16-10-2012, 05:56 PM
Renewable Energy Technology Management Promoting Village Energy Security & Sustainable Development -- A case study of village Radhapur.
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INTRODUCTION
Environmental and climate protection as well as the related challenge of implementing sustainable energy supply systems are issues of great importance in current development cooperation. Energy is a key driver to sustain an impressive economic growth of any place. There is hardly any area where energy input is not required though in a varying measure. So, it is quite important to ensure a sustainable flow of all forms of energy. That is not all; as energy should also be used quite efficiently consumed. Energy conservation is all the more needed in the present day scenario. As of now, in India, around 75-80% of our population lives in the villages, where conventional energy supplies are quite deficient. But the possibility of alternative form of energy is always persisting; the only concern is way of looking towards it.
Recently, the concept of rural electrification via Decentralized Distributed Generation (DDG) has come as a boon for the rural areas. This particular project for village electrification using 10kW Biomass Gasifier is in tune with the Govt. of India’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology (DST) as a funding agency for the village Radhapur, Shivpuri Dist. (MP). The implementing organization is Developmental Alternatives (DA); a Delhi based Non Governmental Organization (NGO). The key objective of the project is “To establish a community managed, local natural resource based, energy services approach to economic development and sustainable livelihoods”.
Site Selection
Radhapur, a small village located in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh under Badrakha Panchayat in Pichhore block of, 55 Kms away from Jhansi (see Map I). Like many other un-electrified villages, Radhapur is also facing huge energy crisis due to ever raising diesel price. This village is connected by a 1km long kuccha road and approx. 2.5 km away from existing grid supply.
A well structured questionnaire was framed for each of the household to collect the baseline information about the demography and education (Table I), land and cattle holdings and agricultural produce and energy consumptions and demand. The study was based on an end use approach within which the existing energy use patterns as well as the projected demands of the villagers were evaluated. Accordingly, the collected data was thoroughly analyzed to evolve a suitable load management plan for village electrification as per the season (Annexure I). Due consideration was accorded to the local needs and there from to the demand and supply requirements of energy use in the village. In totality, the following few parameters were focused in the first instance through closely held discussions with the villagers:
₃ energy requirement
₃ technical - commercial feasibility
₃ initial readiness to pay for better mode of lighting
₃ overall sustainability of the project
Site accessibility
Village Radhapur is amidst a forest area. The village is accessible from Jhansi via a 55 Kms stretch long road. Due to non availability of assured electricity and dependency on fossil fuel, lack of awareness but willing for an alternative mode of energy provider made this village ideal to implement the Gasifier. The primary survey report gives the details of the energy requirement and the expenditure by the villagers on meeting their energy needs. Moreover, the ample supply of locally available biomass was another reason for selection of the site. The best point of the village is unlike other villages, there were no such issues of caste and political intervention.
VILLAGE PROFILE
Demography
Village Radhapur is a small displaced (by Indian Army to develop their firing range) village situated at 55 km away from Jhansi town of U.P. of central India. Total no of household is 87 out of which 16 are from tribal cast and having no land even for residential. Rajput (in dominance), Pal (OBC), Adhivashi (ST) and Ahirwar are the main castes amongst its 87 odd households. The population is 456 out of which adult male 115, adult female 103, child (M) 131, and child (F) 107.
Weather characteristics
Radhapur enjoys hot and humid climate with clear summer months lasting from April to mid July. The rainy season sets in after mid July to September with winter months slated for November to February. The maximum temperature is about 420C in May while minimum of 120C in December. Though the village has around 550 acres of fertile land, but due to low water table due to irregular rainfall and ever rising diesel prises most of the villagers are not in a position to take even two crops.
Literacy rate
The literacy rate in Radhapur is as low as 60%. Only 5 people above X Std, of which one is pursuing graduation and 46, are in between V to IX. Due to unavailability of electricity, there is no post sun set activities, even the children don’t study in the evening.