Renewable Energy

Achievements of VK-NARDEP in Biogas technology

More than 2000 biogas plants have been installed by VK-NARDEP. A national survey of biogas plants taken up and based on the study VK - nardep came up with cost-effective and flexible small volume fixed dome biogas plants. Brought out user manuals for engineers, masons and end-users in English, Tamil and Hindi Developed a package of biogas slurry based technologies which integrate the biogas system with the agro-ecosystem.

Innovations and R & D in Biogas technology: Search for alternative biofuels have been taken up by Technology Resource Centre(TRC) of VK-NARDEP, which has led to experimenting with non-edible oil cakes. Neem cake based 1 cum Biogas Plant @ VK-nardep TRC is being experimentally run. Bio-fuel (Neem oil) is used in diesel engine for generating electricity at TRC. More on VK-NARDEP promotion of biogas technology can be downloaded here. The latest innovation of VK-NARDEP in renewable energy is its use of kitchen waste and other edible waste in biogas production. It has already started pilot studies of the plant in the restaurants of Kanyakumari which being a tourist place, has a severe problem of edible waste disposal. To download more details on kitchen waste biogas plant click here.

VK-nardep regularly conducts awareness programmes about Bio-Methanation plant - Shakthi Surabhi. These awareness camps help lay public and interested people to get awareness about these technology. The awareness camps are also organized in villages and community halls. Apart from that one day training camps are also conducted in which interested people are given an in-depth study of Shakthi Surabhi technology and also hands-on-training. We also conduct meeting for users of the technology. In these regular meets users share their experiences from which methods for optimum use of technology as well as improvement of designs are evolved.

VK-nardep has developed biogas technologies that are suitable for marginal farmers with low volume cattle dung. It has established more than 3000 biogas units throughout India in various agro-climatic zones. Now VK-nardep has come out with Shakthi Surabhi bio-methanation plant for biogas production from organic kitchen waste. These technologies are aimed at creating de-centralized localized production of energy for households - both in urban and rural areas. VK-nardep also promotes biogas technology through promotion of biogas slurry based agriculture and home gardens.

India has an energy problem. There is a huge urban-rural energy divide. Urban India is having a largely subsidized commercial energy while rural India is primarliy dependent on dwindling sources of non-commerical primary energy. Both are non-sustainable in the long run. Equally important is the problem of pollution from domestic organic wastes. In many households in rural India as well as in high density urban environments disposing the organic wastes from the households is a serious problem that needs effective tackling.

It is to these two problems that Vivekananda Kendra offers a single solution. Natural Resources Development Project popularly known as VK-nardep is an integral part of Vivekananda Kendra and has been working in the field of sustainable development for more than twenty five years. Its work in renewable energy has won the organization,the prestigeous international Ashden Award. Now VK-nardep has come out with a solution for this twin-problems – it is called Shakthi Surabhi – a Bio-Methanation plant.

Fixed model Shakthi Surabhi plants are more suitable for rural areas are also economical. It is not only individual households but also larger institutions with hostels and community kitchen halls find the large volume fixed model bio-methanation plant technology very useful. Larger size plants are also being constructed. In the internationally renowned tourist town of Mamallapuram near Chennai, a community operated larger size Shakti Surabhi plant produces electricity from organic waste. Though the town itself houses a modest population of just 12,345 in about 400 households, it generates a huge volume of waste – mainly kitchen waste from various hotels and restaurants. This in turn creates hygiene related problems which can affect the tourist industry itself that is the lifeblood for the village.

Energy is the pre-requisite for civilization said the famous futurologist Alvin Toffler. And today energy is becoming the major limiting factor in the path to development. However protoganists of sustainable development look at the energy crisis from a different point of view and conclude that this is an opportunity to radically revamp the use of energy and go for alternative technologies which necessitate change in perception of energy resources and production.

Decentralized energy production even at household level can significantly change the energy scenario of the nation. For more than a quarter century VK-nardep has been involved in field work in the energy field. Its work put forth by the engineers and extension workers has been internationally recognized. VK-nardep is an Ashden award winning institution working in the field of renewable energy for more than twenty five years.