1.    Introduction

The Renewable Energy Technology Center at SRC-N is committed to the charter of the SRC-N, which states that: “The SRC-N shall promote alternative development models and strategies for the development of appropriate technologies and promotion of products, processes and services in programs relating to environmental management; livelihoods generation through asset-based and market-creation approaches; renewable energy technologies; shelter technologies; information and communications technologies.”

Energy is a prerequisite for economic growth. Agriculture, manufacturing, shops, trading, transportation and construction are all engines of economic growth. A lack of commercial energy therefore constrains economic growth and social development. The Renewable Energy Technology Center at SRC-N is therefore involved in building models that showcase sustainable and appropriate renewable energy technologies:

Return to Main Menu

2.   Distributed Energy Paradigm

Scales of economy would suggest that centralized energy conversion processes would be more economical than decentralized strategies, especially in urban scenarios. However, centralized strategies also have their share of sociocultural and sociotechnical problems. Distributed energy, which is renewable energy that is generated at or near the site that the energy is used, avoids the extra costs associated with massive centralized schemes for (a) the need for extensive and expensive high voltage transmission lines, the bane of centralized power generation schemes, (b) collection and harvesting of input resources and (c) emissions clean-up costs.

Sankalpa Trust has implemented the following projects at the Sankalpa Research Center (SRC), Baidyapur Village, Nadia that partially demonstrate the value of the Distributed Energy Paradigm:

     (a) A 60 cu.m/day ‘Plug-Flow’ Biogas Digester (PFBD), as a demonstration of USAID’s methane-to-market initiative, with estimated GHG emissions avoidance of 30 MTCO2e/Year and 17 MTCH4/Year;

     (b) A ‘Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln’ (VSBK) project funded by DST—Government of India, having an annual production level of 5,000,000 kg-bricks/Year, with emission reduction and energy savings of 508.5 MTCO2e/Year and 1.634 GWhth/ Year;

     (c) A 20kWe Biomass Based Gasifier Based Power Plant (BGBPP);

     (d) A 1 NM3 Floating Type Biogas Holder (FTBH), acquired from Vivekanada Kendra, Kanyakumari;

     (e) Biogas lamps, Biogas Generators and Biogas cooking stoves, to promote use of biogas;

     (f) A number of environment-friendly technologies for energy and shelter, including experimental biogas digesters, solar photovoltaic (SPV) lanterns and street lights, improved chulha based on IISc Bangalore design, Pot-in-Pot Vegetable Cooler (PIP), Solar-biogas hybrid driers, Briquetting machines, simple solar cookers, Microconcrete Roofing Tiles (MCRT), Ferroconcrete Doors and Windows (FCDW) and Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB).

These projects amply demonstrate the potentials for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. However, this fact is not immediately apparent to the local community members of the village, who have not been entirely exposed either to the dangers of GHG emissions, nor the various ways in which they can themselves participate for the mitigation and abatement strategies of GHG emissions^[1],[2].

2.1    Village-based community needs

The Methane to Markets (M2M) Partnership Initiative is currently exploring the agricultural sources of methane, which can also serve as an important source of energy for electricity generation or fuel for industrial processes or domestic applications.

On the basis of village needs and baseline studies, we have developed a conceptual “Holistic Community Development/Energy Security Model”, as a framework for designing the Plug Flow Biogas Digester Project, as shown below:

Figure 2: A conceptual “Holistic Community Development/Energy Security Model”

Click image to download/view enlargement in [RET Center.pdf]( ~ 1,443 kb)

The above conceptual model explains how the interventions being proposed would effect the desired change. It clarifies the inter-relationships between the needs, intervention strategies, the expected results and the goal of our project by demonstrating the linkages between them.

2.2   Developing the Logical Framework

Table 1: The ‘Logical Framework Analysis’ for the M2M PFBD project at Nadia

Click image to download/view enlargement in [RET Center.pdf]( ~ 1,443 kb)

The ‘Logical Framework Analysis’ has helped us to:

§     Develop a project conceptual model;

§     Provide a map of our project deliverables and implementation plans;

§     Develop checklists that have helped us to accomplish our objectives; and

§     Provide feedback on the status of the project and goal accomplishment, and whether the goals have been accomplished.

