500 kW grid connected gasifier based power palnt at Village Kothara,Taluka Abdasa, District Kutch. (A Demonstration Project)

Objective :

• Creating a resourceful database for promoting decentralized power plant based on renewable energy sources.
   
• Fix the operational parameters for grid connected gsifier-based power plant.
   
• Scale-up the unit size of gasifier for installing power plant above 1 MW
   
• Employment generation in backward areas of the country

Biomass resources :

In kuchchh district at village Moti Sindhodi, Lathedi, Kosha and Vinghabe the Gujarat Energy Development Agency, Vadodara has raised energy plantation in 1500 hectares of revenue wastelands, where not even a blade of grass was growing. Against the odd conditions of saline soil and water the plantation in 1500 hacters of land, which is now 15 years old, has thrived very well with a survival percentage of 60 %.

Financial resources :

GEDA planned to set up a 500 kW grid connected gasifier based power plant in the backward area of Abdasa taluka at total cost of Rs.180.515 Lac. Out of which Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, New Delhi provide the grant of Rs. 120.515 Lac towards the cost of Gasifier, Dg Sets, Control panels, Transformer, Lab Instruments. GEDA decided to provide fund of Rs. 80 Lac towards the cost of civil work land cost, etc.

Methodology :

Following activities were carried out simultaneously in order to install the plant.

1. Selection of proper site at kuchchh area.
    
2. Selection of turnkey supplier of the plant.
    
3. Selection of Architect
    
4. Selection of civil contractor.
    
5. Permission from GEB
    
6. Certification from Electrical inspector
    
7. License for storage of diesel at site

Technology :

Down draft gasifier technology has been used for the plant. M/S Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Private Limited, Vadodara has been selected as turnkey contractor for the project for the installation, commissioning and O & M of the plant for two years.

Wood from plantation sites is transported to the plant site after pruning of the prosopi juliflora. This wood is cut in to a proper size having Diameter of 3-5 inch. With the help of bucket elevator the cut wood is fed in to the gasifier at regular interval of 15 minutes. Gas generated through gasification is cleaned and cooled with the help of cyclone, water scrubber, and sawdust filter. Cleaned and cool gas is fed into two DGSets having capacity of 320 kW each. This both the generators are of dual fuel mode. Producer gas generated through gasifier has replaced diesel upto 60%.

Commissioning and trial run of the plant :

GEDA commissioned the plant on 3rd July 99 on isolation mode. Trial run was taken to parallel the plant with GEB grid. In June 2002 electricity generated through this power plant was fed to the GEB grid.


Till date the plant is running satisfactorily and have supplied net 1,13,500 units to GEB till 27/1/2003.

Efforts are being made to improve the performance further.