INDIA: CLEAN ENERGY FROM BIOMASS

INDIA: CLEAN ENERGY FROM BIOMASS

CustomerWorld Energy Inc.

ServicesWind Turbines Solar Panels

Date04.06.2019

Environmental problems in India are growing rapidly. The increasing economic development and a rapidly growing population that has taken the country from 300 million people in 1947 to more than one billion people today is putting a strain on the environment, infrastructure, and the country’s natural resources.

India’s air pollution is exacerbated by its heavy reliance on coal for power generation. Coal supplies more than half of the country’s energy needs and is used for nearly three-quarters of electricity generation. While India is fortunate to have abundant reserves of coal to power economic development, the burning of this resource, especially given the high ash content of India’s coal, has come at a cost in terms of public health risk and environmental degradation. Reliance on coal as the major energy source has led to a nine-fold jump in carbon emissions over the past forty years. The government estimates the cost of environmental degradation has been running at 4.5% of GDP in recent years.

SWITCHING FROM COAL TO RENEWABLE BIOMASS

Biomass projects are implemented in small or large industrial plants. Their aim is to utilize agricultural waste or other non-renewable biomass residues as fuel to generate power and to lower the plants’ dependence on the local grid for electricity. Before the implementation of the project, the electricity needs of such plants were met by power from a coal dominated grid. To meet the rising energy demands in production, a new efficient biomass boiler was installed together with a steam turbine, producing both steam and electricity. The new boilers are fuelled with locally available agricultural waste instead of traditional, emission intensive coal. Before the start of the project, these agricultural residues were not used. They were either burned without harnessing the resulting thermal energy, or simply left to decay, thereby generating methane emissions. The plant’s steam and electricity requirements can be now supplied by the new cogeneration unit. The investment required for the installation of the new cogeneration unit could not have been raised were it not for the revenue from sales of carbon credits.

TECHNOLOGY BRIEF – HOW IT WORKS

Biomass refers to biological material derived from organic matter such as wood and organic wastes. Biomass may be grown especially for the purpose of generating heat or power, but in the case of this project, the biomass is from locally available agricultural waste. The use of agricultural residues is particularly sensible because clean energy is sourced from materials that would otherwise have been left to decay, generating methane.

SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS

In addition to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, this project goes further towards aiding sustainable development in the region by: Job Creation Creating jobs in the construction, maintenance, and operation of the plant as well as in the biomass logistics Income Creation Demonstrating and promoting renewable wind energy technology & Improving local environmental conditions. Income Creation Creating additional income for farmers from agricultural waste Promote Green Demonstrating and spreading renewable energy technology Local Fuel By utilizing locally available, sustainable fuel sources thereby reducing the dependence on energy imports on a national level Energy Supply Alleviating the load on the unstable regional electricity grid, while providing a steady supply of electricity to the plant Reduced Emissions Reducing emissions of air pollutants from fossil fuel burning like SO2, soot and particulate matter Business Case Creating a business case for regional empowerment through environmentally friendly technology

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KENYA: CLEAN DRINKING WATER

KENYA: CLEAN DRINKING WATER

CustomerWorld Energy Inc.

ServicesWind Turbines Solar Panels

Date04.06.2019

According to the UN 884 million people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water. Approximately 80% of the diseases in developing countries can be traced back to the consumption of contaminated water; each year more than 2 million children die due to this cause.

Africa is especially affected. In rapidly growing cities, up to 60% of the population does not have access to sufficient clean water. In Kenya the problem is even more acute because of the ongoing drought, meaning that approximately 15% of Kenyans will suffer permanent damage due to the scarcity of drinking water.

In order to get clean drinking water, women often have to walk long distances. Even then, water is often only available in open sources – such as rivers or waterholes – and is contaminated with dirt and pathogens.

CLEAN WATER WITH THE HELP OF THE LIFESTRAW®

In the course of the project, over one million LifeStraws® Family units from the company Vestergaard Fransen will be distributed in 19 districts of the Western Province of Kenya as part of an integrated provision campaign. This will give over four million Kenyans the opportunity to purify their water quickly and safely. LifeStraws® effectively eliminate dirt particles and pathogens, thereby helping prevent waterborne illnesses. LifeStraws® purify water without the need for heat, electricity or additional tools. This means that LifeStraws® are not only good for Africans’ health but good for the environment as there is no need to combust non-renewable biomass such as firewood as required by conventional water purification. Thus, this project leads to a more than 2 million ton reduction in CO2 emissions per year and helps prevent deforestation.

TECHNOLOGY BRIEF – HOW IT WORKS

The LifeStraw® Family system consists of two main components: a container, in which the contaminated water is filled, and a filter cartridge, which is connected to the container through a pipe. Through the filter cartridge, the purified water can directly be bottled or drunk.

The system works with a microbial filter which enables users to purify the water without any additives or electricity. Thereby up to 18,000 litres of water can be filtered with one single LifeStraw® Family system. The quality of the water is at least as good – or even better – as water that has been purified by heating. The system only has to be replaced after a lifespan of three years, making the LifeStraw® a safe and cost efficient way to purify water.

SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS

In addition to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, this project goes further towards aiding sustainable development in the region by:

Health

Reducing the cases of illness and death caused by contaminated water, especially among children thereby increasing the rate of school attendance

Employment

Employing thousands of locals during the project phase and creating several hundred permanent jobs

Productivity

Reducing the time and costs needed for the procurement of drinkable water. The time saved can be used for more productive activities such as the education of children or economic or agricultural tasks

Wealth

Reducing poverty and giving people hope for a better future by yielding health and economic benefits

Environment

Reducing deforestation and desertification by reducing the use of firewood to boil water

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