Return to Main Menu

3.    Renewable Energy Training Center

The proposed ‘RE Training center’—which is in the planning stage, as part of out ongoing participatory village development program at Village Baidyapur, Nadia—will disseminate information and help to build capacity, especially for Distributed Energy Paradigms (see figure below)

As already mentioned, there are many pre-existing models at the Sankalpa Research Center at Baidyapur that demonstrate effective GHG emissions abatement strategies.

With the formal capacity building structures in place as a result of having a formal ‘Training Center’, the local villagers will be better informed about the dangers of GHG emissions, and be able to participate in various ways for the abatement of GHG emissions and reduce environmental pollution.

The primary goals of this capacity building project at Village Baidyapur may be summarized as follows:

     a) Develop a model ‘Renewable Energy Training Center’ for demonstrating the various distributed energy technologies to the village-based community, focusing on solar (photovoltaic and thermal), biomass (biomethanation and gasification) and wind energy technologies;

     b) Inform the village-based community members about the benefits of the distributed energy paradigm, and how it impacts on reduction of GHG emissions and pollution prevention;

     c) Demonstrate how a decentralized and distributed energy system based on, say, solar photovoltaic, wind power and biomethanation strategies may serve domestic and commercial needs for home lighting as well as thermal and electrical power supply in the community, to eliminate harmful CH4/CO2 and smoke emissions from (i) using kerosene lamps for lighting; (ii) burning firewood for cooking & (iii) generating electrical power using diesel generators;

     d) Demonstrate other sustainable shelter and sustainable livelihoods generation strategies that positively impact GHG emissions reduction and pollution prevention; and

     e) Develop methods and systems for cost recovery through user fees.

The RETC will physically and practically demonstrate at least three of the six ‘Distributed Energy Paradigms’, illustrated in Section 2..

The ‘Knowledge Center’ within the RETC will comprise a kiosk, with PC based Internet/browser-based systems for online search capabilities.

The following capacity building approaches will be adopted in the RETC:

(a) Practical Training—The training required will be differentiated for different target groups. For children, the focus will be on development of ‘School Kits’ for education and hands-on experimentation, whereas for adults, the focus will be on vocational training and generating sustainable livelihoods. Models of solar hot water systems, PV systems, a wind turbine, an improved chulha, biogas and gasification systems, and a wide variety of eco-friendly shelter products will be available on hand (see collage below) for rigorous tests and experimentation, so that the target beneficiaries benefit from this practical exposure to eco-friendly technologies.

(b) International Co-operation—The local village community can also benefit by the participation of international teachers, who are willing to come to Nadia. We are exploring a partnership with a group of retired educationists in Colorado, USA, who have volunteered to come and visit our projects in Uttaranchal and West Bengal. This international program will interface with local experts and further lead to the development of a “Solar Energy Primer”, a “Biomass Energy Primer”, a “Wind Energy Primer”, plus other primers in micro-hydel energy based on web-based information, development of educational videos and working models, the hydrogen economy debate and other subjects of interest in the field of distributed energy paradigms.

(c) Internet & IT-Enabled Services—They provide a multidisciplinary approach—focused on energy for sustainable development—which will enable community members to become familiar with online techniques for capacity building, while enriching the discourse.

(d) Certificates—The RETC will conduct seminars—in Baidyapur and in city centers—as well as part-time, distance education programs and continuing education courses, leading to the award of Certificates for completion of the course. The course materials will be developed in-house, by locally trained human resources.

Return to Main Menu

4.    Plug Flow Biogas Digester (PFBD)

The process of trapping methane, a significant greenhouse gas, and using it for a productive purpose—such as (a) generation of electricity; (b) fuel for industrial processes and (c) domestic applications in homes for cooking—will not only help to stimulate economic development with resulting social benefits, it will also have a significantly positive impact on the local and global environment. The current high prices of conventional fuels, such as petroleum and natural gas have made it possible for non-conventional energy projects such as biogas energy to attain significantly positive and high benefit-to-cost ratios, even without resorting to shadowy contingent valuation techniques.

