a quest for sustainable energy solutions - global · pdf fileenvt-dev field learning way...

Anand B. Rao, CTARA, IITB FAN Meeting, St. Louis, USA, 20/10/2013

Anand B. Rao

Associate Professor, Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA),

I IT Bombay

A Quest for Sustainable Energy Solutions

FAN Meeting, St. Louis, USA: October 20, 2013


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Outline

Introduction to CTARA Energy-Environment-Development Nexus Lessons from the field research Way forward..


Introduction to CTARA (Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas)

Established in 1985 Academic Programs since 2007


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Current paradigm of development: Industrialization-Urbanization-Consumption

Unidirectional flow of resources Rapid economic growth;

Increasing disparity (India Vs Bharat) Dying villages; Over-burdened cities Relevance of

(higher) education and research? Technology: A part of the solution

OR part of the problem? Need for Interface between

“Technology” and “Development”

India Today: The Context..


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Academic Program: M.Tech. (T&D)

Careers as Development Professionals Consultants/ CSR Government Grassroots Organizations Entrepreneurship

Inter-disciplinary Program in Technology and Development

Perspectives; Sectors; Skills; Field work; Projects

Perspective Courses:

Developmt Theory, Appropriate Tech,

Policy and Governance

Skill Courses: Social Science

Research Methods, System Dynamics, Project Mgt. and

Analysis

Knowledge Courses:

Energy, Water, Soil and Agriculture,

Ecology & Envt.

Practice Courses: Summer Field work,

Project I & II


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CTARA’s Mandate

Bottom 80%; Unorganized sectors; Marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society

Core areas: Energy, Water, Agriculture.. Demand-driven, need-based research Direct engagement with the stakeholders: Involve local

institutions (e.g. engineering college) to ensure sustainability

Mission: To make seminal contribution at perspective, policy, and practice levels and to all dimensions of interrelationship between technology and development

Philosophy: CTARA believes in carrying out multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and grounded policy studies and research on key technology and development related sectors and issues


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Research Areas @ CTARA

Energy

Policy & Governance

Water & Sanitation

Food & Agriculture

Land Use &

Planning

Health & Nutrition

Housing

Faculty: ~ 5 (+7*)

Students:

MTech: ~30 PhD: ~12


Energy-Environment-Development Nexus


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E for…

Energy How much? For what? For whom? How/ from where? At what cost? For how long?

Environment Indoor – Outdoor Local – Global Air – Water – Soil

– Thermal – Noise Pollution

Depletion of natural resources

Lifecycle impacts: source/ T&D/ storage/ usage

Equity Rural Vs Urban Rich Vs Poor Inter-generation Vs

Intra-generation Developed Vs

Developing countries

Gender issues Human Vs Other

living beings


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Energy Poverty

Data from UNDP Human Development Report, 2007. Both variables are on log scales.

Squares show countries having “high human development;” circles, “medium” or “low.”

Power consumption per capita versus GDP per capita, in purchasing-power-parity US$ .

Million


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ard Indian Perspective on

Appropriate Energy Technologies

Development Economic Growth Energy Consumption Growth Oriented Supply Sided Consumption (GROSSCON):

the conventional paradigm having economic, environmental and social problems

Sustainable Development Should concentrate on: Satisfying needs, starting with neediest Strengthen self reliance and Environmental soundness

Stress on Energy Services rather than energy consumption

Development Focused End Use oriented (DEFENDUS) – Healthy mix of efficiency improvements, decentralized renewable sources and centralized sources


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Rural Energy Systems

Goal: Instruments of sustainable rural development Essential features: Need-oriented and self equitable Advancing rural economic growth Self-reliant and empowering Environmentally sound

Betterment of life of rural poor thr’ improvement of HDI Equity, empowerment, environmental soundness

What rural energy systems must achieve? Reduction in arduous human labor Provision of basic modern amenities Access to energy for income generating activities


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In Pursuit of Sustainability

Paradox: Why energy research/ technology improvements are not solving the problem?

What keeps people away from the “sustainable energy solutions”?

What are the field issues? Experiences? Biogas, Solar PV electrification, Improved cook-stoves..

Need for incremental improvements or radical shift/ solutions?


Lessons from the Field Research


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Energy Research @ CTARA

Renewables Cooking energy: Biogas Cook-stoves

Electricity: Solar PV Hybrid Energy Systems

Efficiency Construction: Brick-making: Clamp/ VSBK Bamboo housing

Water Pumping: Water Supply Schemes Irrigation


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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000 Biogas Plants: Field Data from Thane

•Mature Technology, Huge Potential (~ 4.25 M plants installed) •Paradox: Low penetration •Field reality: Many defunct units •What works? What doesn’t? Why?

Constructed

Defunct


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Reasons for Failure

Lack of animals (feedstock) Lack labor required for the daily operation Water shortage Lack of maintenance/ post-sale service Lack of interest: Proximity to towns,

availability of LPG


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CBP: Providing “Biogas Service”

Engaging with Thane ZP

Replication Entrepreneurship

Critical Understanding

Do’s and Don’ts Enabling factors

Individual Vs Community Biogas Plants

Literature Case studies of successful projects


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Biomass Cook-stoves in India

Solid Biomass: The most prevalent cooking fuel in India (27% of urban HH & 90% of rural HH use biomass as their primary cooking fuel, ~69% nationally)

~ 200 M households depend on solid biomass fuels The “improved” cookstoves may have reached ~ < 5%

these households The Indian National Initiative for Advanced Biomass

Cookstoves: Aimed “to achieve the quality of energy services from cookstoves comparable to that from other clean energy sources such as LPG.”

~ 60 designs exist


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ard Retrofitting Existing Cook-stoves

with Twisted-Tape-Swirlers

Ph.D. work by Mr. Vijay Honkalaskar, under the guidance of Prof. Upendra Bhandarkar & Prof. Anil Date


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Lessons Learnt

People’s participation is absolutely necessary Public acceptance may depend on various aspects: Convenience Cultural factors Aspirations, (perceived) need & priorities

Horizontal technology transfer?

Need for innovative approaches and socio-

economic models


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VSBK Project at CTARA

CTARA + RC (local NGO) + RGSTC (funding) BOT: The kiln is to be handed over to and operated by a tribal

brick-workers’ co-operative Learning through the challenges faced: Field projects are tough! One needs to plan carefully, and handle unexpected situations It is crucial to have the local people with you

Current Status The kiln is ready, operated for the last 2 seasons Field issues; Troubleshooting phase Next: Demonstration, Dissemination, Experiments, Training, Handing over


Way Forward..


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Key Issue: “ACCESS”

Abundant, (Affordable? Acceptable?) Clean, and (Cheap? Convenient?) Cost-Effective (“Eco”-friendly, Efficient) Energy Systems (Energy Service/ Solution) for Sustainability


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Need for Consolidated Efforts

Time is running out… can we continue to rely on the “trickle-down” approach?

Limitations in dissemination capacity –> focus on policy analysis/ formulation for a wider impact

Various academic units/ individuals working on similar themes: Need for one common umbrella to gather a critical mass

Universities as knowledge hubs and active partners in the “development” process – direct social engagement and accountability


Acknowledgement:

IIT Bombay Colleagues at CTARA

Faculty, staff and students at Washington University, St. Louis IITBHF/AA

Event Organizers

Thank You!

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