RE tech update feature article Discovery of an unexpected boost for solar water-splitting cells

NSLS (National Synchrotron Light Source)*. The NIST facility uses X-rays that can be precisely tuned to measure Biogas chemical bonds of specific elements, and is at least 10 times more sensitive than commonly available laboratory the how instruments, allowing researchers to detect elements at extremely low concentrations. While making measurements of the carbon atoms, and where the team noticed spectroscopic data, indicating that the titania nanotubes had small amounts of potassium ions strongly bound to the surface, evidently left by the fabrication process, which used potassium salts. This was the first time potassium has ever been observed on titania nanotubes. Previous ones research team from as a photocatalyst, producing hydrogen were not sensitive enough to detect it. Northeastern University and gas from water, electricity, and sunlight. The result was mildly interesting A the NIST (National Institute of In recent years, researchers have been but became much more so when Standards and Technology), United exploring different ways to optimize the research team compared the States, has discovered, serendipitously, the process and create a commercially performance of the potassium-bearing that a residue of a process used to build viable technology that essentially nanotubes to similar arrays deliberately arrays of titania nanotubes – a residue transforms sunlight into hydrogen, a prepared without potassium. The that was not even noticed before this pollution-free fuel that can be stored former required only about one- – plays an important role in improving and shipped. third the electrical energy to produce the performance of the nanotubes in Increasing the available surface the same amount of hydrogen as an MW (megawatt) to GW (gigawatt). solar cells that produce hydrogen gas area is one way to boost a catalyst’s equivalent array of potassium-free based Standardized models of biogas from water. Their recently published performance. Thus, a team at the nanotubes. ‘The result was so exciting’, on animal plants suitable for individual results indicate that by controlling Northeastern University has been recalls Northeastern physicist Latika waste in is 12 households and institutions/ the deposition of potassium on the studying techniques to build tightly Menon, ‘that we got sidetracked from million. Till March 2009, under communities are available, meeting surface of the nanotubes, engineers packed arrays of titania nanotubes, the carbon research.’ Since it has such the National Biogas and Manure specific requirements. can achieve significant energy savings which have a very high surface-to- a strong effect at nearly undetectable Management Programme, over 4.1 Along with the development of plants and related infrastructure, a large pool in a promising new alternate energy volume ratio. They also were interested concentrations, Menon says, potassium iogas represents an million biogas plants in the capacity of of skilled manpower has been trained system. in how best to incorporate carbon probably has played an unrecognized alternative source of energy, 1–6 m3 have been installed. Larger units and deployed for plant construction Titania (or titanium dioxide) into the nanotubes because carbon role in many experimental water- derived mainly from organic have also been set up in many villages, and maintenance. The technology is a versatile chemical compound helps titania absorb light in the splitting cells that use titania nanotubes wastes. In India, the use of farms, and cattle houses. The estimated best known as a white pigment. It visible spectrum. Pure titania absorbs because potassium hydroxide involved is anaerobic digestion, which biogas derived from animal biogas production from these plants is has been successfully extended to is found in everything from paint to in the ultraviolet region, and much is commonly used in the cells. 3 Bwaste, primarily cow dung, has been over 4.1 million m per day, which is treat industrial and urban wastes on a toothpastes and sunscreen lotions. of the ultraviolet is filtered by the By controlling it, she says, hydrogen promoted for over three decades now. equivalent to a daily supply of about large scale. This holds potential as a Thirty-five years ago, Akira Fujishima atmosphere. solar cell designers could use it to 3 According to the 1997 Livestock Census, 2.5 million m of natural gas. solution to numerous environmental startled the electrochemical world by This brought them to the NIST optimize performance. the cattle population in the country These plants usually provide problems, including waste and manure demonstrating that it also functioned X-ray spectroscopy beamline at the www.sciencedaily.com is about 290 million. The estimated thermal, electrical, and mechanical handling, water pollution, and carbon potential of household biogas plants power, generating electricity from dioxide emission. *The NSLS is part of the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory.

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for promotion under the National Biogas different categories and areas for setting Programme. up biogas plants (Table 3).