4.1   Biomethanation from leafy biomass

Biogas based power plants are a reliable decentralized source of power generation option, globally, and especially in a place like Auroville with its large source of leafy biomass. The ‘Plug-Flow’ digestion approach is particularly suitable for biomethanation from leafy biomass and agricultural waste and enables the integration of pre-treatment steps into the design of the biogas plant, as shown in the figure below.

Figure 4: A sketch of the PFBD system

Click image to download/view enlargement in [RET Center.pdf]( ~ 1,443 kb)

The feedstock acquires a higher density by using the forces of buoyancy rather than gravity-assisted methods of compaction. After several R&D trials coupled with numerous design modifications and better insights of ‘dry/solid-state stratified bed (SSB)’ fermentation, the ‘plug-flow’ process has greatly reduced the problems related to VFA overproduction at the early stages of biomass decomposition.

4.2   Details of operation

In case the biomass feedstock becomes forcibly placed under digester liquid for this period, VFA overproduction quickly diffuses into the digester liquid surrounding it, without seriously suppressing methanogen colonization on this feedstock, as well as achieving normal biogas production rates in the latter stages of decomposition. After this initial decomposition stage, the biomass feedstock acquires higher methanogenic rates that match or exceed acidogenic rates and therefore biogas is produced without serious impediments. Experiments suggest the desirability of building larger fermentors to hold biomass feedstock submerged only for an initial period of 3-4 days, after which feedstock is free to move horizontally, in a partially floating state, towards an outlet placed at the opposite end. During this second phase, decomposition rates gradually fall, while feedstock acquires densities of up to 0.95 g/cc within a fermentation period of 30–35 days.

4.3   Prototype of PFBD

A prototype of the PFBD with a capacity of about one ton green biomass input daily to produce 60 Nm3 of methane-rich, biogas output per day, to use as a clean energy source has been built by Sankalpa Trust at Village Baidyapur, District Nadia, West Bengal—in technical collaboration with the Center for Science & Technology (formerly known as ASTRA), IISc Bangalore, as shown in the image below:

A plan of the structure, which spreads over an area of 40ft x 40ft square @ 0.015 acres and costs about Rs 8 Lakhs to build, will be made available on request. The reason for choosing CST-ASTRA’s PFBD technology is that it is a simple to use technology created after a great deal of R&D. It has no moving parts or process control accessories and can be operated at skill levels typical in a village.

Return to Main Menu

5.    Floating Type Biogas Holders (FTBH)—kitchen/agriwaste input

We have procured one 1 Nm3 biodigester at the Sankalpa Research Center, Nadia, from Vivekanada Kendra, Kanyakumari, costing about Rs. 32,000 (see image on the right). This simple device is very convenient to use, handle and maintain, and is possibly the most cost-effective solution for treating domestic kitchen waste and waste vegetable products in a distributed paradigm. So far, the gas has been used for cooking applications. However, the biogas output from this device has been used to operate electric gensets to produce electricity, and we hope to use it also in hybrid solar/biogas-based fruit and vegetable drying machines. The manual for the ‘Shakti Surabhi Bio-Methanation Plant’ is shown in Annexure-7, which reviews the commissioning of the plant and the regular feeding regime.

Substantial quantities of kitchen waste are available in rural and urban communities. For example, a study at Auroville, Tamil Nadu revealed that there are about seven major kitchens within the Auroville Township. Assuming that:

§     There are 3,500 inhabitants who generate ~ 200 gm of vegetable and kitchen waste (feed material)/ day, which leads to the generation of ~ (0.2 x 3,500) kg = 700 kg of kitchen waste products/day;

§     Five kg of vegetable and kitchen waste may produce 1 Nm3 of biogas; this translates to the potential of generating (700 ÷ 5) Nm3 = 140 Nm3 of biogas;

§     1 Nm3 of biogas from kitchen waste may generate 1.25 kWh of electrical energy, which means that we may generate (140 x 1.25) kWh = 175 kWh of energy;

§     Therefore, an average total availability of 700 kg/day of kitchen waste products throughout the year—at one location—may produce 140 Nm3 of biogas per day, which in turn is equivalent to running a:

§     7.3 kWe electricity generator at 100% PLF, or a

§     9.1 kWe electricity generator at 80% PLF.

