Sewa International In Quest of Alternative Energy
Vilathikulam, Tamilnadu - 2008 (photos)
After overwhelming successful project in Rajasthan in 2007, Sewa International USA funded similar project in Tamilnadu in 2008.
The project targets adding a Biomass Gasifier based electrical power generating unit of more than 10 kW and an integrated biogas digester for 50 Cubic meters per day biogas generation to support partial cooking needs and also supplement gasifier power generator.
Status:
- The 11 kW power plant was ordered middle of 2008.
- Construction of the building expected to finish March 09.
- Ready to receive the equipment beginning of April 09.
Rajasthan - 2007
Energy crisis world over is a challenge, specially in the developing and underdeveloped countries. While energy sources are drying up on one hand, humanity is looking for alternative and eco-friendly methods of generating energy.
Searching for such alternative energy processes, Sewa International decided to put in efforts for relatively unknown procedure of Biomass Gasifier. Active cooperation of Shri Naresh Sharma from USA and aided by Sewa USA & IDRF USA, the dream of generating power locally has come real.
Karansinghji Ki Khedi, a obscure remote village in Bhilwada district of Rajasthan with a population of less than thousand, became an ideal venue for the experiment. People of the village responded positively to the call with active motivator Shri Rameshwar.
Dr. Robin Abraham of Sewa International did the home work well to convince the concerned. Officials of Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources could grasp the importance of the project instantaneously to come out with an offer of subsidy.
The first phase of a bio-mass gasifier project was inaugurated by the local MP Shri V P Singh at Karansinghji ki Khedi in Bhilwada district of Rajasthan on 16th October, 2007. The project has been setup by the Sewa International with the help of Madhav Gau Gigyan Kendra, Bhilwada, Rajasthan. The fuel source for this gasifier is in the form of wood stalks. This village has a population of about 500 and 90 hut-dwellings.
But sufficient electrical power was not available for crop production and many families were forced to migrate to the cities in search of livelihood during the dry season.
Biomass gasifier has changed the situation. Migration to other places has come to a naught. They are now willing to engage themselves in agricultural activities in dry season also. The wild Babool, which grows extensively in the region, was apt fuel to run the gasifier with sizeable area of approximately 700 bigha of the village available.
The entire project is divided into two phases. The first phase stands completed with gasifier commissioned. In order to reduce further dependence on wood, phase-II of the project would include a bio-gas plant and a briquette making machine. Some of the crop residues which are burnt in the field can be mixed with the out put of bio-gas plant and briquetted for fuel into the gasifier. There was an overwhelm-ing response from the farming community. Involvement of the villagers and their satisfaction is an important indicator for this project.
Other factors that encourage us are the number of queries from all around to know and understand the technology, and the offer by the concerned Ministry to extend subsidy to similar projects in more villages. wa International’s resolve for sustainable development is amply proved by the Biomass Gasifier that generates energy to run 4 motor/ pump-sets of 5HP in Karansinghji Ki Khedi
