ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND GEO INITIATIVES

Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar ReddyCEO, GEO, http://e-geo.org

“Workshop on Climate Change to Civil Society Organisations in Andhra Pradesh.”

November 18-19, 2010.

POVERTY LEARNING FOUNDATION [plf]

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels.

In a general sense in contemporary society, alternative energy is that which is produced without the undesirable consequences of the burning of fossil fuels, such as high carbon dioxideemissions, which is considered to be the major contributing factor of global warming according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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ENERGY USE V/S POPULATION GROWTH

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WORLD ENERGY

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INDIA RURAL AND URBAN COMPARE

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STATISTICS – BIOMASS USE IN RURAL AREAS

The rural population in India relies heavily on traditional biomass-based fuels (fuelwood, crop residues, and animal dung)

Approximately 96% of rural households are estimated to be using biofuels (NSSO 1997).

These fuels dominate the domestic sector and are primarily used for cooking. Fuelwood is the primary energy source for cooking used by rural households (78%) (TERI 1999a).

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NATIONAL CONSUMPTION - ANNUAL

Fuel wood •252.1 million tonnes

Animal dung

•106.9 million tonnes

Crop residue

•99.2 million tonnes

Source: TERI 1992

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PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION - ANNUAL

Fuel wood •250 kg

Animal dung

•50 kg

Crop residue

•134 kg

Source: NSSO 1997

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BIOMASS – RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Biomass, the most renewable and available alternative energy, burns the same amount of carbon it would emit if it degraded naturally.

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GEO INITIATIVES

CAPACITY

BUILDING

ACTIVITY

RESEARCHFACILITATI

ON

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SOURCES OF BIOMASS FOR BIOCHAR

CROP RESIDUE

PROSOPIS JULIFLORA

RICE HUSK

OTHER BIOMASS

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PROSOPIS JULIFLORA AS MAIN SOURCE

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PROSOPIS JULIFLORA - CAUSE AND USE

Climate change / variability

Groundwater use

Contribution of salts-Use of complex fertilizers-Surfacing of natural salts from deep inside the ground through groundwater

Decrease in rainfallHigh temperatures

Increase in intensity of cultivation

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ALKALINE SOILS

SEMI-ARID ENVRIONMENT

Poor germination, Non-availability of soil mineralsDecrease in yield

Fallow lands

Suitable for growth of Prosopis Juliflora

-Energy Needs-Charcoal Making- Wood for agricultural implements / funiture-Pods / leaves as livestock feed

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CHARCOAL PRODUCTION – TRADITIONAL

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EFFICIENT BIOCHAR RETORTS

GSBC Project

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MAGH SERIES BIOCHAR PRODUCING STOVES

GOOD STOVES

http://

goodstove.co

m

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MAGH SERIES BIOCHAR PRODUCING STOVES

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MAGH 3G GOOD STOVE

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MAGH CM GOOD STOVE

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BIOCHAR PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE – FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Formation of Biochar producers cooperative societies

To form a network of Biochar producers

To adopt the improved Biochar production technologies

To add value to the Biochar, Biochar compost and Biochar fertilizers, etc.

To market the Biochar themselves as cooperatives

To liaison with the relevant departments for marketing the produceTo facilitate the commons for Biochar production like, place, water, shelter, power, etc.

To plant more trees for availability for Biochar production

To insure all the Biochar producers, who are members of the cooperative society

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BIOCHAR SOURCES

Charcoal and ash from crop residue burnt in the fields

(traditional practice)

Charcoal produced from

Prosopis Juliflora

Charcoal from cook

stoves

Rice husk charcoal – a by-product

from cook stoves / parboiled rice mills

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TRADITIONAL USE OF BIOCHAR

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ENHANCING SOIL MICROBES AND APPLICATION