However, as in the instance of collecting animal manure, it may be impossible to economically collect the 700 kg of kitchen waste from diverse locations, for processing in a centralized facility. Therefore, in the case of kitchen waste, it would be operationally easier and cost effective to treat this as a distributed energy paradigm, and instead of a central facility, we could procure small 1 Nm3 biodigesters, of the type shown on the right, for distribution to individual users, which requires approximately 5 kg of vegetable/kitchen waste (feed material) per day; the quantity for smaller or larger units can be determined by linear interpolation; i.e. 10 and 15 kg for 2 and 3 Nm3 biogas digesters, respectively.

5.1  Waste Management with SINTEX products

We are collaborating with SINTEX Industries Limited—Plastics Division for the development of integrated waste management systems, involving FTBHs and a series of street collection/door-to-door collection for waste management devices. [www.sintex-plastics.co.in]

SINTEX makes (a) a 0.75 Nm3 FTBH, (b) Primary waste collection bins; (c) secondary waste collection devices specially adapted for street collection/door-to-door collection—from heavy duty wheel barrows, trolleys, hand carts and door-to-door pedal driven cycle rickshaws, with integrated waste bins; which are shown below:

Return to Main Menu

6.    Biogas Applications and Use Cases

A major objective of producing methane through the PFBD or FTBH biomethanation strategies is to use methane as a valuable clean energy source.

6.1  Biogas Lamps

The biogas lamp directly uses biogas produced in a biogas digester, and is an invaluable component of the biogas industry, especially in villages. A sample product made in China and presented to us by Mr. Shamsul Haque, Executive Director, SDI—our partner in Bangladesh, is shown in the image on the right.

However, this valuable product is not commercially produced in India and domestic lighting using biogas lamps, for children’s education at night and for general domestic use, is unavailable to the vast majority of biogas users and operators, in the countryside.

To obtain domestic lighting from biogas, operators have to use expensive, inefficient and complicated diesel gensets to convert the biogas energy into electricity first, before being used—again highly inefficiently—in incandescent lights (as the more efficient CFL lamps are prohibitively expensive for poor villagers). In our social studies, it has emerged that the most important reason that villagers want electricity in their homes is for their children to study at night. Use of electricity for all other domestic use comes second. This biogas lamp, in conjunction with the 1 Nm3/day drum-type bio-methanation plant, will therefore help to solve the most important social need in the villages of India, and help to increase primary education—the most important national need identified by Dr. Amartya Sen, the Nobel Laureate—to eliminate poverty in India.

6.2  Generate electricity from biogas

LPG gensets (made in China) with rated output power of 0.8kW and 1.3 kW (shown above) can be procured in Bangladesh for about BD Taka 17,500 and 22,500, respectively (prices quoted at an exhibition in Dhaka in November 2008). A special adapter costing about BD Taka 5,000 needs to be fitted, to enable operation with biogas.

Details are available on request.

6.3  Biogas stoves for cooking

A variety of biogas stoves are available for use. Ordinary burners for LPG stoves may be used, with the aperture enlarged to meet the lower pressure of biogas from biodigesters. The image shown on the right relates to burners acquired from Vivekananda Kendra.

6.4  Future programs for biogas products

The development of end-use applications for renewable energy technologies, in general, and biogas in particular, is ‘Job No 1’ at SRC-N.

A number of initiatives are in progress to develop biogas products. We are committed to develop biogas applications, and we hope to leverage our Private Public Partnerships—with funding from donor agencies—in a bid to institutionalize reusable use patterns for energy services and products from biomethanation, through the adoption of ‘market creation approaches’.

So far, we have been most successful in our experiments with biogas stoves.

An economical biogas lamp is being developed by a ‘private’ partner, using standard components. However, unless we can develop this product as an entrepreneurial venture, it is doubtful whether the biogas lamp can be produced economically. We are hoping to get support from funding agencies to help us develop the product commercially.

