Renewable Energy

Research and Development work has been mostly in solar and biomass energy and recently in sustainable and environmentally friendly transport systems.Specifically the following work has been done.

- NARI has pioneered the development of an extremely efficient multifuel lantern called Noorie for rural areas. The pressurized mantle lantern produces light output equivalent to that from a 100 W light bulb and can run on ethanol, diesel and kerosene. Presently the work is going on in running a modified lantern on a very safe mixture of 50 - 60% (w/w) ethanol-water. These lanterns, which also double up as cookstoves, have been christened lanstove and have been tested in local rural homes.

- Because of the stringent excise laws on the use of ethanol for household uses, NARI has developed the concept of lanstove running on kerosene. Thus the kerosene lanstove is as clean and easy to use as LPG. Besides providing a very high light output it also cooks a complete meal for a family of 4-5 people and boils about 10 liters of water. Large scale testing of it in the huts which have no electricity has shown its efficacy.

- Complete technology for producing ethanol from sweet sorghum has been developed. A number of high ethanol yielding varieties have been produced. A pilot plant capable of producing 50 lpd of 95% v/v ethanol using only solar energy for distillation was set up at NARI.

- NARI has developed a stove running on 50% (w/w) and more ethanol/water concentration. This stove can be very useful for rural areas where low grade ethanol can be easily distilled. This low grade ethanol/water mixture is a very safe fuel for cooking. Recently an article has been written regarding the policy issues of using ethanol as a cooking and lighting fuel for rural households.

- NARI has pioneered the development of technology for gasification of loose leafy biomass fuels like sugarcane leaves and bagasse, sweet sorghum stalks and bagasse, different types of grasses etc. A 500 kW (thermal) gasifier has been successfully tested in an actual user-industry in India. The gasification technology for thermal applications is ready for commercialization.

- NARI has pioneered the program of Energy Self Sufficient Talukas. This was the concept proposed by the Dr. A. K. Rajvanshi the Director of NARI and was the basis of National policy and program implemented by Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Govt. of India, New Delhi. Consequently 35-40 biomass based power plants have been financed by IREDA all over the country. Recently this concept has been further extended to include food and energy security. Hence in an article it has been shown that Taluka's can provide critical mass for India's development.

- A new concept of sustainable development based on Gandhian principles has been mooted. It is shown that the old saying "simple living and high thinking" may show a new pathway of sustainable development for developing countries. Consequently NARI is trying to establish a center for sustainable development in which most of the ideas and technologies developed in the Institute will be taught to the participants.

- Recently NARI has pioneered a concept of microutility for villages. This concept has been taken up by Maharashtra Electricty Regulatory Commission (MERC) and will be implemented as a part of new rural energy policy in Maharshtra so that power for all could be provided. This concept has been further extended to provide for electricty and water simultaneously in rural areas. Another concept for using biogas based microutilities have also been promoted.

- A novel technology to increase survival of tree seedlings in arid regions has been developed. Solar energy is used to collect water from soil, which is then fed to the seedlings. Data for the last 5 years has shown 100% seedling survival. NARI is on the lookout for interested agencies/NGOs who can take this up on a large scale.

- NARI has developed technology for solar detoxification of distillery waste using photocatalysts. The obnoxious distillery waste is made odorless and completely colorless. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) is also reduced drastically. Efforts are underway to set up a pilot scale plant for treating 100 l/day of diluted effluent



- NARI has developed technologies for production of fresh water from sea and dew. Interesting concept of large-scale desalination of seawater has been developed. Similarly a concept of condensing dew for fresh water supply has also been developed.

- NARI has pioneered the development of electric and improved cycle rickshaws. Consequently three rickshaws have been developed: a) improved cycle rickshaws with five speed gears, back wheel braking and better suspension b) motor assisted cycle rickshaws (MAPRA) where a small PMDC motor powered by batteries helps the rickshaw puller to go over slopes and take load easily and c) completely battery driven rickshaw which can take two passengers at 30 Km/hr. In one battery charge this rickshaw can travel 80 Km distance. Efforts are on to market these rickshaws.

- NARI has developed a motor assisted and hand operated rickshaw for physically handicapped persons. It is christened as MANHARA. It can carry one person to 20 km in one battery charge and at speeds of 8-10 km/hr. MANHARA is undergoing testing and evaluation.

- Recently a policy paper has been written on the whole issue of cooking and lighting R&D strategy for India. Also another publication discusses the issue of rural development for the poor. Similarly a lead editorial article in Times of India was published on the issue of making farms produce energy. NARI scientists also presented a thematic paper on the strategy for biofuels at a recently held National Conference on Oilseeds.

- NARI has recently published a paper on the use of nanotechnology for rural development. It is shown in the papaer that use of high technology can accelerate the rural development. This is a novel concept which is being taken up by various organizations world over. NARI's paper on cooking and lighting energy R&D strategy was the forerunner of this concept and formed the basis of how R&D should be conducted for rural development.

- After the recent Tsunami tragedy in southern India, NARI was requested to provide inputs on possible technologies for disaster management. Consequently a short note on these technologies have been prepared. This has elicited favourable response from media and government.