AICRP on Renewable Energy Sources

This scheme was launched in March, 1983 during VI Plan by combining two earlier projects on Solar Energy Utilization [PL-480] and ICAR-DST Project on biggest technology and the Wind Energy was added as a new aspect. During VII Plan, three new centres were added making the total numbers of centres as 16 and a new activity on Producer Gas Technology was initiated at six centres w.e.f February, 1988. However, at the end of VIIth Plan the CAZRI, Jodhpur centre was discontinued reducing the number of centres to 15. The scheme continued to be operated at 15 centres during the VIII Plan period.

Mandate

The project is aimed a studying and pilot level field trials on integrated appropriate technology of renewable energy sources viz., solar energy wind energy Biggest and producer gas for their appropriate applications for production agriculture, post-harvest operation , animal raising and rural living , singly or in combination with conventional and other new and renewable energy sources.

Objectives

  1. Solar energy use through development and adaptation of solar gadgets such as dryers for different crops, cookers for cooking staple food, solar thermal energy for agro-process industries, solar stills for desalination in desert areas, solar refrigeration in rural areas, solar photovoltaic applications to other agriculture operations and rural living.

  2. Biggest generation from animals, human and other cellulosic waste available from agricultural production and processing activities, rural agro-industries, municipal wastes, aquatic weeds, etc and its use for cooking illumination and mechanical power with emphasis on developing badges plants for solid - state fermentation and high rate digestion in thermophilic range and slurry management as replacement to chemical fertilizers.

  3. Producer gas generation from agricultural waste and other biomass resources for thermal applications such as crop drying, food processing and mechanical power generation for agro-processing industries and domestic activities.

  4. Study of integrated energy systems for agriculture and agro-based industries.

  5. Evaluation and demonstration of technical soundness and economic viability of proven renewable energy sources technologies, assessment of benefit cost ration, pilot introduction and preparation of material for technology transfer.