Standard capacity Provision of loans For family-type biogas plants, approved The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) and models are available for 1–6 m3 and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture 1–10 m3 capacities for fixed-dome and and Rural Development) support the floating-drum plants, respectively. The biogas programme. Detailed guidelines commonly used capacities of these are available with both commercial models are 1–4 m3 (Table 2). and cooperative banks for financing family-type biogas plants under the Cost Agricultural Priority area. NABARD The cost of installation varies according provided automatic refinancing facility to the model and size of the plant. The to commercial banks for loan amounts average estimated cost of the most disbursed for biogas plants. popular Deenbandhu model is given in Table 3. The cost of a biogas plant Table 3 National Biogas Programme: central subsidy for different Types of biogas plants categories and areas for setting up biogas plants (2009/10) Table 1 Model household biogas plants/appliances approved for Fixed-dome type Category/area Central subsidy per plant promotion under the National Biogas Programme The fixed-dome biogas plant consists Table 2 The average estimated cost Model - Design guidelines Contact address of the most popular Deenbandhu North-eastern states and Sikkim Rs 11 700 of one lower segment (digester) and model (except plain areas of Assam) a hemisphere over it (gas holder). I. Fixed-dome biogas plant Plant capacity Cost per plant (in rupees) Plain areas of Assam Rs 9000 The mixing tank is connected to the 1) Deenbandhu model with brick masonry MNRE State Implementing Agencies Code practices (second revision) Web site: mnre.nic.in 3 digester by a 15-cm asbestos cement 1 m3 7000 Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rs 4500 (restricted to Rs 3500 for 1 m IS 9478:1989 of the BIS, New Delhi Uttaranchal (excluding Terai region), fixed dome type) pipe. Through the outlet hole provided 2 m3 9000 Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, Sadar Kurseong in the digester, the slurry is pushed into 2) Deenbandhu ferrocement model with MNRE State Implementing Agencies and Kalimpong sub-divisions of 3 m3 10 500 the outlet tank. in situ technique Web site: mnre.nic.in Darjeeling, Sunderbans, and Andaman 4 m3 12 500 and Nicobar Islands 3) Pre-fabricated RCC fixed-dome model MNRE State Implementing Agencies Floating-drum type Web site: mnre.nic.in Scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, Rs 3500 (restricted to Rs 2800 for 1 m3 The floating-drum type biogas plant desert districts, small and marginal fixed dome type) consists of a deep well-shaped increases by about 30% in hilly areas and farmers, landless labourers, Terai II. Floating drum biogas plant region of Uttaranchal, Western Ghats, underground digester connected by by 50%-60% in the north-eastern region 1) KVIC floating metal drum type MNRE State Implementing Agencies of the country. and other notified hilly areas inlet and outlet pipes. A mild-steel gas Code practices (second revision) Web site: mnre.nic.in All others Rs 2700 (restricted to Rs 2100 for 1 m3 IS 9478:1989 of the BIS, New Delhi storage drum, inverted over the slurry, fixed dome type) rises and falls around a guide pipe Training 2) KVIC type plant with ferrocement MNRE State Implementing Agencies Construction of biogas plants is a skilled corresponding to the accumulation Code of practices IS 12986:1990 of Web site: mnre.nic.in job. Hence, the scheme has a provision and withdrawal of gas. BIS, New Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai of providing training to the masons Bag-type and trainers for construction and

Made of rubberized nylon fabric, the III. Pragati model maintainance of biogas plants. A total Code of practices (second revision) United socio-economic Development bag-type biogas plant is a portable IS 9478:1989 of the BIS, New Delhi and Research Programme (UNDARP) number of 11 Development and Training unit, which can be conveniently placed Pune centres have been setup in different R&D at any location. The appropriate model Institute/University to tackle trainings IV. Bag-type biogas plant is selected on the basis of technical Bag type biogas plant – Flexi model Swastik House, Khadki for masons and users. This also provides requirements such as location, distance Pune – 411 003 opportunity for employment to rural between kitchen and cattle shed, people. availability of dung and water, and V. Appliances preferences of the beneficiaries. ISI marked (BIS Code IS-8749:1998) See Box No. 1 for details Financial incentives Table 1 lists the model household Burners with minimum 55% thermal Under the National Biogas Programme, efficiency biogas plants and appliances approved central subsidy is available to users of

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Repair and servicing facility north-eastern states, Sikkim, Jammu and central subsidy is also provided for repair The government pays a job fee of Rs 800 Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and revival of family-type biogas plants per biogas plant constructed on turnkey hilly districts, and islands. In other that are at least five years old and have basis with three years’ warranty for regions, it is Rs 700 per plant. Financial developed structural defects thereafter. trouble-free functioning of the plant in support limited to 50% of the rate of Courtesy: MNRE, Government of India Bioethanol production

