Renewable Energy Technologies for the Developing World ... · Energy Technologies for the...

$: Renewable Energy Technologies for the Developing World ... · Energy Technologies for the Developing World Major focus has to be on rural areas. Large fraction of the population in$
Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Renewable Energy Technologies for the

Developing World – Focus on Biomass

B.C. Jain

Ankur Scientific, Vadodara

GCEP / Reliance

Workshop on the search for Game Changing Energy

Technologies for the Developing World

by

Mumbai May 15-16, 2013


Energy Technologies for the

Developing World

Major focus has to be on rural areas.

Large fraction of the population in these areas.

Limited reach of commercial / fossil fuels.

Limited extensions of utility grids; poor

availability of quality even when grid is extended.

Added consideration is the limited purchasing power.


Major Energy Needs of Rural Areas

Cooking.

Lighting, entertainment, communication and

amenities.

Productive applications in agriculture, cottage

industry, commerce etc.


Renewable Energy Resources /

Technologies and Rural Areas

Hydro, wind & solar related technologies are reasonably

well-established.

Issues of diurnal and seasonal variability.

Current focus is on power generation through these

resources.

The key energy need of cooking is generally not

addressed through these resources/related technologies.

Resource is free but capital investment leads to revenue

outflow from the local areas.


Biomass could be the Game Changer

Has all the right attributes.

Local, sustainable resources.

Widely available.

Relatively easy to store.

Utilization / Conversion can be on-demand &

even round-the-clock.

Potential for local economic development.


Biomass in Rural Areas –

The Drawbacks

Traditional utilization techniques.

Poor utilization efficiencies.

Serious environmental / indoor pollution in many

instances.

Very little technology has gone in


Electricity in Rural Areas

Individual isolated homes – PV is the answer?

Isolated areas with small loads requiring stand-

alone systems.

Mini Grids.

Areas with grid extension but poor quality /

availability issues.

Relevant Scenarios


Co-generation of charcoal and power.

Gas piping along with power generation in case

of relatively compact rural villages and

settlements.

Handling cooking needs

Energy & Electricity in Rural Areas

Some recent technology interventions are briefly

covered – specifically in the Indian context.


Small Power Packs

in

Stand-Alone Mode


Locally available biomass as feedstock.

Power possible at less than INR 4/unit.

Self-starting with no external start-up power;

requiring less than 10 minutes start-up time.

Could be operated round-the-clock/on-

demand.

Biomass consumption about 1.3 kg / kWhr.

Small Power Packs - Features


Available power ratings from 10 kW onwards.

Number of Installations in different parts of

India.

Exports to many countries in the last few

years.

Potential for income generating activities as

also for supporting mobile towers etc. in rural

areas.

Small Power Packs – Features (Contd..)


Power Pack for Village Electrification

Highlights

First installation of GAS-9 100% Producer Gas system

Start-up through battery

Specific fuel consumption: less than 1.3 kg/kWhr

Operated by Women’s Self Help Group

Has become a catalyst for economic growth in the village

Gasifier Model: 1 X GAS-9

Odanduthurai, Coimbatore


Small Power Plants

in

Grid Connected Mode


MW Level Tail end Power Plants

An Exciting Opportunity

Almost all rural grids have 1-2 MVA capacity

Rural areas / grids feel the power shortage pinch the

most – are the first ones to be off-loaded

Appropriate capacity tail-end power plants (0.5 – 2.0

MWe) based on biomass gasification could alleviate/

totally eliminate this problem

And can lead to the realization of the dream of

equitable, round-the-clock quality electricity supply to

Rural India


The never-ending list of why such a strategy makes tremendous sense:

Biomass management at one megawatt level presents no

complications for rural areas

Tens of thousands of megawatts can be added very, very

quickly as gestation periods are of the order of six months

Appropriate policy facilitation can lead to immediate and

full private investment

Large number of rural entrepreneurs are waiting for such

an opportunity


Will lead to rural prosperity and empowerment

Almost 80% of the cost of power generation will

go back to rural community in terms of cost of

biomass residues and manpower employed

Large scale creation of wealth from waste will take

place

Large scale employment will be generated – both

directly and indirectly


(Contd..)


Rural areas will indeed become net producers

of power and will be supplying power to

urban/industrial enterprise and will therefore

be privileged and will get preferential

treatment

Rural prosperity will ensure reduction in

migration to urban areas


(Contd..)


Co-Generation

of

Charcoal and Electricity


Simultaneous production of high quality charcoal and gas

for power generation.

Charcoal yield of over 30% of biomass fed.

Environmentally clean production of charcoal with total

elimination of air pollution.

Very high overall efficiencies of utilization of the basic

resource.

The two basic needs of rural areas – high quality cooking

fuel and electricity – could be met with only part of the

fuel currently being used for cooking.


Market oriented technology development may not work

in the context of the very poor purchasing power /

existing economic conditions (potentially, disruptive

technologies?).

Game changing technologies may need to focus on the

following:

Converting various agricultural residues etc. to a

standardized fuel at village level, with low cost and

locally manageable technology (pellets with a

difference?).

Game Changing Technologies


Development of cheap cooking stoves for the

standardized fuel.

Cheap and locally manageable simple technologies for

power/co-generation using the standardized fuel.

Game Changing Technologies Contd…


Thank You

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