10 Rural Electrification and Livelihood Generation for Women …
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in rural areas through conventional grid system, it is becoming challenging to support renewable energy-based electrification projects, particularly based on biomass
resource on account of high fuel and labour costs. Utilizing the energy from the
gasifier for only rural household electrification led to non-payment towards the functioning of the gasifier due to lack of incentive (World Bank 2011).
The project has developed a new approach with focuses on developing business models by combining energy-driven economic activities and meeting household
energy requirements in villages in regions of India. With community-based activity getting regular electricity to run successfully, the operation cost of the gasifier
towards fuel and operator salary is met and, hence, can also electrify the villages
around it. The project model is such that the gasifier will run during daytime providing electricity to the micro-enterprises and in the evening, when lighting needs of
households are highest, the gasifier will supply electricity to the households in the
nearby villages.
The project has identified around 20 potential sites in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, and shortlisted four sites for field implementation of twostage gasifier through partnerships with public institutions, such as Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), Rural Electrification Cooperation and
Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission (MPSBM) for supporting the investment
in implementation covering both utility grid-connected and off-grid villages in the
vicinity of these potential sites. The work is also initiated with Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) for obtaining regulatory permission to supply
electricity to nearby villages through existing utility grid with operational agreement
and for higher electricity tariff based on small capacity biomass gasifier technology
to meet the operational cost of these systems and make them economically viable.
TERI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a local partner organization
and owner of the micro-enterprise at each of the sites for support during and after
implementation.
The experience of adapting two-stage biomass gasifier for Indian condition and
context has so far demonstrated robustness of the technology with minimal maintenance and suitability for field implementation. The future now is to demonstrate a
viable business model and regulatory support with local institutional involvement to
bring sustainable electricity supply to grid-connected and off-grid villages.
10.3 Research Methodology
The methodology included consultation with public sector agencies, NGOs, district
administration and site selection for implementation. The selection of sites in the
three states was done with consultations stakeholder, review of secondary sources
and determination of criteria, such as economic loads in the cluster, electricity availability in the villages around, presence of local NGO, biomass availability and cost,
undertaking primary surveys, and analysis of collected information. Secondary data
helped narrow down a few districts on the basis of status of electrification of vil-
115
in rural areas through conventional grid system, it is becoming challenging to support renewable energy-based electrification projects, particularly based on biomass
resource on account of high fuel and labour costs. Utilizing the energy from the
gasifier for only rural household electrification led to non-payment towards the functioning of the gasifier due to lack of incentive (World Bank 2011).
The project has developed a new approach with focuses on developing business models by combining energy-driven economic activities and meeting household
energy requirements in villages in regions of India. With community-based activity getting regular electricity to run successfully, the operation cost of the gasifier
towards fuel and operator salary is met and, hence, can also electrify the villages
around it. The project model is such that the gasifier will run during daytime providing electricity to the micro-enterprises and in the evening, when lighting needs of
households are highest, the gasifier will supply electricity to the households in the
nearby villages.
The project has identified around 20 potential sites in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, and shortlisted four sites for field implementation of twostage gasifier through partnerships with public institutions, such as Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), Rural Electrification Cooperation and
Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission (MPSBM) for supporting the investment
in implementation covering both utility grid-connected and off-grid villages in the
vicinity of these potential sites. The work is also initiated with Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) for obtaining regulatory permission to supply
electricity to nearby villages through existing utility grid with operational agreement
and for higher electricity tariff based on small capacity biomass gasifier technology
to meet the operational cost of these systems and make them economically viable.
TERI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a local partner organization
and owner of the micro-enterprise at each of the sites for support during and after
implementation.
The experience of adapting two-stage biomass gasifier for Indian condition and
context has so far demonstrated robustness of the technology with minimal maintenance and suitability for field implementation. The future now is to demonstrate a
viable business model and regulatory support with local institutional involvement to
bring sustainable electricity supply to grid-connected and off-grid villages.
10.3 Research Methodology
The methodology included consultation with public sector agencies, NGOs, district
administration and site selection for implementation. The selection of sites in the
three states was done with consultations stakeholder, review of secondary sources
and determination of criteria, such as economic loads in the cluster, electricity availability in the villages around, presence of local NGO, biomass availability and cost,
undertaking primary surveys, and analysis of collected information. Secondary data
helped narrow down a few districts on the basis of status of electrification of vil-