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Being an agrarian country there is easy availability of agricultural based mass which can be used to  generate energy Burning this biomass is the easiest and oldest method of generating energy and also the least efficient.

Over 70% of the population of India is in villages but it is these villages which receive neither electricity nor a steady supply of water-crucial to survival and economic and social development and growth. No educational facilities for higher studies exist in these villages and neither can we find sophisticated hospitals or industries. All because of lack of electricity and water.

Biomasss exists in these villages and needs to be tapped intelligently to provide not only electricity but also water to irrigate and cultivate fields to further increase production of biomass (either as a main product or as a by-product), ensuring steady  generation of  electricity. An added bonus is the availability of waste biomass from the biomass gasifier plant to be used as fertilizer.

Most common source of biomass is wood waste and agricultural wastes. In India development of biomass gasification has received  serious attention with establishment of biomass research centers and gasifier action research centers at various locations spread all over the country. These institutions have played a key role in upgradation and adaption of suitable technologies, testing, monitoring and development of biomass gasification systems. Studies reveal that the low grade of land suitable only for scrub  vegetation can be turned to advantage and form an excellent source of biomass – fast growing trees and shrubs. 

In India more than 2000 gasifiers are estimated to have been established with a capacity in excess of 22 MW and a number of villages have been electrified  with biomass gasifier based generators. MNES has actively promoted research and development programmes for efficient utilization of biomass and agrowastes and further efforts are on.

Biomass  gasification offers  immense scope and potential for :

•  Water pumping

• Electricity generation : 3 to 1 MW power plants

• Heat generation : for cooking gas – smokeless environment

• Rural electrification means  better healthcare, better education and improved quality of life.

IREDA – the prime lending  institution for renewable energy projects  is actively assisting installation of biomass gasifiers.

note: material appearing above is excerpted from various sources without our liability or responsibility for veracity