RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) started research in renewable energy in 1981. The work can be broadly categorized into household energy, biomass energy, mobility and clean water research. They are summarized below:
Household energy
Household energy research was initiated to help improve the lives of rural population. In the 1980s one of the major problems in Phaltan (and a lot of other villages in India) was the unavailability of electricity. The kerosene lanterns and wood-based chulhas used by the villagers resulted in indoor pollution. For providing clean cooking and lighting for rural households, NARI envisioned the usage of renewable fuels like ethanol. First step was to minimize the energy consumption in ethanol distillation. Hence, the world’s first pilot plant for solar-powered ethanol distillation was set up in 1987. To use ethanol for lighting, a multi-fuel Noorie lantern was developed. Further for cooking, a low-concentration ethanol stove was developed. Finally a device called lanstove (lantern cum stove) running on kerosene, diesel and ethanol was developed for facilitating cooking and lighting simultaneously.
biomass energy
NARI started work on biomass energy to utilize the agricultural waste/residues which otherwise were burned in open fields in Phaltan and surrounding areas causing pollution. The first gasifier developed was wood-based. It gave good insights into the critical parameters of the gasification process. Thus in 1996, NARI developed a 1800 MJ/hr loose leafy biomass gasifier for thermal applications. NARI also did an extensive study of Phaltan taluka and found that the agricultural residues of the taluka were more than sufficient to fulfill all its energy needs. Based on this report, the national policy on biomass-based power plants was made.
MOBILITY
Mobility work was initiated to help increase the remuneration of rickshaw pullers who belong to the lowest economic strata of the society. As a first step, the humble cycle rickshaw was redesigned to produce an efficient and light-weight rickshaw called ‘IMPRA’ (Improved Pedal Rickshaw). To further reduce the load for rickshaw pullers, IMPRA was modified to run on a motor powered by batteries and was named ‘MAPRA’ (Motor Assisted Pedal Rickshaw). The feedback on MAPRA showed that a fully electric rickshaw was more desirable. Hence in 2000, NARI developed the world’s first fully electric three wheeler ‘ELECSHA’. Later, NARI also developed ‘MANHARA’ (Motor Assisted NARI Handicapped Rickshaw) and a completely electrified trike for handicapped people. This work on electric rickshaws was then extended to develop some battery-powered farm machinery.
clean water research
The clean water research was carried out in three areas: production of water from soil, treatment of distillery effluent and purifying water cheaply for rural areas-all with the use of solar energy. In the 1980s, there was a major tree plantation drive initiated by the Indian government. Most of the trees planted in Phaltan area died in early stages because of lack of water. To address this problem, NARI utilized the age-old technology of collecting soil water evaporated using solar energy and watering the tree seedlings. The local ethanol distilleries in Phaltan released very dark coloured and foul smelling effluent without proper treatment. To clean the distillery waste with the use of a photo-catalyst, NARI developed a solar detoxification unit for diluted effluent. It made the waste water clear, removed the smell and reduced its biological and chemical oxygen demand. To mitigate the problem of lack of potable water in rural areas, NARI designed a low cost and efficient solar water purifier in 2012. Studies on the purifier suggested that it completely killed the coliforms in the water even on a cloudy day.
First generation ethanol stove
World’s first solar powered ethanol distillation plant set up at NARI in 1987
Solar still
Solar soil water evaporation unit
‘Noorie’ lantern, developed in 1988
World’s first loose biomass gasifier set up at NARI in 1995
Solar powered detoxification unit
MAPRA, developed in 1999
MANHARA, developed in 2006
Electric trike, developed in 2007
India’s first fully electric three wheeler ‘Elecsha’, developed in 2000
World’s first low concentration ethanol stove developed in 2006
Keresone lanstove developed at NARI, 2012
