Applied Environmental Research Foundation
 
 

 
Energy demand in India is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next 20 years. Most of the energy requirements are currently being satisfied by fossil fuels, whereas the rural population still largely depends on fuel wood for basic energy needs. On one hand rapid economic development and its escalating demand for fossil fuels is creating the need for alternatives. On the other hand, rural populations are still dependant on fire wood as a basic energy source.

The existing pattern of energy use and demand is now a global concern not only due to its impact on climate but also due to their exhaustive nature. Renewable energy is therefore creating a lot of excitement in terms of meeting energy demands and reducing environmental impact. Alternatives such as bio-fuel, wind, solar, biomass has a great potential for ensuring sustainable growth. However, these alternatives have a huge impact on biodiversity which is a cause of concern for conservation biologists.
On one hand, there is a growing need to address energy demands from alternatives, hand on the other biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. This clash has fuelled many debates on the ecological sustainability of renewable energy alternatives. Some challenges India faces as a growing economy are described here.

The Government of India targets 44 million hectares for the plantation of Jatropha curcas for bio-diesel production. Jatropha curcas is an exotic and poisonous shrub, the plantations of which will possibility covert a diversity of habitats into monoculture.

One of the major reasons for dwindling forest cover is the increasing demand for fuel wood (NAEB 1997). Total fuel wood consumption of Maharashtra state is estimated to vary from 15650075 MT to 30942076 MT in 2000. This has a massive impact on the nation’s forests and biological diversity.

Many villages in India still don’t have access to electricity Numerous wind farms have been set up in India however; their environmental impact has never been assessed.

Bio-fuels present the best ever opportunity to promote sustainable natural resource management and conservation of underutilized and valuable biodiversity. Biodiversity is a central issue to be considered in the production, distribution and consumption of energy – now and in the future. AERF’s program deals with inter-relationships between biodiversity and energy and addresses some key issues and questions through research and community based initiatives. Some of our on-going initiatives include:
 
Decentralized Bio-diesel Resource centers.
The renewable energy sources have come into focus due to environmental issues having global impacts such as climate change. In implementing some unique projects, AERF has added the dimension of biodiversity to the domain of renewable energy while addressing the energy issues of rural areas in Maharashtra. Decentralized biodiesel resource centers project supported under Global Village Energy Program (GVEP) focuses on the utilization of existing indigenous bio-diesel yielding tree species- Pongamia pinnata and Madhuca indica for satisfying the village energy needs. AERF has established two decentralized bio-diesel resource centers in Alibaug and Mhasala Blocks of Raigad district, Maharashtra.
 
Village Electrification Programme.
AERF has been working as one of the agencies implementing a renewable energy based Village Energy Security Program (VESP) of Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt of India in Maharashtra. The organization has been working for implementing Biomass gasifier based remote village electrification program of MNES, Govt of India for a few years now.
 
Sustainability study of VESP
AERF has completed a case study to assess the potential impact of biomass gasifier technology on local biodiversity in a pilot village selected under Village Electrification Security Program (VESP) near Pune. The results of the study suggest that there is a need to create awareness among stakeholders of this project about the importance of biodiversity conservation in ecosystem services and livelihoods and that biomass does have multiple uses than just fuel wood.
 

bullet Bringing Light to the Off-Grid villages: bullet

AERF is partnering with TERI to implement LABL project in remote hamlets of Barshet & Hondawadi in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Under this project, each household is given one solar lantern in these two hamlets. A solar charging station has been established for all the lamps of each hamlet. The project aims to reduce the tribal people's acute dependency on a costly fuel- Kerosene. Solar lanterns are fast becoming popular in these remote hamlets as they have multiple benefits such as less expensive alternate for light, smokeless, bright & efficient, unlike kerosene. Whereas, it is a boon to the students to continue studies after dark, the elders have started using these lamps for vigilance of agricultural land in night.


bullet Biodiversity yields Energy for Rural Enterprise
 		bullet

The appalling dependency of the rural India on fuelwood for the 90% energy needs is significant considering its impact on climate change. AERF has set up examples of renewable and green energy systems that are managed and run by local communities using resources from their own ecosystems. Indigenous tree species- Pongamia pinnata and Madhuca indica have been utilized to establish community run bio-diesel resource centres in Alibaug, Mhasala, Karjat and Shahapur blocks in coastal districts of Maharashtra.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright ©  AERF | All rights reserved.
Follows On: twitter
Site crafted and cared by