renewingindia.org
winrockindia.org
newsletter
back

TECHNOLOGY

CPC Demonstrates BioMax 15 Successfully

Community Power Corporation (CPC) has completed the development and demonstration of a 15 kWe small modular biopower system. The first pre-commercial prototype unit was shipped to the village of Alaminos in the Philippines in April 2001 where it was commissioned. Using locally available coconut shells as the fuel, the system, called a BioMax 15, completed an endurance run.

During the endurance run, the system generated over 1 MWh of AC power and reached an availability of over 95 per cent. Power from the BioMax was delivered to the village over a low voltage distribution system.

The BioMax has since been relocated about 1 km to a small coconut processing facility where it will be used to provide power to a productive use operation. Coconut husks will be shredded using a special piece of equipment called a decorticator. The shredded husk fiber will be processed by employees from the village to make geotextiles for erosion control.

A second BioMax 15 was delivered to the Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe in northern California where it was commissioned in early August 2001, using wood chips as the renewable fuel. This trailer-mounted unit was ready to generate power within six hours of arrival at the site. The system will perform a combined heat and power demonstration at a greenhouse owned by the Hoopa tribe. The greenhouse raises seedlings to replace Douglas Firs harvested annually from the tribe's 77,000 acre forest.

CPC is currently preparing for the next phase of development of the BioMax, called Product Validation. A number of units will be placed in the field, both domestic and international, monitored, and improved to convert the current developmental units to fully commercial offerings.

back

EVENTS

International course on Microcredit

"Institutions and their Role in Promoting Small-scale Enterprises".
November 19-December 13, 2001

About the Course
One of the primary problems facing the majority of populations is how to accumulate savings, and where to acquire the necessary credit. Commercial banking systems are not usually able to respond adequately to the demands and needs of the common people.

The development of savings and credit cooperatives and the introduction of peoples' banks in civil society can provide a response for the common people. The main objective of the savings and credit cooperative is therefore to provide the necessary resources for the generation of income through productive activity.

Course Modules
Development and underdevelopment; functions of credit; microcredit; informal sector; community-based projects; village banking; cooperatives; entrepreneurship; establishment of small-scale credit enterprises, examining its management and financial management; communication and decision-making workshops; and project planning.

Registration
Please contact the Registrar at the institute for applications and registration procedures at the address mentioned below:
Peoples, the International Institute (Histadrut - Israel) Bet Berl Kfar Saba 44905, Israel Tel: 972-9-7612323, Fax: 972-9-7421868 E-mail: info@peoples.org.il Web site: www.peoples.org.il

National Training Programs

"Repair and maintenance of solar thermal photovoltaic technologies" - for IREP functionaries and others.
December 3-December 7, 2001

Course Modules
Operation and maintenance of solar thermal devices; repair and maintenance of photovoltaic systems, wind mills, biomass-based energy devices; descaling of solar water heaters. "Orientation course on decentralized power generation" - for IREP Field Officers and NGOs. December 18-December 21, 2001

Course Modules
Wind power potential and achievements; demonstration and commercial projects; promotional policies; solar PV, solar thermal and biomass power generation; gasifier technologies; small hydro power; energy from waste; etc.

back

For both programs, please contact: Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Integrated Rural Energy Planning and Development Bakoli, Alipur, Delhi 110036 Tel: 91-11-7201029-33, 7201540 Fax: 7201033 E-mail: mgiirepd@vsnl.com
Editorial Board: Dr S. Kamaraj, Consultant, NERD Society; Mrs S. Jagawat, Director, Navinchandra Mafatlal Sadguru Water and Development Foundation; Mr D.K. Manavalan, Executive Director, Action for Food Production; Ms Meenu Mishra, Director, IRENet; Mr Parimal M. Sadaphal, India Project Coordinator, PARTNERS in Rural Development; Mr Jami Hossain, Winrock International India; Mr Bhawani Shankar, Copyeditor.
Designed and produced by: Winrock International India, 7 Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057, India. Tel: 91-11-6142965 up to 6142968 E-mail: winrockindia@winrock.ernet.in / winrock@vsnl.com Website: winrockindia.org, renewingindia.org

Indian Rural Energy Network (IRNet) and PARTNERS in Rural Development are thankful to the Canadian-International Development Agency (CIDA), for extending support to this initiative. IRENet and PARTNERS are based at E-3/3, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057, Tel: 91-11-6155138/6154902, Fax: 6156676 E-mail:irenetindia@satyam.net.in , irenetindia@yahoo.com and partnersindia@samparkonline.com

back