Manufacturers of biogas M/s Sweet Home Appliances Pvt. Ltd M/s Malhotra Engineering Company (P) Ltd from 3-E/16, BPNIT 572-B, Nangloi burners Faridabad – 121 001 New Delhi – 110 041

M/s Sunflame Industries (P) Ltd M/s Tulsi Domestic Appliances M/s Rupak Enterprises Shed No. 2, Plot No. 58 30-A, Old Industrial Area 1/46 Vishwas Nagar, Shahdra P O Amar Nagar, Faridabad – 121 003 Alwar - 301 001 New Delhi –110 032 biomass

M/s Batra Investments Pvt. Ltd M/s Associated Engineering Works Bhawna Industries 14/1, Mathura Road Tanuku - 534 211 8-A, Industrial Development Colony P O Amarnagar Andhra Pradesh Kunjpura Road, Karnal – 132 001, Haryana Faridabad – 121 003 M/s Mitaso Appliances Ltd M/s Mech-Ci-Co. M/s Gas and Chemical Industries (P) Ltd Plot No. 63, Sec. 6 1-7, GIDC Industrial Township 14/1 Mathura Road Faridabad – 121 006 Vatwa, Ahmedabad – 382 445 Faridabad - 121 003 M/s Agriculture Associates Inter Gas Appliances Pvt. Ltd M/s Baroda Appliances Station Road C-113, Sector-2 886/A, GIDC Makarpura Alwar (Rajasthan) Noida – 201 301, Uttar Pradesh Baroda - 10

Akshay Urja bids adieu to Mr Vilas Muttemwar, former Inviting articles for Minister for New and Renewable Energy Akshay Urja Shri Vilas Muttemwar represents Akshay Urja publishes news, articles, research Nagpur Lokshabha constituency Sachin Kumar1,2, Pratibha Dheeran1 and papers, case studies, success stories, and write- of Maharashtra and has been re- Dilip K Adhikari1 elected 7th time as a Member of ups on RE. Readers are invited to send material with original photographs and statistical data. The Parliament of the tropical regions such as Brazil, India, (35%–50%), hemicellulose (20%– in May 2009. Shri Vilas Muttemwar photographs should be provided on hard copy ignocellulosic biomass Thailand, Hawaii, and the southern 35%), polyphenolic lignin (10%–25%) completed his full tenure of five or as high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) files on is the most abundant USA. Other lignocellulosic feedstocks and other extractable components. years as Minister for New and a CD. Akshay Urja will pay suitable honorarium for renewable resource on earth. include agricultural residues such The utilization of both cellulose and Renewable Energy. During his each published article of about 1500 words and Lignocellulosic materials, as corncob, corn stover, wheat, hemicellulosic monosachharides like tenure the renewable energy sector above to the authors. The publication material in including wood, grass, forest and rice straw; industrial residue hexose and pentose present in a typical took a leap with installation of over two copies, along with a soft copy on CD/floppy/ Lresidues, agricultural residues, pulp such as pulp and paper processing lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate 9500 MW of renewable powers in e-mail may be sent to and paper mill wastes, and municipal waste; and energy crops such as switch (composition of various lignocellulosic the country, and the massive installation of solar water heating solid wastes can be used for bioethanol grass. biomass is shown in Table 1) is essential systems, solar lighting systems, family-size biogas plants, and a Editor, Akshay Urja production. Among these resources, Lignocellulosic materials are for the economical production of number of other renewable energy systems. The major initiatives agricultural residues, such as sugarcane comprised of lignin, hemicellulose, ethanol. Therefore, microorganisms Ministry of New and Renewable Energy taken by him for popularizing renewable energy among the bagasse, dominate in terms of tonnage and cellulose in varying proportions. that are able to ferment both glucose Block – 14, CGO Complex, common people include the Akshay Urja magazine, Rajiv Gandhi and can serve as feedstock. Sugarcane The general composition of and xylose are most desirable for an Akshay Urja Diwas, Renewable Energy Clubs, District Advisory Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 bagasse is plentiful in tropical and sub- lignocellulosic biomass is cellulose efficient bioconversion of biomass to Committees, and so on. Tel. +91 11 2436 3035 Akshay Urja Team wishes him success in all his future Fax +91 11 2436 3035 1Biotechnology Area, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun (India) endeavours. E-mail [email protected] 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (India) Tel. +91 135 252 5763; Fax +91 135 266 0202; E-mail [email protected]

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