(a) whether according to institute for Solid Waste Research and Ecological Balance, mini power plants based on rice husk technology can fulfill the electricity needs of rural areas and can be a boon to farmers and millers besides ensuring sustainable development as outlined in Kyoto Protocol;
(b) if so, to what extent Government has been successful in introducing this technology; and
(c) to what extent the Government are making efforts for its immediate use?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (SHRI M. KANNAPPAN)
(a), (b) & (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTs (a), (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 152 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.02.03 REGARDING POWER PLANTS BASED ON RICE HUSK BY SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA.
(a): Government are aware of a press report which attributed the idea of power plants based on `rice husk ash` (RHA) to the Institute for Solid Waste Research & Ecological Balance (INSWAREB) at Visakhapatnam. The press report is misleading in that it is rice husk and not rice husk ash which is used to generate electricity. Government are aware of the views of the Institute. The use of rice husk and other kinds of bio-mass to generate power is well-known.
(b) & (c): A total capacity of 164 MW has already been installed in the country for generation of power from biomass, including rice husk. A capacity of 218 MW is under implementation. A target of 250 MW has been set for biomass power generation during the Tenth Plan. Central Financial Assistance is provided for various types of projects besides other promotional incentives. Soft loans for commercial projects are available from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). Policies have been introduced in various States for grid connection of biomass power projects.