We have installed a 100% gas engine for our 20kWe BGBPP, and we hope to be able to develop an economical model of a ‘biogas generator’. However, it would appear that instead of re-inventing the wheel, importing a small biogas genset directly from Bangladesh may be the cheaper alternative, until a suitable product is developed in India.

Return to Main Menu

7.    Biomass Gasification Based Power Plant (BGBPP)

Thermochemical gasification involves pyrolysing biomass without sufficient air for full combustion, but with enough air to convert the solid biomass into a gaseous fuel. The intended use of the gas and the characteristics of the particular biomass (size, texture, moisture content, etc.) will determine the design and operating characteristics of the gasifier and associated equipment. There are two basic types of gasifiers. Each has their advantages and disadvantages; the downdraft gasifier (IISc Bangalore technology) provides for a cleaner gas with less tar, whereas the updraft gasifier is generally more robust, although it requires heavy tar removal facilities.

Figure 7: Two approaches for biomass gasification

Click image to download/view enlargement in [RET Center.pdf]( ~ 1,443 kb)

Generally speaking, electricity production at the rate of 7,700 kWh/hectare/year can be achieved in a BGBPP on the basis of the following biomass availability and technology assumptions (lower values) [17]:

§     An annual production rate of 10 dry tonnes of biomass per hectare/year;

§     16 GJ per dry tonne (lower heat value)

§     A conversion efficiency of 20 to 25% for the smaller-scale of BGBPPs.

7.1  Rationale for using Gasifiers

The capital cost of a BGBPP is lower than a comparable wind or solar photovoltaic power plant, and is therefore ideally suited for a decentralized power plant.

When wood or other lignocellulosic biomass (such as the type of biomass available at Auroville) is heated in the absence of air, it breaks down both physically and chemically into a complex mixture of liquids and gases and a residual char, commonly called charcoal. This process, known as ‘pyrolysis’ can be carried out under a wide variety of conditions, the two extreme being either to maximize the production of charcoal, or to convert the total organic portion of biomass into combustible liquids and gases (liquefaction or gasifiction).

Table 2: Ready reckoner for consumption of dry woody biomass in BGBPPs

Click table to download/view enlargement in [RET Center.pdf]( ~ 1,443 kb)

The gasification process is carried out with more air and at higher temperatures than the usual pyrolisis process, in order to optimize the gas production. The resulting gas, known as producer gas, is a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane, together with carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which is more versatile than the original solid biomass, as it can be used as a replacement for diesel to produce electricity, or channeled into domestic households to be used as a clean source of thermal energy for cooking and other domestic applications, or even used industrially and commercially as a clean source of electrical and thermal energy.

The conversion efficiency of the gasifier is nearly 75%. Since producer gas can be burnt with high efficiency, the overall efficiency of biomass use can be increased to about 40% in the larger installations. By converting biomass into producer gas, not only can the efficiency levels be raised to those of fossil fuels, the emissions of smoke and pollutants can also be reduced. Producer gas, if fed into a conventional diesel engine, can save about 80% of diesel. Between 1.0 to 1.2 kg of biomass and about 100 ml of diesel is needed in conventional duel-fuel gasifiers to produce one unit (kWh) of electricity, instead of about 330 ml of diesel that is required to produce one unit in conventional diesel gensets. Modern BGBPPs that have 100% gas engines need no diesel, at all. The table above provides a ready reckoner for consumption of woody biomass:

Based on Table 7.1, the provision of 10 dry tonnes of biomass per hectare per year, used as fuel in a small-scale biomass gasifier coupled with a diesel generator, can continuously generate about 20 kWe of electric power at full load, at an overall 22% efficiency, for about one hour per day, throughout the year. This level of energy generation is enough to satisfy the average power requirements of, say, five numbers of 5hp irrigation pumps, used daily for one hour, throughout the year.

