Off-Grid Renewable Energy Applications –Strategy for Energy Access

Biomass Gasifier based Village Electrification Opportunities

ASEAN-INDIA Workshop onCooperation in Renewable Energy6th November2012New Delhi

Dr D K Khare, DirectorMinistry of New & Renewable

Energywww.mnre.gov.in

Presentation Content Present Electricity Situation in India

Opportunities in Developing Biomass based Decentralized and Off-grid Solutions

Biomass Resource Estimation in India

Biomass Gasifier Based Mini Grids Experimented in India – Business Models

Sustainable Business Opportunities in Future

Present Electricity Situation in India

Problem of Energy Access in Villages

40% population without Energy Access.

No Grid Or No / Erratic Supply Many Hamlets left out

Situation unlikely to improve substantially. Continued/-

India has a 400 million energy poor population…..

• Nearly 75 million rural households without grid connectivity nationally

• The corresponding figure for urban households is 6.5 million

• Residents of off-grid villages resort to burning kerosene in basic lanterns to produce light at night• The average off-grid rural household in India spends Rs.

150 ($3) per month for 5 liters of kerosene for lighting• Many electrified villages also face severe shortage of

electricity• 33% of the Indian population is estimated to be facing

significant under-electrification-accessing less than 50 kWh of electricity per month/household

Rural electrification scenario in IndiaCensus of India, 2011 Out of total 24.67 crores

households (both rural and urban), only 16.59 crores (67.2%) households are using electricity for lighting.

About 45 % (7.50 crores) rural households do not have access to electricity

About 7.75 crores (31.4%) households are using kerosene.

About 11.64 lakh households have no lighting sources in India.

House list Item Absolute numberTotal Rural Urban

Households by main source of lighting    Total number of households 246,692,667 167,826,730 78,865,937

Electricity 165,897,294 92,808,038 73,089,256

Kerosene 77,545,034 72,435,303 5,109,731Solar 1,086,893 916,203 170,690Other oil 505,571 407,919 97,652Any other 493,291 361,507 131,784No lighting 1,164,584 897,760 266,824

67%

31%0% 0% 0% 0%

Main Source of Lighting - INDIA 2011

Electricity Kerosene Solar EnergyOther Oil Any Other No Lighting

Electricity for lighting in India

ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING -2011 ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING -2001

Fuel Used for Cooking

67% households use firewood/crop residue, cow dung cake/coal etc.

(R –87%; U – 26%)

29% households use LPG/PNG/Electricity/Biogas

(R – 12%; U – 66%)

3% households use Kerosene (R – 1%; U – 8%)

Increase of 11 pts in use of LPG (R – 6 pt; U – 17 pt)

Fire-wood; 48.98

LPG/ PNG; 28.55

Crop residue; 8.85000000000001

Cow dung cake; 7.95

Kerosene; 2.9Coal, Lignite, Charcoal; 1.45 Biogas; 0.41 Electricity; 0.1 Any other; 0.48

Fuel used for cooking Total Rural Urban 2001 2011 2001 2011 2001 2011

1. Fire-wood 52.5 49 64.1 62.5 22.7 20.12. Crop residue 10 8.9 13.1 12.3 2.1 1.43. Cow dung cake 9.8 8 12.8 10.9 2 1.74. Coal, Lignite, Charcoal 2 1.4 1.1 0.8 4.6 2.95. Kerosene 6.5 2.9 1.6 0.7 19.2 7.56. LPG/ PNG 17.5 28.5 5.7 11.4 48 657. Electricity 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.28. Biogas 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.49. Any other 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.210. No cooking 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.5

Opportunities in Developing Biomass based Decentralized and Off-grid Solutions

&- Advantage in Decentrised systems- Biomass Resources & its Benefits

The decentralization advantage….

• Scalable• No transmission losses• Demand driven and tailored to local needs• Low gestation periods• Technology ladder can help users select the

economically appropriate system• Biomass resources are available in most

of the villages

Estimated Biomass Resources Estimated Power generation is more than

18,000 MW + from surplus agricultural residues only.

Many unutilized biomass residues such as pine needles, lantana etc. are also available.

In addition, possible to generate about 10,000 MW power from raising dedicated plantations on about 2 million hectare forest and non-forest degraded lands.