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BIOCHAR URINALS

TAPPING NITROGEN FROM URINE OF ANIMALS AND PEOPLE USING BIOCHAR

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BIOCHAR COMPOST

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BIOCHAR MULCHING1. Retention of the soil moisture, reduction of evaporation of water from the soil 

2. Reduction in leaching of the bio / chem fertilizers applied

3. Increase in the soil microbes / worms at the biochar and soil interface

4. Regulation of the soil temperture

5. Suppression of weeds by blocking the sunlight the weeds sprouting and growth is suppressed.

6. Repulsion of the termites / ants which might attack the live plants

7. Over a period of time due to various activities the biochar mixes with the soil.

8. Prevents soil erosion too.

9. Can increase the ph of the soil towards neutral (mulch very good for acidic soils)

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BIOCHAR PREPARATIONS & APPLICATION

Biochar compost Application

• Point - eg. Horticulture• Spread - eg. Paddy

Biochar compost preparation practice

• Biochar + compost + green mulch + soil microbes + (pottery shards / fish bones / brick pieces / urine / jaggery / etc.)• Addition of biochar to Farm Yard Manure pits in small quantities every day from traditional stoves - a traditional practice most common in India. The composition is

(Cattle dung, cattle urine, straw, biochar, ash, pottery shards, pottery tile pieces, etc.) 

Biochar only application

• Point - Biochar mulching - eg. Horticulture• Spread - Biochar broadcasting - eg. paddy

Biochar Prepartion methods - Many.

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BIOCHAR APPLICATION RESULTS

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150 TO 200 % INCREASE IN CROP PRODUCTION

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CONTROL

4 KGS BIOCHAR COMPOST

8 KGS BIOCHAR COMPOST

RESEARCH PLOT

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BIOCHAR RESULTS

GSBC PROJECT, 2009 (DORUGHT PREVAILED DURING THE GROWING SEASON)

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OTHER BIOCHAR APPLICATIONS

BIOCHAR BRICKS, GREEN BUILDINGS

WATER LESS CLEANING

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TERRA PRETA VS BIOCHAR

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ENVIRONMENTAL

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

LIVELIHOODS

INCREASED CROP YIELD BIOLOGICAL

- INCREASED SOIL MOCROBES ANDFUNGI. REPULSION OF ANTS AND TERMITES,

POLICY

TECHNOLOGY

RESEARCH

LOCAL PRACTICES

BIOCHAR

CHARCOAL PLUS

AMENDMENTS TO SOIL

BIOCHAR FRAMEWORK

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GSBC PROJECT INTEGRATED APPROACH

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GOOD STOVES AND BIOCHAR COMMUNITIES PROJECT

GSBC PROJECT, being implemented in parts of Andhra Pradesh State is an integrated project.

This project started in May 2009, Geoecology Energy Organisation is responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring of the project. The “Alternative Carbone Project” portfolio of Action Carbone has promoted this project to be implemented in the rural areas of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

http://goodplanet.org http://www.biocharindia.com | http://www.e-geo.orghttp://www.goodstove.comGroup: http://groups.google.com/group/biocharindia

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BIOCHAR FIELDS – GSBC PROJECT

•16 FARMERS•KHARIF AND RABI2009

•25 FARMERS•KHARIF2010

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GEO LINKS

Terra Preta Info - Indian conextBiochar ExperimentsBiochar - Alkaline soilsBiochar - Alkaline soils reportCharcoal productionBiocharculture

Biochar ProductionMagh Biochar RetortGEO mini metal kilnARTI - Charcoal Biochar PlantsProsopis JulifloraProsopis Juliflora report

StovesMagh series tlud woodgas or microgasifier stovesAnila

Biochar UrineBiochar Urinals

Biochar Soil lifeTermitesEarthworms

Pottery ShardsIn soils

CleaningBiochar for Cleaning

Green BuildingsBiochar Bricks

Rural TrashBiochar plus

GSBC PROJECT ON CNN

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THANK YOU…http://goodstove.comhttp://biocharindia.com