tural Residues, Animal Wastes and other forms of Biomass is recognized and Taluka Level Models have also been discussed in the past. In Tamilnadu, Taluka level biomass studies have also been carried out. In the Study and Proposals presented, a more detailed approach has been followed to cover all forms of Biomass and all the three forms of Energy.

 

The Paper proposed will deal in its first part, with various Categories of Wastes and Biomass available in surplus, after accounting for needs and the uses they are put to, at present, in Vedaranyam Taluka, based on a detailed assessment carried out by an NGO.

 

The Second part will deal with an approach to Integrate and use the available surplus materials and propose appropriate Technology and Scale to produce all three forms of Energy namely – Heat Energy for Cooking for all house holds, Gaseous Automobile Fuel for use in various Vehicles and Electricity for meeting the needs of Domestic, Commercial and Local Industries.

 

It is found that this approach to Integrate and using of scaled up and appropriate Technologies can help meet all the Energy needs through Renewable Sources Economically. With an improved efficiency to collect and streamline the transportation of all the materials at required frequency to the processing sites, it is even possible to produce surplus ‘Energies’ to export to other areas.

 

Keywords: Final Form, Energy Security, Energy Freedom, Taluka, Wastes, Biomass, Gaseous Automobile Fuel, Integrate

 

1. INTRODUCTION
Modern day society depends on the reliable availability of electrical energy for progress and development. Infrastructure and capacity limitations for electricity supply in India have led to lack of reliable supply of electricity to rural areas. To address the all the energy needs of the people in the area including Electricity, Cooking Fuel and Fuel for all the Automobiles, a survey was initiated in Vedaranyam Taluka to assess the availability of adequate ‘Sources’ of Energy and the feasibility to use them to meet the Energy needs..

The program will focus on community needs for reliable energy, without impacting safety or creating environmental/ ecological imbalances. This will be achieved by adopting a ‘holistic approach’ to meet all the rural energy needs in a sustainable and participatory way to promote economic development in these villages. Reliable supply of energy will help in the establishment of local small-scale industries and agro-forestry units as well as channel commercial investment into micro-enterprises for value addition and job creation. Key elements of this energy package are, a Biomass based Power plant and Biogas and Processing Plants, addressing to meet all the Energy needs. Biomass Power Plant will exploit the Surplus Biomass of all kinds assessed in the area including the large sources from the Government ‘Purmboke’ lands in a vast area in a planned way without affecting the ‘Balance’.
2. Key issues and activities

 

• Biomass assessment for sustainable biomass supply for Power Generation
• Energy use and demand for electrical and heat energy in the villages.
• Electrical infrastructure and distribution study for the above villages.
• Biomass based power generation system:
• Optimum capacity of the plant;
• Biomass handling system;
• Design, plant layout, equipment, cost estimates, energy rates and recovery;
• Feasibility of integration of generation with TNEB grid interface;
• Animal Waste based Biogas Plants: 
• Optimum capacity and number of Plants;
• Animal waste collection and Transportation and  handling system;
• Design, plant layout, equipment, cost estimates, energy rates and recovery;
• Arrangements for Distribution
• Central Financial Assistance through Ministry of Non-conventional Energy and access to other subsidies and funds for sustainable energy projects.
• Institutional mechanisms for community management of bio-energy supply and use.
• Operations & Maintenance: A model for a long-term O&M contract for plant and distribution system maintenance including commercial conditions.
  
  
  

In this Paper the Key Issues will be addressed to establish the Potential and feasibilities for taking up more detailed Planning and Design and evolving complete Project in all its dimensions

3. VEDARANYAM TALUKA AT A GLANCE

• Vedaranyam taluka is situated in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. The taluka is

      Located at 79°51’ East Longitude and 10°21’ North Latitude. The taluka has a land area of
63214 hectares and a population of 162740 based on 2001 census.

• The taluka has 57 revenue villages and 46 Villages Panchayats with its headquarters at Vedaranyam town.
• The topography of the taluka is a coastal region. The type of soil is clay and generally

       Fertile in nature. Most of the lands are used for paddy cultivation. It is basically a rain fed area.

