Non-conventional energy holds answer to fuel crisis: Expert

Rajkot, Mar 31 (UNI) In the face of fast-depleting fossil fuel stocks, non-conventional and renewable energy sources provide a viable solution to tide over an impending energy crisis, according to an expert.

Energy consumption, particularly in the form of petroleum-based fuels, has increased manifold during the past few years which is likely to lead to an energy crisis and adversely affect the economy, Radhe Renewable Energy Development Associate (RREDA) managing director Dr S V Makadia said while speaking to UNI.

The RREDA is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of non-conventional and renewable energy equipments like biomass-based briquetting plants and gasifier systems and have installed them in India as well as abroad.

Dr Makadia stressed that no industry could survive the rocketing prices of fuel unless they switched over to new energy efficient technologies.

Dr Makadia claimed that gasifier plants have proved to be a boon for ceramic industries, rolling mills, and the chemical industry which have a large presence at Morbi in this district and Himmatnagar in North Gujarat.

Every year, millions of tonnes of agricultural waste are generated which remain unutilised or are burnt causing air pollution, Dr Makadia pointed out. The biomass briquetting plants can easily convert bio-mass and agro-forestry wastes into high-density fuel (briquettes), Dr Makadia pointed out.

India and other agriculture-based countries have lots of scope from this project due to huge availability of abundant biomass, he said. Major agro-wastes that are available include groundnut shells, sunflower stalks, bagasse, jute wastes, castorseed shells and stalks, and such other materials which can be used directly.

. Apart from solving the energy problem, this can provide additional income to the farmers who can sell these wastes which, at present, remain unutilised or are burnt. The briquetting process itself is non-polluting since it requires no binders or chemicals. Adoption of briquetting technology, therefore, not only converts waste into green energy but is also a safe way of disposing waste, points out Dr Makadia.

Briquettes, or block of compressed combustble materials are widely used for several thermal applications like steam generation in boilers, heating purposes, drying processes and replacing conventional fuels like coal and liquid fuels in gasification plants. Use of briquettes as a fuel for green energy has shown very promising results, Dr Makadia said.

Briquettes find use in various industries such as ceramic industries, textile units, spinning mills, solvent extraction plants, chemical industries, dyeing units, brick-making units, rubber industries, food processing industries, milk plants, leather industries, and many others.

There are 38 plants installed throughout India, most of them in Maharashtra in sugar mills. All of them are running successfully, Dr Makadia said.

The RREDA has diversified its activities towards development and manufacture of biomass gasifiers. It develops and manufactures two types of gasifier systems -- the updraft and downdraft gasifier systems.

The company has installed over 50 gasifiers across the country.

''Our technology and the commercialisation of updraft gasifiers for thermal applications have led to savings in liquid fuel to the tune of three lakh litres per day. This amounts to approximately Rs 4.5 million per day,'' Dr Makadia claimed.

UNI