7.2  20kWe BGBPP model at the SRC-N

A 20kWe biomass gasifier based power plant (BGBPP) has been built at SRC-N, as shown in the figure below:

Proposed Project: Biomass gasification based refrigeration systems

The project relates to the use of refrigeration systems for extending the shelf life of vegetables and fishes, based on a participatory method of developing the project. A draft proposal is available on request.

Alternatively, biomass-based gasifiers in thermal mode may be used to power Vapor Absorption Refrigeration (VAR) systems. These are proven technologies with another Sankalpa network partner, Dr. Sarvanan of Anna University (see [Vapor-Absorption-Refrigeration.pdf]), which can have a very significant impact on the proliferation of distributed biomass gasification technologies.

Return to Main Menu

8.    Improved chulha

The simple but improved chulha shown on the right was adapted from technology developed at IISc-Bangalore. The special feature is a constriction in the flow of hot gases, essentially a Venturi effect, which causes an induced draft that draws smoke away, through the chimney, to the outside, virtually eliminating indoor pollution, while almost doubling the fuel conversion efficiency. The device is practically used by local workers, and we are exploring the possibility of dying straw as a buisiness venture, for use by a specialized NGO in Midnapore District, in the weaving of attractive mats, in the handicraft sector.

Return to Main Menu

9.    Pot-in-Pot Vegetable Cooler (PIP)

The basic motivation for the ‘Pot-in-Pot’ (PiP) Absorption-type Refrigeration System (shown on the right) is the lack of electricity in rural communities, for there can be no refrigeration presently without electricity.

The innovative cooling system consists of two earthenware pots of different diameters, one placed inside the other. The space between the two pots is filled with wet sand or any other medium that can be kept constantly moist, thereby keeping both pots damp. Fruit, vegetables and other items such as drinking water are put in the smaller inner pot, which is covered with an ap-propriate cover that keeps the ‘coolth’ in, whilst permitting the watering process without removal of the top cover. It should be placed in a dry and well-ventilated place for optimum results.

The phenomenon that occurs is based on a simple principle of physics: The water contained in the sand between the two pots evaporates towards the outer surface of the larger pot where the drier outside air is circulating. By virtue of the laws of thermodynamics, the evaporation process automatically causes a drop in temperature of several degrees, cooling the inner container, destroying harmful microorganisms and preserving the perishable foods inside.

The idea was popularized by the 2002 Rolex Award winner, Mobbas of Nigeria, who successfully made and distributed the device shown above, in the villages of Nigeria. However, research in South India reveals that the concept has been used there for several centuries, to specifically cool drinking water. Therefore, it can be concluded that the idea is viable, well tested and replicable. Prototypes have been built and tested by Sankalpa Trust in Shantiniketan and Nadia in West Bengal, India, (shown at the top of the section) as well as by our partner in Bangladesh, Society for Development Initiatives (SDI) shown above, with positive results.

Prototype development and test results: The Sankalpa Research Center at Village Baidyapur in District Nadia, West Bengal, India has conducted several trials with PiP systems. Sample test results of one such test, obtained over a period of two months, are shown below in Table 3:

We conclude that the mean cooling effect obtained at a relative humidity of about 85% is a drop in the ambient temperature of about 6oC, in the inner, cooled chamber.

The impact of the ‘Pot-in-Pot’ vegetable cooler is perhaps greatest for women and girls, since they can sell vegetable produce and food from their homes and overcome their age-old dependency on their husbands as the sole providers. The device will liberate girls from having to sell food on a ‘distress selling’ basis, or to make repeated visits to the markets for their daily purchases. Instead, they will be free to attend schools or pursue any activity of their choice.

Poor farmers will be able to sell on demand rather than ‘rush sell’ because of spoilage, and community income levels should rise noticeably. This will help to stem disease and in part contribute to slow the pace of the rural exodus to cities, in general.

A maximum temperature differential of 7 degrees C between the inner pot and ambient has been recorded even in semi-humid conditions (relative humidity ~90%) at Nadia. It should be observed that the results obtained at Nadia—with the inner stainless steel inner container—are even better than the double earthen pot prototypes that were made in Santiniketan. Since the climatic conditions prevalent at Nadia are similar to Bangladesh, we expect similar cooling effects from PiP devices in Bangladesh, as well.

