UN-backed biomass gas project for rural India

24 March 2008:  The  latest Biomass gasifier plant, at Boregunte, a village in Karnataka state,  has been started today by Mr. Kemal Dervis, UNDP administrator.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Kemal Dervis mentioned that the “project not only improves their lives but also gives them the opportunity to manage the project on their own, providing them additional sources of income.”

It is the second plant commissioned under the project and has the capacity of delivering 250 kilowatts of electricity, with excess power to be sold to the Bangalore Electric Supply Company, according to UNDP.  The first plant under the project was inaugurated in the village of Kabbigere on 24 January, 2008 and has provided around 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity to four villages since then.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, along with Government of Karnataka and UNDP United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had taken up this project 
‘to provide electricity to rural communities in an environment friendly, carbon neutral way’, with the funding received from the UN’s Global environment Facility.

A third plant, producing 250 kilowatt-hours, will be commissioned soon in Seebirayanapalya and another in Chinnenahalli has been proposed to be commissioned by the end of 2008.

Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26079&Cr=undp&Cr1=energy