1.8 Suggested Action Plan
i. In order to promote rice husk utilization technologies for energy, greater awareness will have to be created in rural areas regarding their advantages vis-avis other options.
ii. Promotion and demonstration of feasible rice husk energy utilization technologies in rural areas, could be achieved through rural exhibition/melas, T.V. Programmes, establishment of technology demonstration centers etc. DNES, NRDC etc. can play a vital role in technology promotion.
iii. The commercialization of technologies developed by R&D institutions is on a low scale, which could be enhanced by greater interaction between technology development organizations and manufacturers/fabricators of equipment. Commercialization of technologies would lead to greater propagation of technologies. DNES, NRDC, R & D institutions, private entrepreneurs can contribute in this report.
iv. High cost of technologies / equipments has been one of the major hindrance in wide scale adoption of technologies in rural areas. It is recommended that low cost technologies/equipment should be developed by R & D institutions by way of usage of cheaper materials, design improvement etc.
v. It is recommended that capital subsidy of 30-40% should be provided on biomass briquetting equipments as briquettes are renewable form of energy and helps in conservation of coal, in line with government policy of providing subsidies to biomass gasifiers, stoves, etc.
vi. A few R & D areas identified with respect to rice husk energy utilization technologies of energy.
vii. Development of special alloy dyes for briquetting machines which can withstand highly abrasive nature of husk.
viii. Development & commercialization of technologies which utilize maximum rice husk energy and also generate useful by products i.e. white ash out of which other useful products like amorphous silica could be extracted. Organizations such as IIT-Delhi. IIT-Bombay; DAV, Ludhiana (gasifiers), SAR, Samgli; Solar Sciences Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. Delhi (briquetting machines). CFRI-Dhanbad; IISc-Bangalore (Stoves), CBRI-Roorkee, IIT-Kharagpur (Ash Utilization) can contribute in R&D activities development.
ix. Rice husk gasifier based electricity generation systems (50kW capacity) are ideal for isolated rural areas. Since cost of these systems is high (50 kW system costs Rs. 7 lacs), these could be promoted by State Governments / State Electricity Boards. North Eastern States such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, etc. offer lot of potential for such systems. These systems would lead to lots of benefits like employment generation, diesel oil savings etc.
x. Rice husk briquetting units would be a viable option for industrialized rural areas where briquettes could be used as boiler fuel in place of coal. Entrepreneurs could be encouraged by State Financial Institutions, State Industrial Development Corporations, District Industrial Centers etc., to establish such units in rural areas thereby generating employment. Loans on liberal terms could also be provided by financial institutions.
xi. Stirling engines (5 HP) can be promoted for irrigation in place of diesel pump sets. High cost of stirling Engine could be brought down by mass production of these engines.
xii. Rice husk stoves are much more energy efficient than improved wood stoves and lead to smokeless cooking, reduces deforestation. Such systems could be promoted on a larger scale under ‘National Programme on Improved Chulhas’ by DNES. These systems can be fabricated at village level.
xiii. Maximum co-operation is required between Nodal Agency (DNES). Voluntary Organizations, technology/equipment suppliers, village Panchayats etc. for greater promotion and dissemination of technologies in rural areas.
xiv. Training is very essential for effective dissemination of technologies, and can be imparted to rural youth/people in technology demonstration cum training centers by representatives of technology/equipments suppliers.
xv. International cooperation between leading foreign countries, i.e. China, Philippines, Thailand etc. and India is very essential in this field, for development of rice husk utilitarian technologies, updating of technologies based on experiences, technology transfer etc. International Organizations such as FAO, UNIDO, UNDP etc. can promote greater international cooperation.
xvi. It is recommended that further in-depth studies should be initiated to identify appropriate rice husk energy utilization technologies for major regions (region wise) since feasibility of various identified technologies would vary from place to place, state to state and would depend on a number of factors, like husk prices, extent of industrialization in area, husk generation source in area etc.
