Renewable Energy Technologies for the Developing World ... · Energy Technologies for the...
Transcript of Renewable Energy Technologies for the Developing World ... · Energy Technologies for the...
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
Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
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.
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Major Energy Needs of Rural Areas
Cooking.
Lighting, entertainment, communication and
amenities.
Productive applications in agriculture, cottage
industry, commerce etc.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Small Power Packs
in
Stand-Alone Mode
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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
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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..)
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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
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Small Power Plants
in
Grid Connected Mode
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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
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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
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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
The never-ending list of why such a strategy makes tremendous sense:
(Contd..)
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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
The never-ending list of why such a strategy makes tremendous sense:
(Contd..)
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Co-Generation
of
Charcoal and Electricity
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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.
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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
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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…
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Thank You