremotevillageelectrification.TheBiomassEnergyforRural
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4/1/2015 Gasifierfailstodeliver|DownToEarth
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India(BERI)pilotprojectisfundedjointlybyUNGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF),KarnatakagovernmentandIndiaCanadaEnvironmentFacility.Thefirstsuchplant,undertheproject,installedatKabbigerevillageinTumkurdistrictofKarnataka,closeddowntwomonthsagowithgrowingmaintenanceandrawmaterialtroubles.
Theplant,saysGPrabhu,projectcoordinatorforBiomassEnergyforRuralIndia(BERI),blamesvillage'upstarts',buttheplantsupervisorMansoorAhmadhasadifferentstorytotell.Theplanthasacapacityof500kW,butonJanuary12,2010,whentheoperationscloseddownforthelasttime,onlyoneunit,withacapacityof100kWh,wasoperational.
Theplanthasbeenriddledwithtechnicalproblemsrightfromthebeginning,saysAhmad.InJuly2007,whentheplantbecameoperational,thecontractwasgiventoprivatecompaniesbutinMarch2008,theGramPanchayatSamitihadtotakeupoperations.Afterthis,theplantremainedclosedrightthroughthebetterpartof2009,andafterlengthycheckingandrepairsproceduresbyscientistsfromtheIndianInstituteofScienceinBengaluru,theSamiti's100kWhunitbecameoperationalinNovember2009.
"Whiletheexpectedfuelconsumptionwas1.30kgperunitofelectricity,theplantswereactuallyconsuming23kgs,"saysplanttechnicianDharamPal.Meanwhile,discontenthadbeenbrewingamongtheagriculturallabourersfromthevillageoverthelackofaclearpolicyregardinglabourpaymentsduringclosures,whichinturnledtotherecentclosureoftheplant,sayAhmadandpanchayatsamitiassistantsecretaryMrSrinivas."ThepromisemadebyBERIofficials,nevermentionedlimitationsofthetechnology.Theplantcannotsupplyelectricityallthetime.Eachunithastostopafter1,000hoursofworkingformaintenance,"saysAhmad.Twomoregasifierplantswithcapacityof250kWheach,setupunderthesameprojectinnearbyvillagesSibineiahpalayaandBorigunte,alsoremainshutduetothesameproblemsbeingfacedbytheKabbigereplant,heinformed.Prabhusaidthatrecoveryoftariffsisalsodifficultatthevillagelevelsincethepowercannotbeprovidedfor24hours.
Whatismore,underBERI'sproject,microfinanceloansworthRs10lakhfordripirrigationwasdistributedtothevillagers."Itwasexpectedthatthe24hourelectricityfromtheprojectwouldenableustocarryoutdripirrigation,improveourproductionandpayofftheloan,"saidLakshmiDevi,aresident."Butnoelectricitycame,andnowweareallstuckwiththeloan.Villagersandplanttechniciansagreethatthevillagedoesnothaveenoughbiomasstorunalltheunitsoftheplant.Thegasifierrequiresthinsticksofwood(maximumthickness2inches),whichthevillagersprovidebytrimmingtheeucalyptus,acaciaandothertreesinthevillage,someofthesearefromplantationsvillagersgrowfortheplantandsomearefromtreesinthevillagecommons.
Tags:CoverStory,Biomass,BiomassGasification,Energy,FarmResidues,India,Karnataka,MinistryofNewandRenewableEnergy,RuralElectrification,SolarEnergy,Tumkur(D)
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