The ‘Chart’ above provides us with a ready-reckoner to determine the temperatures that may be theoretically delivered by evaporative coolers (Source: Ed Phillips’ “Arizona Almanac”).

Return to Main Menu

10.    Hybrid solar thermal-biogas drier

We have initiated a project to develop a hybrid solar thermal-biogas drier for fruits, vegetables, fishes and food products, in general.

A photo of the intended product from the literature is shown below, as indicative of the nature of the product, and an engineering sketch is shown on the right.

The development partners are:

    (a) Design: Professor Chamanlal Gupta of Pondicherry Ashram;

    (b) Thermal collectors: TATA BP Solar.

The fabrication of the plant will be made with in-house manufacturing capability at SRC, Nadia.

The rural partners for end application for the hybrid drier include:

    (a) Aurobindo Ashram orchards at Ramgarh, Uttaranchal;

    (b) Vegetable producers in Nadia and

    (c) Fisherfolk in the Sunderbans region.

The 'Hybrid solar thermal-biogas drier' project has been held up due to shortage of funds. We are requesting our supporters and well-wishers to donate liberally, in order to complete the protoype fabrication, which could serve as an important model for demonstrating an effective use of biogas for commercial use and for generating rural livelihoods.

Return to Main Menu

11.    Solar Photovoltaic devices

We have installed four Solar Street Lighting systems at our Sankalpa Research Center, Nadia—at a total cost Rs. 1,08,000 [Rs. 27,000 x 4 nos], with a handsome subsidy from WBREDA. The devices were installed by M/s Soltech Energies (P) Ltd.

We have also purchased several solar lighting systems from TATA BP Solar and other local manufacturuers. These have been tested for usability for studies at night.

As in the case of the 'Hybrid solar thermal-biogas drier' project, the distribution and dissemination of home lighting devices to the target beneficiaries of Village Baidyapur has also been held up, as almost US$12,000 (about Rs 5 Lakhs) was eliminated from the original USAID grant of US$ 94,807, due to exchange rate fluctuations, which has completely derailed the final stage of bringing the benefits of the M2M-PFBD project to the local community.

We are therefore requesting our supporters and well-wishers to donate liberally, in order to continue with our priority project for supplying domestic lighting to target beneficiaries, principally towards educational night-time use by the children of the community. We had plans of studying the socioeconomic and environmental impact of displacement of kerosene-powered lanterns by rechargeable lamps, which could serve as an important model for demonstrating an effective use of biogas for commercial use and for generating rural livelihoods.

Return to Main Menu

12.    Other energy conversion technologies

We have an ongoing program of research and development at SRC, Nadia in rural development in general, and energy conversion technologies in particular. Some of these are:

Briquetting technologies use efficient energy conversion devices to transform waste biomass such as Prosopis, Lantana and Ipomea into densified energy briquettes, which can be used in a variety of situations, starting from domestic cooking fuels to industrial applications.

We have procured a biomass briquetting machine at SRC-N, to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of briquetted fuels in a wide number of situations, including its use as an effective strategy for reducing coal consumption in the operation of the Eco Kiln for fired-brick production.

The simple, 'home-made' Solar Cooker shown on the left was developed by Dr. Steven E. Jones of Brigham Young University (BYU), USA.

It is an example of a design that can be made locally in homes. Further research needs to be done to develop product designs and processes for high production volumes. However, the point being made here is that we should be promoting effective solar cooking devices that will turn local and indigent community members away from burning fuelwood for domestic cooking.

Return to Main Menu

13.    Contact details

Contact Person: Dr. Subhrankar Mukherjee, PhD,MBA

Designation: Managing Trustee—Sankalpa Trust; Director—SRC-N

Address: P6: Cluster 2, Purbachal, Salt Lake, Calcutta 700097, India.

Mobile: + 91 94330 19821 ; 93392 59812

eMail: [subra@engr.colostate.edu] ; [subra@sankalpacmfs.org] ; [subhrankar@gmail.com]

Website: [www.sankalpacmfs.org]

Return to Top