THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district panchayat is embarking on a major initiative to identify and exploit renewable energy sources under the Total Energy Security Mission.

The project will seek to come up with an action plan to tap the potential offered by mini- and micro-hydel projects, biomass utilisation, wind power and solar energy as alternate power sources.

A campaign to popularise energy-saving equipment such as compact fluorescent lamps, solar dryers and water heaters and smokeless stoves will be taken up. Energy audit is to be made mandatory for all business establishments. Each local body will prepare a master plan for exploitation of non-conventional sources of energy based on the availability, acceptability, ease of use and sustainability. Rural electrification master plans based on biomass, wind energy and small hydroelectric plants will also be prepared.

Beneficiary committees, self-help groups, residents associations, neighbourhood groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be involved in the initiative. The Energy Management Centre and Anert (Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology) will be partners in the effort. The mission will focus on improving the efficiency of equipment used for cooking, heating water, lighting and pumping. Biomass-based power generation will be a thrust area of the campaign.

The approach paper recommends mandatory provisions to install solid waste management units and solar water heaters in big houses and commercial establishments. Recognising the fact that firewood would continue to be an energy source in Kerala, the document calls for measures to ensure its sustainability by taking up local level afforestation programmes with the help of nature clubs and environment groups.

The project will integrate the district-level projects under the Total Energy Security Mission with ongoing electrification projects taken up by Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGs) and the rural electrification schemes of the Kerala State Electricity Board and Anert. It seeks to ensure an annual supply of non-conventional energy equivalent to that produced by eight LPG cylinders in every household in the district.

A micro-level biomass development scheme is a major component of the project. This will be integrated with local afforestation programmes taken up by panchayats to regenerate the environment. Apart from biomass gasification, the project will try to promote the production of bio-diesel and ethanol on an experimental basis. It will also try to upgrade municipal garbage treatment plants by equipping them with technology for power generation.

Working groups on energy and environment will be set up in all local bodies in the district to implement and supervise the mission programmes. The group will comprise panchayat members, agriculture officers, teachers and students, electricity employees, NGOs, youth organisations, environmental activists and representatives of energy conservation movements and clubs.

The working groups will carry out energy surveys in all panchayats to create a database on non-conventional sources and identify beneficiaries for rural electrification projects. They will also be involved in awareness campaigns. The surveys will be used to generate local-level energy security schemes.

District Panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan said the project would strive to promote biogas as a substitute for LPG.

"By popularising household-level biogas plants and dual-fuel stoves, we hope to bring down the consumption of LPG by 50 per cent over a period of time and thereby achieve significant reduction of greenhouse gases. Local bodies can set up larger biogas plants that also generate power from organic waste," he said.

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