Spotlight

Green power for
rural areas in India
March 24

Today, Mr. Kemal Derviş, UNDP Administrator and UN Under Secretary General commissioned a biomass gasifier plant, which uses carbon neutral biomass to produce electricity for rural villages, in Boregunte village in Karnataka. The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)/UNDP, India Canada Environment Facility (ICEF), and the Government of Karnataka and managed and run by the community.

The commissioning of the plant took place in the presence of Mr. Kemal Derviş, UNDP Administrator and UN Under Secretary General, and Shri K Jairaj, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

The plant in Boregunte, Madhugiri cluster, is funded by the Global Environment Facility, and supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India, the Government of Karnataka, and UNDP. It is the second plant commissioned under this project and has the capacity of delivering 250-kilowatt electricity. This will enhance the reliability and quality of electricity in these villages and generate additional livelihoods. The Gram Panchayat has signed an agreement with the Bangalore Electric Supply company to sell excess power.

A biomass gasifier converts wood or agriculture residues into a combustible gas mixture. Biomass, such as wood or coconut shells, are sized to small pieces and burnt in a reactor that converts it to combustible gases, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This so-called ‘producer gas’ runs the engines, which produce power. The Boregunte power plant will be entirely managed by the community.

“This project looks at how remote communities can have better access to electricity in an environment friendly, carbon neutral way. The project not only improves their lives but also helps reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The fact that they manage the project on their own gives them the opportunity to have additional sources of income”, said Kemal Derviş.

To ensure the smooth running of Boregunte self-help groups have been formed to manage the nurseries for the trees to be used in plantations. The village forest committees take care of ant, whereas the village biomass energy management committee is in charge of managing the plant.

The first plant under this project was inaugurated in Kabbigere on 24 January 2007 and has provided around 10,000 Kilowatt-hours of electricity to 4 villages until today. A third plant with 250 kWe in Seebirayanapalya will be commissioned shortly and another in Chinnenahalli is proposed to be commissioned by the end of 2008.

UNDP is dedicated to the cause of protecting the global environment and has been engaged in climate relevant activities for over a decade. The overall objective has been to support the Government of India in meeting its national commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. In India, UNDP is working towards countering climate change by supporting people to cope with climate change and by working with communities, government, private sector, civil society and research institutions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas by increasing energy efficiency and promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

UNDP is committed to help India achieve the global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as the national objectives articulated in consecutive Five-Year Plans. The organization remains dedicated to its goal to help improve the lives of the poorest women and men, the marginalized and the disadvantaged in India. UNDP works in the following areas: Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, Disaster Risk Management, Energy and Environment, and HIV/AIDS.