Contribution of biomass in power potential -18000 MW

State wise power potential

Biomass Resources-Diverse Sources

Agro residue

Agro-Industrial residue

Forest residue

Energy Plantation

Are we having enough Biomass for Electricity?

Main Drivers are amongst other High potential - About

15,000-18,000 MW Biomass is the only renewable,

which can generate sustainable direct and indirect income for the rural communities - in fact almost half the revenue earned from sale of power directly goes back to the farmers.

Diverse array of proven technology ranging from few kilowatt size to megawatt with both grid and off-grid solutions.

Higher net positive environment benefit.

Benefits of Rural Energy Access through Biomass….

Every MW generated from such plants would be able to cover about 6000 rural household.

Thus, potentially 60 million household, about 80% of the un-served / underserved population of the whole country can be provided energy access by accelerated development of biomass based distributed power generation system - from 10000 MW

Total income potential of about Rs 1.5 crores per year per megawatt

Biomass power is the only renewable energy system, which makes direct contribution in enhancing financial and economic benefits to the farmers in particular and rural economy in general.

Utility would significantly benefit by promoting tail end project due to improved utilisation of rural network, reduction in T&D losses, meeting RPO in the most cost effective manner etc.

Rice Husk Utilization

Study Conducted in 2009-10 to upscale the programme.

Rice Belt – Low per capita electricity & Most backward region

Biomass Gasifier Based Mini Grids Experimented in India – Business Models

Biomass Gasifier Based Mini Grids Husk Power Projects

Biomass based power plants that uses rice husks/agricultural residues

32 kW capacity system with producer gas engine

Current scale-  60 mini-power plants in 250 villages /hamlets powering  ~ 25,000 households

Micro-grid/Mini-grids to supply electricity Distribution network over an area of about 2 to

3 km Serves 3-400 households and commercial users

for 6-8 hours daily

Biomass Gasifier based AC mini-grid Model

Husk Power System…the economics

• BOOM- Build, Own, Operate and Maintain model• Use about 2.0 kg per kWh of rice husk and purchased at Rs. 1.0 to 1.50 per kg from rice mills

• Securing source of supply against shortages and price increase

• Households pay fixed monthly charges of Rs. 50 for 15 W CFL, or package of two 15 W CFL's and mobile recharge for a monthly charge of Rs. 100

• Commercial users, irrigation pumps (Rs 50/KWh) pay more

• Prepaid meters to ensure payments, prevent overloads

• Residual ash used for agarbatti making- additional revenue source

• Ministry provides Central Financial assistance of about 40% besides support for distribution network, training and capacity building

Biomass Based Mini Grids Other Projects

• Saran Renewables, DESI Power are other biomass mini grids with broadly similar operations and business models

• Sunderbans based Gosaba island gasifier is the largest and oldest biomass mini grid• 5x100 kW dual fuel biomass gasifiers• 20 km each HT and LT network • 100% funded by the government• Differential pricing for households and businesses

Hybrid AC/DC and Biomass based grids

Gasifier Projects in W Champaran, Bihar

Gasifier Project in Bihar

Mini-grid models more reliable and sustainable compared to stand-alone systems

Build Scale to cut costs and ensure bankability and commercial viability

Government subsidy and bank finance/equity critical

Battery & Grid drive costs – Solar-Biomass Hybrids ?

Load management- anchor/enterprise load and predictability important

Community participation, capacity building and plant O&M

Private Rural Electrification Projects- lessons

Economic Impact

Sustainable Business Opportunities With Biomass Gasifier based electrification –Vision

BIOMASS GASIFIER200 kW(th)

ELECTRICITYGENERATION

50kW

IRRIGATION

BIOMASS FROM FARM

Engine Exhaust (

50Kw at 400 °C)

Engine JacketHeat 50kW at 82.5 °C

RURAL ELECTRIFICATONAGRICULTURE PRODUCTION

Drinking Water. 400 L / Hr.

Cold storage: 20 tn

Energy Interventions should prioritize livelihood generation activities to increase purchasing power

of villagers

LET THERE BE LIGHT

For Cooperation Contact…

Ministry of New & Renewable EnergyGovernment of India

Block No. 14, CGO Complex,Lodhi Road,

New Delhi 110022Website – www.mnre.gov.in