Husk Power: A new Power solution (Only for reading)

Enlighting the Society:

Fuel MW %age
Total Thermal 155968.99 68.19
Coal 134,388.39 58.75
Gas 20,380.85 8.91
Oil 1,199.75 0.52
Hydro (Renewable) 39,788.40 17.39
Nuclear 4,780.00 2.08
RES** (MNRE) 28,184.35 12.32
Total 2,28,721.73 100.00
Renewable Energy Sources(RES) include SHP, BG, BP, U&I and Wind Energy
SHP= Small Hydro Project ,BG= Biomass Gasifier ,BP= Biomass Power,
U & I=Urban & Industrial Waste Power, RES=Renewable Energy Sources

Over 400 million people in India, including 47.5% of those living in Indias rural areas, still had no access to electricity.
Because of the remoteness of much of Indias un-electrified population, renewable energy can offer an economically viable
means of providing connections to these groups.

Government Incentive Schemes: New Initiatives
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy launched another Programme on Biogas based Distributed/Grid Power Generation
in January 2006 (2005-06) so as to set up reliable decentralized power generating units(3KW to 250KW) in rural areas in the
country. The per KW Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs. 40,000 (3-20 KW), Rs. 35,000 (>20 to 100 KW) and Rs. 30,000
(>100 to 250 KW) is available for the installation of biogas based power generation units. The programme is implemented
through nodal departments/ agencies of the states/ UTs, KVIC, institutions and Biogas Development and Training Centres
(BDTCs) of MNRE.

In this Crisis of Rural India Electrification, Husk Power System has come to contribute the society by providing lighting
system. In just four years HPS has installed 84 mini-power plants, providing electricity to over 200,000 people spread across
300 villages, and employing 350 people operating across the state of Bihar. Each plant serves around 400 households, saving
approximately 42,000 litres of kerosene and 18,000 litres of diesel per year, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and
improving health conditions in rural areas. By extending village life beyond daylight hours, HPS promotes economic
development by enabling businesses to stay open after dark and allowing children to study at night. HPS creates an
ecosystem around each plant by providing income generation opportunities to local farmers and entrepreneurs. Additionally,
it creates employment through its livelihood programmes such as the incense stick manufacturing program which largely
employs women. This enables sustainable development within the communities HPS serves.







Each power plant operates on a 35 to 100 kilowatt generator. Woody biomass, rice husk, food
scraps and coal are put inside the metal plant. There is a heater at the bottom of the gasifier
where partial burning of the raw material takes place and results in
of conversion varies between 60 to 85 percent depending upon the type of gasifier design and fuel used. The heating
temperature of the gasifier is maintained at 400 to 500 degrees Celsius in an atmosphere of less than 1 percent oxygen.
Gases are then produced with rice char, a by product of the process. The chamber mouth is attached with a venture, a kind
of water fountain that works as a gas cleaning cum cooling system, which creates pressure to separate char, gas and dust
particles from the gas. Four filters are attached to the end to assist in the process: a water seal, a three-stage gas filter
including one for charcoal, another for husk, and the last for fabric. A spark ignition engine and two lead acid batteries are
used to crank the engine and power the panels.

The distribution grid has single phase lines and does not use transformers. The extension of the grid is up to 1.5 kilometres
ensuring 190 volts at the furthest point of the grid. HPS wires villages in a cost through the use of bamboo poles and low
voltages wires and recommends using energy saving CFL bulbs. Every operational unit includes an operator, a bill collector
cum electrician, and a husk loader. The operator lives on the plant premises and the electrician cum bill collector is from
the local village. The husk loader is a daily wage worker. HPS complies with labour laws to ensure favourable working
conditions for all of its employees.

Social accountability
HPS is a successful model of social entrepreneurship where it strives to serve the society by
giving back more than it takes. The corporate social responsibility arm of Husk Power Systems,
Samta Samriddhi Foundation, sponsors the education of 200 children
trains women in making incense sticks. The foundation also hopes to train a team of women in
each cluster to audit the work of HPS, manage the schools adopted, and conduct awareness
programmes on issues pertaining to electricity, public health and environment.


Husk Power Systems
ion well-designed model ensures profitability per plant within
2,000 user fee is dependent on the number and
in private schools and

Business Model
HPS provides end-to-end renewable energy solutions by installing 25-kW to 100-kW mini power plants and then wiring
villages and hamlets of up to 4000 inhabitants to deliver electricity on a pay-for-use basis.
This technology cost-effectively converts agricultural residue (rice husk, mustard stems, corn cobs, certain grasses etc) into
electricity. A typical plant can serve two to four villages within a radius of 1.5 kilometers, depending on size and population.
The plant employs local villagers who are then trained by HPS to conduct plant operations.
A Low Cost Solution:
Consumers pre-pay a fixed monthly fee ranging from US$2 - $3 to light up two fluorescent lamps and one mobile charging
station. This offers consumers savings of at least 30% over competing kerosene and diesel energy sources (annual savings of
up to US$50) and a lighting package that can serve the whole household. Additional customised packages are available to
meet the varying needs of each customer.
Leading Technology:
HPS manages a network of decentralised power plants across wide geographies using a cloud-based, real-time monitoring
system. Electricity is distributed through micro-grids made from bamboo or other sustainable materials instead of concrete.
A custommade pre-paid meter helps the company ensure that consumers utilise no more than the wattage they have paid
for. Low-cost transformers developed by the company ensure consistent voltage flow and theft free distribution.
Reference:
Husksystem