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Frequent power cuts dampen the spirit of rapid commercialisation. Power supply remains a major concern. And it has been so for many years now.

The demand-supply gap that has worried entrepreneurs and economists alike has been the bane of many a city. The problem lies in the dependence on hydroelectric power.

The truant monsoons caused havoc in the past and extensive load-shedding was an annual feature. Copious rains apart, the funds needed to generate power are demanding. Due to all this, city planners are forced to look for more innovative ways to cater to the demand.

Renewable energy has always been a dependable and clean source that comes at a relatively lower cost. There are various renewable energy sources.

“Poultry litter is one such innovative source possible,” suggests Ramakumar Purushottam, vice-president, renewable energy, Enzen Global Solutions, an energy and environment consulting firm. “This relatively new concept of renewable energy has already made its debut in India.”

A 2-MW grid-interfacing power plant that generates power using waste from the poultry industry was commissioned in August last year in Goundampalayam village in Tamil Nadu.

This was perhaps the first of its kind in the country. It is estimated that for a generation of 2 MW of power, the plant will need 325 tonnes of poultry waste,” says Ramakumar. It is difficult to estimate just how much a sizeable power project using poultry waste will cost for a city like Bangalore.

It is also difficult to estimate the quantity of power that can be generated from such a plant. But surely there are many advantages of tapping sources such as poultry waste for power generation.

To begin with, such power plants can be operated at community levels catering to small geographical spreads. They can be used in areas where subsidised power may be warranted. “Schemes such as Bhagya Jyothi introduced by the State government [in Karnataka] can be extended to offer more power at cheaper rates if innovative methods of generation are used at the community level. This scheme involved electrification of houses by the zilla panchayats. Such schemes can be used to cover the urban poor who need the benefits of subsidisation with rising power tariffs,” adds Ramakumar.

Using poultry waste to generate power is a safe and better way to dispose it of since poultry litter can be harmful for the environment. It is difficult to keep identifying and blocking spaces for landfills.

Cities are spreading across a large area and landfills are not feasible beyond a point.

With land at a premium, it is better to avoid waste that is harmful to the environment that requires landfills. Apart from adding to the power supply, it can create economic opportunities for many.

From collecting and transporting poultry waste to management of generation plants, many will find gainful opportunity. “This apart, small industrial outfits involved in manufacturing low-cost products will find this sort of power a cheaper alternative,” feels Ramakumar.

It is imperative that new solutions be applied to solve old problems. With every passing year, the cost of power generation and distribution is rising. These costs are being passed on to the consumers slowly but surely.

It translates into higher costs of products, and in turn impacts the cost of living. As we push to reach higher standards of living, such innovative strategies need to be harnessed.

Power is a basic necessity for any economy to develop and compete in the global arena. Cheap and efficient power gives us the cutting edge.

The eight percent growth rate in the economy can be sustained only if the basic infrastructure — significantly power — backs industry.

In such a scenario, exploring alternatives to support the existing generation plants is vital.

Over a period of time, the research invested in developing such avenues could yield a rewarding alternative method too.

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