• The Vedaranyam salt swamp, which is the largest swamp in Tamilnadu, runs along the coast from Point Calimere westwards to Muthupet. Vedaranyam salt swamp forms another great natural division. It runs along the coast from Point Calimere for about 48 kms. And is about 7 to 8 km. wide. It is filled by two periodical high tides during the full moon of months, May and June and retains sea water to a depth of two feet over a considerable area enclosed by low earthen banks, which when closed prevent the water from flowing back into the sea after the tide recedes. It is in this manner the salt is produced.
• There is a salt manufacturing company in the taluka called CHEMPLAST, which produces salt from the nearby SWAMP. Vedaranyam is considered to be the second in salt production next to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
• The major activity of the taluka is agriculture.85% of the population of the taluka is

Engaged on agricultural activities. Fishing and salt manufacturing are the other occupations
Here. The major crops of the taluka are Paddy, Mango, Coconut, Palm and Cashew.

4. BIOMASS GENERATION AND STIMATES

• The Average Net Area falling under Agriculture cultivation in Vedaranyam taluka is

Around 19417 hectares. Agriculture activity contributes significant portion to total biomass
produced in the taluka by way of crop residues.

• The crop residues generated in the taluka are, Paddy Straw, Coconut Residues, Cashew residues and Palm residues. Estimation of the biomass generated from each crop is based on the production of each crop and area under each crop.
• The casuarinas account for an area of 1406 hectares as per the survey conducted and around 50,000 tons of casuarinas are moved off Vedaranyam taluka annually. Around 500 tons are used for fuel generation. This includes plantation done by BITSUNAMI Trust in the area.
• Biomass from PROSOPHIS JULIAPHORA - The above biomass called by the local name “velikaruvai” in Tamil has a high calorific value of 4200 Kcal/kg .The “velikaruvai” is found in abundance in the Vedaranyam taluka and the study had been done along with the local people regarding the availability and the distribution of the biomass. Velikaruvai is a fast growing perennial Plant, grows even on poor soils such as sand dunes, alkaline waste lands, dry soil etc. -grows even in poor rain fall and does not get damaged in times of heavy downpour easy propagation, no pests or diseases. Full coverage can yield about 25 to 30 Tons of Biomass/ha/year at a short rotation age of 4 to 5 years.
• Based on the data collected from the villages, the total acreage of the Velikaruvai plant in Vedaranyam Taluka has been arrived at, as 3502 Hectares and a total of 64,530 tons of biomass from velikaruvai will be generated from 3502 hectares in 4 years based on the average yield of 18.4 tons per hectare. 
• The availability survey was conducted in all villages with the help of Village Heads and local persons. The surplus quantities are arrived after liberally accounting for the existing usage and requirements.

 

The Following table provides the summary of Biomass Estimates:

Table 1 Quantity of surplus Agro-Biomass Available per Annum: Vedaranyam Taluq

 

  

5. Animal Wastes Generation and Estimates

Village by village survey was conducted to ascertain the Livestock population and the estimates were prepared. Methodology here is based on estimates of daily generation. The summary of Animal wastes available are detailed below:

Table 2 Population of Cattle and Availability of Bio Waste: Vedaranyam Taluq

 

6. Energy requirements and consumption Estimates

• Electricity – Data was collected about connected Loads from the Electricity Department and the consumption estimated assuming Load Factors ranging between 50 to 80%

 

                   Table 3  Electrical connection details in Vedaranyam Taluka.

  

• Energy for cooking and other uses- Presently most of the requirements met by Biomass and with increasing penetration of Gas, the consumption can be assumed as 0.2 Kg/ House hold/Day. For 30,000 households, the total is 6000Kgs/Day maximum and the present rate is only around 2000Kgs
• Energy for the Automobiles – Requirements in the form of Petrol and Diesel and the per day consumption is estimated at about 10,000 Litres/Day or 8000 Kgs per day.

 

7. Energy Solutions and Estimates

• Electricity – Biomass Estimates presented in Table 1 is 41,000 Tons per Annum, making it about 112 Tons per day. Electricity can be generated using the Biomass either through ‘Gasification’ or ‘Combustion’ Methods. Planning for a Centralized and Efficient arrangement and operations, Combustion Process as per schematic shown below could be used. Logistics and regular fuel movements play very important role. 
• A 5.0 MW Capacity Plant can be planned which can generate a peak of 1,20,000 Units per day and an average of about 90,000 Units per day, Gross generation per day. After accounting for captive consumption, average Generation can be put at 80,000 Units per day, meeting the entire daily requirements of the Taluka. The surplus can be fed into the Grid.  
• The approximate cost of the Plant would be around 25.0 Crores. The detailed Project Report can be worked out taking into consideration the subsidies, CDM Credits and Power Purchase rates etc. Land required for the Project would be about 7 Acres.