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7.3.4
Progress in Commercialisation and Achievements
Special application packages have been developed for use of biomass
gasification technologies for thermal and electrical applications in
Rice Mills, Cold Storages, Textile Mills, Tube and Tyre Manufacturing
Companies, Plywood Industries, Steel re-rolling mills, Tea/Coffee drying
units, Brick kilns, Ceramic Industries for reducing energy costs with
an attractive payback period. During the year 2004-05 (as on 31.12.2004),
16 Gasifier Systems aggregating to around 4.00 MW equivalent electric
capacity have been commissioned in 8 States while 20 new projects have
been initiated. Details of projects commissioned during the year are
given in Table 7.4.
7.3.4.2 The Ministry has been providing financial incentives
in the form of capital subsidies for various categories of systems installed
in the field. Details of these incentives are given in Table 7.5. A
significant development during the year has been near commercialisation
of 100% producer gas based electricity generation systems. The Ministry
had in the recent past initiated a demonstration scheme with higher
levels of Central Financial Assistance for systems based on this technology.
As a result of this intervention, a vast majority of the projects initiated
during the year was based on 100% producer gas engines. One of the leading
manufacturers of engines has now come forward to offer performance guarantees
on engines of upto 200 KW capacity when used with biomass gasifiers.
Another leading manufacturer of engines is also closely involved in
development of engines suitable for 100% gas firing. Due to increase
in prices of diesel oil, it is expected that gasifier engine systems
capable of using 100% gas will offer an economic solution for conversion
of biomass to electricity.
