Each year, India produces about 400 million tonnes of biomass resources, of which a sizeable portion is burnt by SMiEs (small and micro enterprises) to generate heat. The traditional furnaces and ovens used by SMiEs operate at low efficiencies and also produce large amounts of emissions. Biomass gasifier technology offers great scope to use biomass resources more efficiently and reduce pollution. It can, therefore, provide secure energy services for developing countries that are rich in biomass resources.

In 1994/95, SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) entered into a partnership to find solutions to the energy and environmental problems of select SMiE sub-sectors through
technology upgradation and human and institutional development. They chose four sub-sectors for intervention: foundries, sericulture, glass industries, and brick manufacture.

This book narrates, in a brief and simple way, the process by which the partners developed clean, energy-efficient biomass gasifier systems for heat applications?initially in silk reeling units, and later in other SMiEs. In particular, it highlights the experiences of project staff and other stakeholders, and the challenges faced and tackled by them in the course of their work.

This book is primarily intended as a guide for researchers, policy-makers, NGOs, donor organizations, academic institutions and others involved in the small-scale sector, particularly in developing countries

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface INTRODUCTION Small and micro enterprises in India The protected years Liberalization challenges The environmental imperative A partnership is forged SDC?human and institutional development TERI?global vision, local focus The macro-level study The scope for intervention Screening workshop, December 1994 Getting started Cluster-level intervention Finding the right technology Participatory technology Capacity building: key to sustainability Structuring the interventions Action research Competence pooling CHARTING THE COURSE Energy from biomass Biomass-based enterprises Biomass gasification Exploring new avenues: TERI and gasifier technology The silk route Overview Process?from silkworm egg to raw silk Silk reeling units: field realities SDC and TERI?early activities TERI?s field survey Exploring options The spice route Overview Enter: SDC and TERI Exploring options INTO THE FIELD Silk reeling From lab to field: hindupur yarn Ramanagaram yarn: participatory approach Siddlaghatta yarn: low-cost approach Rewinding the reel?a barrier analysis Silk dyeing Development of gasifier-based dyeing oven Manufacture and marketing Large cardamom curing Developing the gasifier Test marketing of improved-quality cardamom Training and awareness generation Developing a commercial version One step forward, two steps back Applications: the larger web Salt of the earth: Kharagoda Large-scale cooking in rural areas Green brick drying Beas: gasifier for community cooking Hot water for hotels Gasifiers for midday meals Gasifier-based cremation Gasifiers for drying rubber Taking stock Technology development and dissemination Potential for gasifier technology?manufacturers? views Future potential and challenges THE WAY FORWARD ANNEXURES: TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR SERICULTURE Annexure 1:Overview of sericulture History of silk State presence in the indian silk industry Central Silk Board Central Silk Technological Research Institute Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute Cocoon markets Silk exchanges Making raw silk from cocoons?process Rearing cocoons Reeling the cocoons Annexure 2: Field survey of silk reeling ovens Energy audits Annexure 3: The Hindupur experience From lab to field Mark 0: proof of concept Mark 1: laboratory model Mark 1: field model Annexure 4: The Ramanagaram experience From field to commercial model Mark 2: improved field model Mark 3: industrial prototype Mark 4: commercial prototype Annexure 5: The Siddlaghatta experience Background Technology development Mark 0 Mark 0-F BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS ABBREVIATIONS