bihar - rice husks

• Give an example of an area in an LIC/ NEE that requires a local renewable energy scheme and explain why.

  Bihar is a state in north-east India (an NEE). Around 85% of people who live in Bihar are not connected to the electricity grid, particularly those in most rural areas. People that are connected often have an unreliable energy supply.
• What scheme was introduced to Bihar to provide energy sustainably?

  In 2007, a scheme began to use local biomass to supply more homes in Bihar with electricity. This scheme uses rice husks - a waste product from producing rice for food.
• How can electricity be generated from rice husks?

  Rice husks are collected and used to generate electricity in small, local power plants.
• What are the power plants used to generate electricity from rice husks like?

  Each power plant has a simple design an contains a rice husk gasifier, filters to clean the gas, a gas turbine, a generator and a distribution system that can supply electricity to homes within a 1.5 km range.
• How is producing electricity locally using rice husks efficient?

  The rice husks don't need to travel long distances and the electricity does not need to be transferred very far.
• What made the scheme successful?

  • By 2015, almost 85 rice husk power plants were operating in Bihar, supplying energy to around 200000 people
  • Generating electricity from biomass reduced the need for diesel generators and kerosene lamps, reducing fossil fuel use
  • The power plants also provide jobs for local people - they are trained in management, operations and maintenance. This keeps the scheme sustainable as it reduces reliance on external organisations and expertise
  • The government now offers financial support to help set up further biomass plants